Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 12

Draupadī Meets Kṛṣṇa’s Queens — Narratives of the Lord’s Marriages and the Queens’ Bhakti

Devanagari script

श्रीमित्रविन्दोवाच यो मां स्वयंवर उपेत्य विजित्य भूपान् निन्ये श्वयूथगमिवात्मबलिं द्विपारि: । भ्रातृंश्च मेऽपकुरुत: स्वपुरं श्रियौक- स्तस्यास्तु मेऽनुभवमङ्घ्रय‍वनेजनत्वम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-mitravindovāca yo māṁ svayaṁvara upetya vijitya bhū-pān ninye śva-yūtha-gaṁ ivātma-baliṁ dvipāriḥ bhrātṝṁś ca me ’pakurutaḥ sva-puraṁ śriyaukas tasyāstu me ’nu-bhavam aṅghry-avanejanatvam

Translation

Śrī Mitravindā said: At my svayaṁvara ceremony He came forward, defeated all the kings present — including my brothers, who dared insult Him — and took me away just as a lion removes his prey from amidst a pack of dogs. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, brought me to His capital city. May I be allowed to serve Him by washing His feet, life after life.

Synonyms

• śrī-mitravindā: Lady Mitravindā
• śrī-mitravindā: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitravindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; honorific śrī-

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• svayaṁvare: in the svayaṁvara
• svayaṁvare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayaṁvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular

• upetya: having come
• upetya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु) with upa-
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्): ‘having approached’

• vijitya: having defeated
• vijitya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (धातु) with vi-
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्): ‘having conquered’

• bhū-pān: kings
• bhū-pān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ninye: led away
• ninye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• śva-yūtha-gam: one among a pack of dogs
• śva-yūtha-gam: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक) + yūtha (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √gam)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: śvānāṁ yūtham ‘pack of dogs’ + ga ‘going/one who goes’ → ‘one going among a pack of dogs’

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle

• ātma-balim: his own prize/tribute
• ātma-balim: Karma (कर्म) (object led away)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: ātmanaḥ baliḥ ‘one’s own offering/tribute’ (here: ‘me’ as prize)

• dvi-pāriḥ: the one who overcomes twofold obstacles (hero)
• dvi-pāriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi (संख्या) + pārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; dvigu/derivative sense: ‘one who crosses two (streams/armies)’ → epithet of hero

• bhrātṝn: brothers
• bhrātṝn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular; enclitic

• apakurutāḥ: wronged/acted against
• apakurutāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) with apa-
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Dual (द्विवचन); ‘they two did harm/acted against’ (or plural in some recensions)

• sva-puram: his own city
• sva-puram: Karma (कर्म) (goal as object of motion implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: svam puram ‘his own city’

• śrī-okāḥ: the abode of Śrī (the Lord)
• śrī-okāḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to yaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + okas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: śriyāḥ okaḥ ‘abode of Śrī’ (the Lord)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• astu: let there be
• astu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person, Singular

• me: for me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• anubhavam: experience/privilege
• anubhavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anubhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• aṅghri-avanejanatvam: the state of washing (his) feet
• aṅghri-avanejanatvam: Karma (कर्म) (as desired state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + avanejana (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; abstract noun in -tva; tatpuruṣa: aṅghryoḥ avanejanam ‘washing of feet’

Characters & Entities

• Mitravindā
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Lakṣmī (Śrī)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.83.12 say about Mitravinda’s marriage to Krishna?

It says Kṛṣṇa came to Mitravindā’s svayaṁvara, defeated the rival kings, and took her to Dvārakā despite opposition from her brothers.

Why does Mitravinda compare Krishna to a lion taking a jackal from a pack?

She uses a vivid heroic simile to show Kṛṣṇa’s effortless superiority and valor in overcoming many kings to claim her hand.

What is the practical application of ‘washing the Lord’s lotus feet’ in bhakti?

It represents humble personal service—cultivating devotion through seva, reverence, and gratitude rather than pride or entitlement.