Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

उन्नीय वक्त्रमुरुकुन्तलकुण्डलत्विड् गण्डस्थलं शिशिरहासकटाक्षमोक्षै: । राज्ञो निरीक्ष्य परित: शनकैर्मुरारे- रंसेऽनुरक्तहृदया निदधे स्वमालाम् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

unnīya vaktram uru-kuntala-kuṇḍala-tviḍ- gaṇḍa-sthalaṁ śiśira-hāsa-kaṭākṣa-mokṣaiḥ rājño nirīkṣya paritaḥ śanakair murārer aṁse ’nurakta-hṛdayā nidadhe sva-mālām

Translation

I lifted my face, which was encircled by my abundant locks and effulgent from the glow of my earrings reflected from my cheeks. Smiling coolly, I glanced about. Then, looking around at all the kings, I slowly placed the necklace on the shoulder of Murāri, who had captured my heart.

Synonyms

• unnīya: having raised
• unnīya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-nī (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्यय; अव्ययभाव)

• vaktram: face
• vaktram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• uru-kuntala-kuṇḍala-tviṭ-gaṇḍa-sthalam: the cheek-region shining with earrings amid abundant curls
• uru-kuntala-kuṇḍala-tviṭ-gaṇḍa-sthalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक) + kuntala (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + tviṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + sthala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; determinative compound: 'cheek-area (sthala) with the luster (tviṭ) of earrings (kuṇḍala) amid abundant curls (uru-kuntala)'

• śiśira-hāsa-kaṭākṣa-mokṣaiḥ: with cool smiles and sidelong glances
• śiśira-hāsa-kaṭākṣa-mokṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśira (प्रातिपदिक) + hāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṭākṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); 'by releases/dispatches of cool smiles and sidelong glances'

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• nirīkṣya: having looked at
• nirīkṣya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्यय; अव्ययभाव)

• paritaḥ: all around
• paritaḥ: Desha/Adhikaraṇa (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paritaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• śanakaiḥ: slowly
• śanakaiḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial instrumental plural used as indeclinable sense; 'slowly' (शनैः)

• murāreḥ: of Murāri (Krishna)
• murāreḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: murāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• aṁse: on (his) shoulder
• aṁse: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṁsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• anurakta-hṛdayā: with an attached/affectionate heart
• anurakta-hṛdayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurakta (कृदन्त; anu-rañj/rañj धातु, क्त) + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; bahuvrīhi: 'she whose heart is attached/affectionate'

• nidadhe: she placed
• nidadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-dhā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• sva-mālām: her garland
• sva-mālām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'her own garland'

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Murāri)
• Rukmiṇī
• kings (assembled suitors)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Rukmini placing the garland on Krishna in Srimad Bhagavatam?

It signifies her deliberate choice and exclusive devotion to Kṛṣṇa (Murāri), publicly offering herself to Him despite the presence of powerful kings.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.83.29?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing the queens’ recollections of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It teaches steady, heartfelt commitment to dharma and devotion—choosing what is spiritually right even when surrounded by social pressure or competing voices.