Shloka 22
Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
इति त्रिलोकेशपतेस्तदात्मन: प्रियस्य देव्यश्रुतपूर्वमप्रियम् । आश्रुत्य भीता हृदि जातवेपथु- श्चिन्तां दुरन्तां रुदती जगाम ह ॥ २२ ॥
iti trilokeśa-pates tadātmanaḥ priyasya devy aśruta-pūrvam apriyam āśrutya bhītā hṛdi jāta-vepathuś cintāṁ durantāṁ rudatī jagāma ha
لم تكن الإلهة رُكمِني قد سمعت من قبل مثل هذه الكلمات غير السارة من حبيبها، الربّ شري كريشنا، سيّد حكّام العوالم الثلاثة؛ فارتاعت، وارتجف قلبها، وفي قلقٍ شديدٍ أخذت تبكي.
FAQs
Because Kṛṣṇa—her beloved and very life—spoke words that sounded unpleasing and rejecting, which she had never heard from Him before; fearing loss of His favor, she trembled and wept in overwhelming anxiety.
In this līlā, Kṛṣṇa’s words function as a divine test and revelation of Rukmiṇī’s pure devotion—showing how deeply a perfected devotee depends on the Lord’s grace and cannot tolerate separation in any form.
When spiritual life brings moments that feel like rejection or dryness, this verse reminds a devotee to stay sincere and humble, taking refuge in prayer and steadiness rather than resentment—trusting that the Lord’s tests can deepen bhakti.