Shloka 20

Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance

Devanagari script

उदासीना वयं नूनं न स्‍त्र्यपत्यार्थकामुका: । आत्मलब्ध्यास्महे पूर्णा गेहयोर्ज्योतिरक्रिया: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

udāsīnā vayaṁ nūnaṁ na stry-apatyārtha-kāmukāḥ ātma-labdhyāsmahe pūrṇā gehayor jyotir-akriyāḥ

Translation

Wahrlich, Wir sind unbeteiligt: Wir begehren weder Frau noch Kinder noch Reichtum. In Uns selbst erfüllt, wirken Wir nicht für Leib und Haus; wie ein Licht sind Wir bloß Zeuge.

Synonyms

• उदासीनाः: indifferent, detached
• उदासीनाः: Karta (कर्ता; subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदासीन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); बहुवचन; विशेषण (वयम्); ‘indifferent’ (as adjective)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); बहुवचन

• नूनम्: certainly
• नूनम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नूनम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक (adverb: certainly)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• स्त्री-अपत्य-अर्थ-कामुकाः: desirous of women, children, and wealth
• स्त्री-अपत्य-अर्थ-कामुकाः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective of वयम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री + अपत्य + अर्थ + कामुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (स्त्री/अपत्य/अर्थ-प्रयोजनं कामयन्ति = desirous for women, progeny, and wealth)

• आत्म-लब्ध्या: by self-attainment
• आत्म-लब्ध्या: Karana (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + लब्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आत्मनः लब्धिः = self-realization/attainment of self)

• आस्महे: we are
• आस्महे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person); बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पूर्णाः: fulfilled, complete
• पूर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता; subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) from √पॄ (to fill)

• गेहयोः: of the two houses (households)
• गेहयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive); द्विवचन

• ज्योतिः-अक्रियाः: inactive like light / actionless-luminous
• ज्योतिः-अक्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective of वयम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्योतिस् + अक्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (ज्योतिरिव अक्रियाः = actionless like light; or ‘luminous and inactive’)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Rukmiṇī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about detachment from wife, children, and wealth?

This verse presents the ideal of inner completeness through Self-realization—one need not be driven by attachment to family or prosperity, but can remain steady and fulfilled within.

Why did Krishna say this to Rukmini in Canto 10 Chapter 60?

In their intimate exchange, Kṛṣṇa speaks in a deliberately detached tone to test and deepen Rukmiṇī’s love, revealing how pure devotion remains steady even when challenged.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Perform duties in family life without possessiveness—cultivate inner sufficiency through bhakti and self-discipline, so relationships are guided by service and love rather than dependency.