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Shloka 29

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

श्रीभगवानुवाच मा मा वैदर्भ्यसूयेथा जाने त्वां मत्परायणाम् । त्वद्वच: श्रोतुकामेन क्ष्वेल्याचरितमङ्गने ॥ २९ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca mā mā vaidarbhy asūyethā jāne tvāṁ mat-parāyaṇām tvad-vacaḥ śrotu-kāmena kṣvelyācaritam aṅgane

Der Höchste Herr sprach: „O Vaidarbhī, sei nicht ungehalten auf Mich. Ich weiß, dass du ganz Mir hingegeben bist. Liebes Mädchen, Ich sprach nur im Scherz, weil Ich hören wollte, was du sagen würdest.“

श्री-भगवान्the Blessed Lord
श्री-भगवान्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootश्री (प्रातिपदिक) + भगवान् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय = ‘the venerable Lord’
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
माdo not
मा:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमा (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive particle)
माdo not
मा:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमा (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (repetition for emphasis)
वैदर्भिO princess of Vidarbha
वैदर्भि:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootवैदर्भी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
असूयेथाःbe jealous / take offense
असूयेथाः:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअसूय् (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; prohibitive with ‘mā’
जानेI know
जाने:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
त्वाम्you
त्वाम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formद्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
मत्-परायणाम्devoted to me
मत्-परायणाम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootमत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = ‘devoted to me’; qualifies ‘tvām’
त्वत्-वचःyour words
त्वत्-वचः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootत्वत् (युष्मद्) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = ‘your words’; here as object of ‘ācaritam (I acted)’ or cause-context
श्रोतु-कामेनby (me) wishing to hear
श्रोतु-कामेन:
Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रु (धातु) + तुमुन् (श्रोतु) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = ‘by one desiring to hear’; refers to speaker (Krishna)
क्ष्वेल्याin jest
क्ष्वेल्या:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootक्ष्वेली (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘in jest/with playful banter’
आचरितम्was done/acted
आचरितम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootआ + चर् (धातु)
Formक्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; used impersonally: ‘(it was) done/acted’
अङ्गनेO lovely woman
अङ्गने:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootअङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Lord Kṛṣṇa spoke the present verse because He thought that lovely Rukmiṇī might be afraid He would again say something to disturb her, or that she might be angry at what He had done.

K
Kṛṣṇa
R
Rukmiṇī (Vaidarbhī)

FAQs

It shows that Kṛṣṇa may speak or act playfully to deepen loving exchange, not to harm; He affirms the devotee’s sincerity and draws out heartfelt words.

After joking words that distressed Rukmiṇī, Kṛṣṇa reassures her that He knows her complete devotion and that His behavior was only playful, meant to hear her loving speech.

By keeping Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate refuge—responding to challenges without bitterness, strengthening prayer and remembrance, and maintaining trust that the Lord’s dealings ultimately nourish devotion.