Shloka 40
Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
जाड्यं वचस्तव गदाग्रज यस्तु भूपान् विद्राव्य शार्ङ्गनिनदेन जहर्थ मां त्वम् । सिंहो यथा स्वबलिमीश पशून् स्वभागं तेभ्यो भयाद् यदुदधिं शरणं प्रपन्न: ॥ ४० ॥
jāḍyaṁ vacas tava gadāgraja yas tu bhūpān vidrāvya śārṅga-ninadena jahartha māṁ tvam siṁho yathā sva-balim īśa paśūn sva-bhāgaṁ tebhyo bhayād yad udadhiṁ śaraṇaṁ prapannaḥ
O Gadāgraja, es ist reine Torheit, so zu sprechen. Mit dem dröhnenden Klang deines Śārṅga-Bogens hast du die versammelten Könige vertrieben und mich dann als deinen rechtmäßigen Anteil genommen, wie ein Löwe kleinere Tiere verscheucht, um seine Beute zu beanspruchen. Darum ist es unpassend zu sagen, du habest aus Furcht vor jenen Königen im Ozean Zuflucht gesucht.
In text 12 of this chapter Lord Kṛṣṇa said, rājabhyo bibhyataḥ su-bhru samudraṁ śaranaṁ gatān: “Terrified of those kings, We went to the ocean for shelter.” According to the ācāryas, Lord Kṛṣṇa finally provoked Rukmiṇī’s anger by glorifying other men who might have been her husband, and thus in an agitated mood she here tells Him that she is not ignorant but rather that He has spoken foolishly. She states, “Like a lion You abducted me in the presence of those kings and drove them away with Your Śārṅga bow, so it is simply foolishness to say that out of fear of those same kings You went to the ocean.” According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, as Queen Rukmiṇī spoke these words she frowned and cast angry sidelong glances at the Lord.
FAQs
This verse portrays Kṛṣṇa’s taking Rukmiṇī as His rightful act of protection: He drives away opposing kings with the sound of His Śārṅga bow and claims His devotee, while the rivals flee in fear.
Rukmiṇī speaks with humility; remembering how Kṛṣṇa defeated the assembled kings and rescued her, she suggests that any awkwardness in her speech is insignificant compared to His heroic protection and lordship.
Cultivate humility and trust: when facing social pressure or intimidation, take refuge in God’s protection and remain steady in devotion rather than seeking validation from worldly powers.