Shloka 53
Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
मां प्राप्य मानिन्यपवर्गसम्पदं वाञ्छन्ति ये सम्पद एव तत्पतिम् । ते मन्दभागा निरयेऽपि ये नृणां मात्रात्मकत्वात्निरय: सुसङ्गम: ॥ ५३ ॥
māṁ prāpya māniny apavarga-sampadaṁ vāñchanti ye sampada eva tat-patim te manda-bhāgā niraye ’pi ye nṛṇāṁ mātrātmakatvāt nirayaḥ su-saṅgamaḥ
O höchster Quell der Liebe! Unselig sind jene, die, obwohl sie Mich erlangt haben — den Herrn von Befreiung und Reichtum — nur nach materiellen Schätzen verlangen. Solche Gewinne findet man selbst in der Hölle; für Sinnengenuss-Besessene ist die Hölle ein passender Ort.
It stands to reason that since Lord Kṛṣṇa is the source of all pleasure and all opulence, He Himself is the supreme pleasure and the most opulent. Therefore our real self-interest is to always engage in the loving service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. As Prahlāda Mahārāja says ( Bhāg. 7.5.31 ), na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: “The ignorant do not know that their actual self-interest lies in attaining the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu [Kṛṣṇa].”
FAQs
This verse teaches that attaining Kṛṣṇa—the Lord of liberation—yet still craving material opulence is true misfortune; the devotee should value Him above all worldly gains.
Kṛṣṇa is speaking in an intimate, instructive exchange with Rukmiṇī, highlighting that real fortune is devotion to Him, not attachment to prosperity even after receiving His grace.
Measure success by growth in devotion and character, not by possessions—use wealth as service, and keep the heart anchored in remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.