Shloka 16

Mucukunda’s Departure; Jarāsandha’s Pursuit; Prelude to Rukmiṇī’s Abduction

Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins

Devanagari script

भगवानपि गोविन्द उपयेमे कुरूद्वह । वैदर्भीं भीष्मकसुतां श्रियो मात्रां स्वयंवरे ॥ १६ ॥ प्रमथ्य तरसा राज्ञ: शाल्वादींश्चैद्यपक्षगान् । पश्यतां सर्वलोकानां तार्क्ष्यपुत्र: सुधामिव ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

bhagavān api govinda upayeme kurūdvaha vaidarbhīṁ bhīṣmaka-sutāṁ śriyo mātrāṁ svayaṁvare

Translation

O hero among the Kurus, the Supreme Lord Govinda Himself married Vaidarbhī, Bhīṣmaka’s daughter, who is a direct expansion of Śrī, the goddess of fortune, in her svayaṃvara. By Rukmiṇī’s desire He swiftly crushed Śālva and the other kings allied with Śiśupāla, and before all eyes Śrī Kṛṣṇa carried Rukmiṇī away just as Garuḍa boldly seized nectar from the devas.

Synonyms

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• गोविन्द: O Govinda
• गोविन्द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• उपयेमे: married, took (as wife)
• उपयेमे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√यम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• कुरु-उद्वह: O best of the Kurus
• कुरु-उद्वह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्वह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुरूणाम् उद्वह); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• वैदर्भीम्: the princess of Vidarbha
• वैदर्भीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैदर्भी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भीष्मक-सुताम्: Bhīṣmaka’s daughter
• भीष्मक-सुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्मक (प्रातिपदिक) + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भीष्मकस्य सुता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रियो: of fortune/beauty
• श्रियो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (वैदिक/काव्य-प्रयोगः: ‘श्रियो’ for ‘श्रियाः’)

• मात्राम्: the very embodiment
• मात्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘measure/embodiment’

• स्वयम्-वरे: in the svayaṃvara (self-choice ceremony)
• स्वयम्-वरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (स्वयम् + वर); पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī gives the following profound comments on these two verses: The words śriyo mātrām indicate that beautiful Rukmiṇī is a direct expansion of the eternal goddess of fortune. Therefore she is worthy to be the bride of the Personality of Godhead. As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.56) , śriyaḥ kāntā kāntaḥ parama-puruṣaḥ: “In the spiritual world, all the female lovers are goddesses of fortune and the male lover is the Supreme Personality.” Thus, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains, Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī is a plenary portion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. The Kārttika-māhātmya section of the Padma Purāṇa states, kaiśore gopa-kanyās tā yauvane rāja-kanyakāḥ: “In childhood, Śrī Kṛṣṇa enjoyed with the daughters of cowherd men, and in His adolescence He enjoyed with the daughters of kings.” Similarly, in the Skanda Purāṇa we find this statement: rukmiṇī dvāravatyāṁ tu rādhā vṛndāvane vane. “Rukmiṇī is in Dvārakā what Rādhā is in the forest of Vṛndāvana.”

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Rukmiṇī (Vaidarbhī)
• Bhīṣmaka
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna marrying Rukmini?

This verse states that Lord Govinda accepted Rukmiṇī, Bhīṣmaka’s daughter of Vidarbha, in marriage at her svayaṁvara, describing her as the very embodiment of Śrī (Lakṣmī).

Why is Rukmini described as the embodiment of Shri (Lakshmi) in Bhagavatam?

The verse calls her “śriyo mātrām,” indicating she perfectly embodies divine fortune and devotion, highlighting her eternal, sacred relationship with the Supreme Lord.

What is the practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It teaches devotees to honor sacred relationships as dharmic and God-centered, and to see true prosperity (śrī) as linked with devotion to the Lord.