Shloka 21

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

Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins

Devanagari script

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच राजासीद् भीष्मको नाम विदर्भाधिपतिर्महान् । तस्य पञ्चाभवन् पुत्रा: कन्यैका च वरानना ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca rājāsīd bhīṣmako nāma vidarbhādhipatir mahān tasya pancābhavan putrāḥ kanyaikā ca varānanā

Translation

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: There was a great king named Bhīṣmaka, the powerful ruler of Vidarbha. He had five sons and one lovely-faced daughter.

Synonyms

• śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ: Śrī Bādarāyaṇi (Śuka)
• śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + bādarāyaṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); honorific + patronymic

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājā: a king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhīṣmakaḥ: Bhīṣmaka
• bhīṣmakaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīṣmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating name (नाम-निपात)

• vidarbha-adhipatiḥ: ruler of Vidarbha
• vidarbha-adhipatiḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidarbha + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: vidarbhāṇām adhipatiḥ (lord of Vidarbha)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• pañca: five
• pañca: Saṅkhyā (संख्या)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pañca (अव्यय/संख्या)
• Form: Numeral indeclinable (संख्यावाचक अव्यय)

• abhavan: were/occurred
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• putrāḥ: sons
• putrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kanyā: a daughter
• kanyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekā: one
• ekā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

• varānanā: beautiful-faced
• varānanā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara + ānanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: varam ānanam yasyāḥ (having an excellent face)

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣmaka

FAQs

Who is King Bhishmaka in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

In Canto 10, Chapter 52, Bhīṣmaka is described as the great ruler of Vidarbha and the father of five sons and one beautiful daughter (Rukmiṇī).

Why does Sukadeva Goswami mention Bhishmaka here?

Śukadeva introduces Bhīṣmaka to set the family context for Rukmiṇī’s marriage narrative, which leads into Lord Kṛṣṇa’s līlā of taking Rukmiṇī.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse for modern life?

The verse highlights the importance of knowing proper context and lineage in sacred narratives—understanding background helps one appreciate dharma, relationships, and the deeper purpose of Kṛṣṇa’s līlās.