Shloka 36
Mucukunda’s Departure; Jarāsandha’s Pursuit; Prelude to Rukmiṇī’s Abduction
Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins
एवं सम्पृष्टसम्प्रश्नो ब्राह्मण: परमेष्ठिना । लीलागृहीतदेहेन तस्मै सर्वमवर्णयत् ॥ ३६ ॥
evaṁ sampṛṣṭa-sampraśno brāhmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinā līlā-gṛhīta-dehena tasmai sarvam avarṇayat
Thus questioned by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who assumes a body to enact His divine pastimes, the brāhmaṇa told Him everything.
The word gṛhīta may be translated as “grasped or caught,” and thus, exactly as in English, may also mean “to perceive or understand something.” Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental body is perceived, understood, or in other words, grasped by the devotees when the Lord comes to exhibit His transcendental pastimes. These pastimes are not whimsical, but are a part of the complex program, structured and executed by the Lord Himself, for awakening the conditioned souls to their natural love and devotion for Him and bringing them back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord appears in a body by His own pastime (līlā), not out of material compulsion, while remaining the transcendental controller.
Because Kṛṣṇa questioned him in detail; the messenger then conveyed Rukmiṇī’s full message and situation so Kṛṣṇa could act accordingly.
Remembering that God can act within the world without being bound by it inspires devotees to live responsibly while keeping faith in the Lord’s higher, compassionate purpose.