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Shloka 38

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

Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins

का त्वा मुकुन्द महती कुलशीलरूप- विद्यावयोद्रविणधामभिरात्मतुल्यम् । धीरा पतिं कुलवती न वृणीत कन्या काले नृसिंह नरलोकमनोऽभिरामम् ॥ ३८ ॥

kā tvā mukunda mahatī kula-śīla-rūpa- vidyā-vayo-draviṇa-dhāmabhir ātma-tulyam dhīrā patiṁ kulavatī na vṛṇīta kanyā kāle nṛ-siṁha nara-loka-mano-’bhirāmam

O Mukunda, in lineage, virtue, beauty, learning, youth, wealth, and majesty You are equal only to Yourself. O lion among men, You delight the minds of all. When the proper time arrives, what noble, sober, marriageable maiden would not choose You as her husband?

what (which woman)
:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/nom.), Ekavacana (एकवचन); interrogative pronoun used adjectivally
tvāyou
tvā:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/acc.), Ekavacana; 2nd person pronoun enclitic
mukundaO Mukunda
mukunda:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
TypeNoun
Rootmukunda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/voc.), Ekavacana
mahatīgreat
mahatī:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying kā
kula-śīla-rūpa-vidyā-vayas-draviṇa-dhāmabhiḥwith (her) family, character, beauty, learning, youth, wealth, and splendor
kula-śīla-rūpa-vidyā-vayas-draviṇa-dhāmabhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootkula+śīla+rūpa+vidyā+vayas+draviṇa+dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग मिश्र-समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (तृतीया/inst.), Bahuvacana; instrumental of means/qualities
ātma-tulyamequal to yourself
ātma-tulyam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootātman+tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective agreeing with tvā; ātma-tulya = equal to oneself
dhīrāsteadfast, wise
dhīrā:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying kanyā
patimhusband
patim:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootpati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
kulavatīof noble family
kulavatī:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkulavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying kanyā
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNiṣedha-avyaya (निषेध/negation particle)
vṛṇītawould choose
vṛṇīta:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootvṛ (वृञ्/धातु)
FormVidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ/optative), Prathama puruṣa (प्रथम/3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada
kanyāa maiden
kanyā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootkanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
kālein due time
kāle:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
TypeNoun
Rootkāla (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (सप्तमी/loc.), Ekavacana; adverbial locative
nṛ-siṁhaO man-lion (hero)
nṛ-siṁha:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootnṛ+siṁha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana; vocative epithet
nara-loka-manaḥ-abhirāmamdelightful to the minds of the people
nara-loka-manaḥ-abhirāmam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnara+loka+manas+abhirāma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective agreeing with tvā; sandhi: manaḥ+abhirāmam → mano’bhirāmam
M
Mukunda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
R
Rukmiṇī

FAQs

This verse has Rukmiṇī declare that any noble, virtuous maiden would naturally choose Mukunda, because He possesses all auspicious qualities and is equal to the Supreme Self, making Him the supreme object of love and shelter.

Rukmiṇī is sending a confidential appeal to Kṛṣṇa to come and accept her, emphasizing that His excellence and divine nature make Him the rightful husband, especially as she is being pressured toward an unwanted marriage.

It teaches discernment in choosing one’s ultimate shelter: beyond external qualifications, the heart finds true fulfillment in devotion to the Supreme—placing Kṛṣṇa at the center brings clarity, steadiness, and right priorities.