Shloka 7

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

Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins

Devanagari script

विलोक्य वेगरभसं रिपुसैन्यस्य माधवौ । मनुष्यचेष्टामापन्नौ राजन् दुद्रुवतुर्द्रुतम् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

vilokya vega-rabhasaṁ ripu-sainyasya mādhavau manuṣya-ceṣṭām āpannau rājan dudruvatur drutam

Translation

O King, seeing the fierce onrush of the enemy’s army, the two Mādhavas, as if imitating human ways, swiftly ran away.

Synonyms

• विलोक्य: having seen
• विलोक्य: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• वेग-रभसम्: the speed and impetuosity
• वेग-रभसम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक) + रभस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (वेगश्च रभसश्च = speed and impetuosity)

• रिपु-सैन्यस्य: of the enemy army
• रिपु-सैन्यस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक) + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रिपोः सैन्यम्)

• माधवौ: the two Mādhavas (Krishna and Balarāma)
• माधवौ: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• मनुष्य-चेष्टाम्: human-like behavior
• मनुष्य-चेष्टाम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मनुष्यस्य चेष्टा)

• आपन्नौ: having assumed, having resorted to
• आपन्नौ: कर्ता-विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle) ‘आपन्न’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; (क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषणरूपेण)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• दुद्रुवतुः: they ran
• दुद्रुवतुः: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूप)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• King Parikshit

FAQs

Why did Krishna and Balarama run away from the enemy army in Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse explains that they adopted human-like conduct and withdrew swiftly—an intentional divine strategy within Krishna’s līlā, not fear or weakness.

Who is speaking this verse to whom in Canto 10 Chapter 52?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates to King Parīkṣit, describing how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma responded to the enemy army’s sudden, forceful advance.

What is the practical lesson of Krishna’s ‘human-like’ behavior for modern life?

Even the Supreme models situational wisdom—sometimes retreating or changing tactics is intelligent, not cowardly, when it serves a higher purpose.