Shloka 1

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच वैदर्भ्या: स तु सन्देशं निशम्य यदुनन्दन: । प्रगृह्य पाणिना पाणिं प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca vaidarbhyāḥ sa tu sandeśaṁ niśamya yadu-nandanaḥ pragṛhya pāṇinā pāṇiṁ prahasann idam abravīt

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing the confidential message of Princess Vaidarbhī, Lord Yadunandana took the brāhmaṇa’s hand in His own and, smiling, spoke as follows.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; समास: कर्मधारय (honorific + name)

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

• vaidarbhyāḥ: from the princess of Vidarbha (Rukmiṇī)
• vaidarbhyāḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaidarbhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/अन्वय)

• sandeśam: message
• sandeśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having heard’

• yadu-nandanaḥ: the son of the Yadus (Kṛṣṇa)
• yadu-nandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (descendant/delight of the Yadus)

• pragṛhya: having taken
• pragṛhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-√grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having taken/held’

• pāṇinā: with (his) hand
• pāṇinā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• pāṇim: (her) hand
• pāṇim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• prahasan: smiling
• prahasan: Karta (कर्ता as doer of smiling)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√has (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with yadu-nandanaḥ

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म/Object of abravīt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Kṛṣṇa (Yadunandana)
• Rukmiṇī (Vaidarbhī)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.53.1 describe about Krishna and Rukmini?

It introduces the moment when Kṛṣṇa hears Rukmiṇī’s message and, smiling, prepares to respond—signaling His readiness to accept her devotion and appeal.

Why did Krishna hold the messenger’s hand after hearing Rukmini’s message?

The gesture conveys warmth, reassurance, and gratitude toward the messenger who carried Rukmiṇī’s heartfelt appeal, and it sets a compassionate tone before Kṛṣṇa speaks.

What is the practical takeaway from Krishna smiling upon hearing a devotee’s message?

Approach the Divine with sincerity and faith: the verse emphasizes that heartfelt devotion is welcomed, and one should respond to sacred duties with calm confidence rather than anxiety.