Shloka 13

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

हिरण्यरूप्यवासांसि तिलांश्च गुडमिश्रितान् । प्रादाद् धेनूश्च विप्रेभ्यो राजा विधिविदां वर: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

hiraṇya-rūpya vāsāṁsi tilāṁś ca guḍa-miśritān prādād dhenūś ca viprebhyo rājā vidhi-vidāṁ varaḥ

Translation

Expert in the regulative rites, the king rewarded the brāhmaṇas with gold, silver, clothing, cows, and sesame seeds mixed with raw sugar (guḍa).

Synonyms

• hiraṇya-rūpya-vāsāṁsi: gold, silver, and garments
• hiraṇya-rūpya-vāsāṁsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; items given

• tilān: sesame seeds
• tilān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• guḍa-miśritān: mixed with jaggery
• guḍa-miśritān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + miśrita (कृदन्त, क्त from miśr धातु)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies tilān

• prādāt: gave
• prādāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Prathama (3rd), Ekavacana

• dhenūḥ: cows
• dhenūḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhenu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• viprebhyaḥ: to the brāhmaṇas
• viprebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Caturthī (4th), Bahuvacana

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• vidhi-vidām: of the ritual experts
• vidhi-vidām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; ‘of the knowers of rites’

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate nominative of rājā

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣmaka (King of Vidarbha)
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving charity to brāhmaṇas?

This verse highlights dhārmic dāna—offering wealth, cloth, food items, and cows to brāhmaṇas—performed by a righteous king in strict accordance with Vedic procedure.

Why did King Bhīṣmaka give gold, silver, garments, sesame, jaggery, and cows?

In the narrative of Rukmiṇī’s marriage arrangements, Bhīṣmaka performs auspicious, rule-based gifts to qualified brāhmaṇas as part of proper ceremonial conduct and piety.

Practical application of dāna (charity) from this shloka in modern life?

Give thoughtfully and respectfully—support genuine spiritual education and service, and offer practical necessities (food, clothing, resources) in a way aligned with integrity and good principles.