Shloka 15

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

मदच्युद्भ‍िर्गजानीकै: स्यन्दनैर्हेममालिभि: । पत्त्यश्वसङ्कुलै: सैन्यै: परीत: कुण्डिनं ययौ ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

mada-cyudbhir gajānīkaiḥ syandanair hema-mālibhiḥ patty-aśva-saṅkulaiḥ sainyaiḥ parītaḥ kuṇdīnaṁ yayau

Translation

King Damaghoṣa traveled to Kuṇḍina, surrounded by armies of elephants exuding mada, chariots hung with golden chains, and throngs of cavalry and infantry.

Synonyms

• मद-च्युद्भिः: oozing rut
• मद-च्युद्भिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद + च्युत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; कृदन्त ‘च्युत’ (fallen/oozing) from √च्यु (च्युत्); तत्पुरुष—‘मदं च्युत्’ (oozing rut/ichor); विशेषणं ‘गजानीकैः’

• गज-अनीकैः: with elephant battalions
• गज-अनीकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘गजानाम् अनीकानि’ (elephant divisions)

• स्यन्दनैः: with chariots
• स्यन्दनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन

• हेम-मालिभिः: adorned with gold garlands
• हेम-मालिभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘हेममालाः अस्य सन्ति’ (garlanded/adorned with gold); विशेषणं ‘स्यन्दनैः’

• पत्ति-अश्व-सङ्कुलैः: crowded with foot-soldiers and horses
• पत्ति-अश्व-सङ्कुलैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत्ति + अश्व + सङ्कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘पत्तिभिः अश्वैश्च सङ्कुलानि’ (crowded with infantry and horses); विशेषणं ‘सैन्यैः’

• सैन्यैः: with armies
• सैन्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन

• परीतः: surrounded/escorted
• परीतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + इ (धातु) → परीत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) from √इ with उपसर्ग परि; अर्थः—surrounded/escorted

• कुण्डिनम्: to Kundina
• कुण्डिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्डिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; नगरनाम (place name)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the journey to Kuṇḍina in Canto 10 Chapter 53?

It portrays a grand royal march toward Kuṇḍina—elephant divisions in musth, gold-adorned chariots, and dense ranks of infantry and cavalry—emphasizing the scale and intensity of the expedition.

Who is speaking this verse in the Bhagavata Purana?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this account to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

What practical lesson can devotees take from this verse today?

Worldly power and pageantry can be vast and impressive, yet the Bhagavatam frames such displays within the Lord’s unfolding līlā—reminding readers to keep spiritual purpose central amid material grandeur.