Shloka 16

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

तं वै विदर्भाधिपति: समभ्येत्याभिपूज्य च । निवेशयामास मुदा कल्पितान्यनिवेशने ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ vai vidarbhādhipatiḥ samabhyetyābhipūjya ca niveśayām āsa mudā kalpitānya-niveśane

Translation

Bhīṣmaka, lord of Vidarbha, came out to meet King Damaghoṣa, honored him with due respect, and then joyfully settled him in a residence specially prepared for the occasion.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• विदर्भ-अधिपतिः: the ruler of Vidarbha
• विदर्भ-अधिपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदर्भ + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘विदर्भाणाम् अधिपतिः’ (ruler of Vidarbha)

• समभ्येत्य: having approached
• समभ्येत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + अभि + इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from √इ with उपसर्ग सम्+अभि; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• अभिपूज्य: having honored
• अभिपूज्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from √पूज् with उपसर्ग अभि; अव्ययभाव

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• निवेशयामास: lodged (him)/caused to be settled
• निवेशयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विश् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) from √विश्; लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—caused to lodge/settle

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Hetu/Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; भाववाचक—‘with joy’

• कल्पित-अनि-वेशने: in a prepared lodging
• कल्पित-अनि-वेशने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पित + अनिवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘कल्पितम् अनिवेशनम्’ (a prepared lodging/quarters)

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣmaka
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vidarbha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring guests and saints?

This verse shows the Vidarbha king personally greeting, worshiping, and seating Kṛṣṇa—illustrating that honoring a worthy guest (especially the Lord and His devotees) is a core expression of dharma and devotion.

Why did King Bhīṣmaka welcome Kṛṣṇa so respectfully in Canto 10?

In the narrative of Rukmiṇī’s intended marriage, Kṛṣṇa arrives at Kuṇḍina; Bhīṣmaka, recognizing Kṛṣṇa’s supreme position and royal dignity, receives Him with worship and proper arrangements.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Practice devotional hospitality—receive guests with respect, offer a clean place, kind words, and service—seeing such care as a spiritual act rather than mere social formality.