Shloka 2

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच तथाहमपि तच्चित्तो निद्रां च न लभे निशि । वेदाहं रुक्‍मिणा द्वेषान्ममोद्वाहो निवारित: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca tathāham api tac-citto nidrāṁ ca na labhe niśi vedāham rukmiṇā dveṣān mamodvāho nivāritaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: As Rukmiṇī’s mind is fixed upon Me, so My mind is fixed upon her. At night I cannot even sleep. I know that Rukmī, out of envy, has forbidden our marriage.

Synonyms

• śrī-bhagavān: Śrī Bhagavān (the Lord)
• śrī-bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; समास: कर्मधारय (honorific + Lord)

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

• tathā: so/likewise
• tathā: Prakāra (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st), Singular

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• tat-cittaḥ: with mind fixed (on her/that)
• tat-cittaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of aham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (mind fixed on that/you)

• nidrām: sleep
• nidrām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• labhe: I obtain
• labhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 1st Person, Singular

• niśi: at night
• niśi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• veda: I know
• veda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्) with present sense, Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Singular

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st), Singular (reiterated)

• rukmiṇā: by Rukmī
• rukmiṇā: Karta (कर्ता as agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rukmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• dveṣāt: out of hatred
• dveṣāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular

• udvāhaḥ: marriage
• udvāhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of passive predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udvāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• nivāritaḥ: has been prevented
• nivāritaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया as passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with udvāhaḥ

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Rukmī
• Rukmiṇī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s feelings for Rukmini?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa’s deep absorption in Rukmiṇī—so intense that He cannot sleep—revealing the Lord’s affectionate reciprocation with His devotee.

Why did Krishna say that Rukmi stopped the marriage?

Kṛṣṇa states He knows Rukmī acted from envy (dveṣa) and therefore tried to obstruct the wedding, setting the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s rescue of Rukmiṇī.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It cautions that envy disrupts auspicious relationships, while sincere love and devotion draw divine support and protection.