Shloka 22

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

भीष्मकन्या वरारोहा काङ्‍क्षन्त्यागमनं हरे: । प्रत्यापत्तिमपश्यन्ती द्विजस्याचिन्तयत्तदा ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

bhīṣma-kanyā varārohā kāṅkṣanty āgamanaṁ hareḥ pratyāpattim apaśyantī dvijasyācintayat tadā

Translation

Bhīṣmaka’s lovely daughter, Rukmiṇī, longed for the arrival of Hari, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. But when she did not see the brāhmaṇa messenger return, she began to think within her heart as follows.

Synonyms

• bhīṣma-kanyā: Bhīṣmaka’s daughter (Rukmiṇī)
• bhīṣma-kanyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīṣma + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘भीष्मकस्य कन्या’ (daughter of Bhīṣmaka)

• varārohā: the beautiful one
• varārohā: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara + ārohā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; कर्मधारयः—‘वरं आरोहति’/‘श्रेष्ठारोहा’ (fair-limbed/beautiful)

• kāṅkṣantī: awaiting
• kāṅkṣantī: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kāṅkṣ (काङ्क्ष्, धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; ‘desiring/awaiting’

• āgamanam: the coming
• āgamanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• hareḥ: of Hari (Krishna)
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• pratyāpattim: a mishap, reversal
• pratyāpattim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyāpatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• apaśyantī: not foreseeing
• apaśyantī: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa + dṛś (दृश्, धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; ‘not seeing/foreseeing’

• dvijasya: of the brāhmaṇa (messenger)
• dvijasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• acintayat: thought
• acintayat: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a + cint (चिन्त्, धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; ‘she thought’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक अव्यय)

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī
• Bhīṣmaka
• Hari (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• the brāhmaṇa messenger

FAQs

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

This verse describes Rukmiṇī’s intense longing for Hari’s arrival and her anxious thoughts when she does not see the brāhmaṇa messenger return.

Why was Rukmini worried about the brāhmaṇa messenger in Canto 10 Chapter 53?

She had sent the brāhmaṇa to deliver her message to Kṛṣṇa; when he did not return promptly, she feared obstacles or failure and became anxious in separation.

Practical application of Rukmini’s mood of longing in modern life?

Her mood teaches steady devotion—when results seem delayed, one can remain focused on the Lord with sincere remembrance rather than giving up.