Shloka 26

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

एवं चिन्तयती बाला गोविन्दहृतमानसा । न्यमीलयत कालज्ञा नेत्रे चाश्रुकलाकुले ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ cintayatī bālā govinda-hṛta-mānasā nyamīlayata kāla-jñā netre cāśru-kalākule

Translation

As she thought in this way, the young maiden whose heart had been stolen by Govinda, knowing there was still time, closed her tear-filled eyes.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = 'thus'

• cintayatī: thinking
• cintayatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (चिन्त्) (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'thinking'

• bālā: the young girl
• bālā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• govinda-hṛta-mānasā: whose mind was stolen by Govinda
• govinda-hṛta-mānasā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: govinda + hṛta + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (Govinda-by-stolen mind = whose mind is stolen by Govinda); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; bālā इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• nyamīlayata: she closed
• nyamīlayata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √mīl (मील्) (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'closed'

• kāla-jñā: knowing the proper time
• kāla-jñā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla + jñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (kāla-jñā = knowing the time); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; bālā इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• netre: (her) two eyes
• netre: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (or प्रथमा द्विवचन; here object of closing)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction) = 'and'

• aśru-kalā-ākule: filled with tear-drops
• aśru-kalā-ākule: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśru + kalā + ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (aśru-kalābhiḥ ākula = filled with tears); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; netre इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains the word kāla-jñā as follows: “[Rukmiṇī thought,] ‘It is not even the right time yet for Govinda to come,’ and thus she felt a bit consoled.”

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī
• Govinda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Rukmini’s devotion to Krishna?

This verse portrays Rukmiṇī as wholly absorbed in Kṛṣṇa—her mind “stolen by Govinda”—and moved to tears, showing intense, single-pointed devotion.

Why did Rukmini close her eyes in Canto 10 Chapter 53?

As she awaited the destined moment of Kṛṣṇa’s arrival, she closed her tear-filled eyes—overwhelmed by emotion and focused inwardly on Govinda.

Practical application of single-minded devotion (bhakti) in modern life?

Cultivate steady remembrance of the Divine through prayer, mantra, and focused intention—so the mind naturally turns toward higher values even amid anxiety or waiting.