Shloka 29

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

सा तं प्रहृष्टवदनमव्यग्रात्मगतिं सती । आलक्ष्य लक्षणाभिज्ञा समपृच्छच्छुचिस्मिता ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

sā taṁ prahṛṣṭa-vadanam avyagrātma-gatiṁ satī ālakṣya lakṣaṇābhijñā samapṛcchac chuci-smitā

Translation

Seeing the brāhmaṇa’s joyful face and tranquil bearing, saintly Rukmiṇī, skilled in reading such signs, questioned him with a pure smile.

Synonyms

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

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

• प्रहृष्ट-वदनम्: with a delighted face
• प्रहृष्ट-वदनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहृष्ट (कृदन्त; √हृष् धातु) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of तम्

• अव्यग्र-आत्म-गतिम्: whose movement/approach was unagitated (composed)
• अव्यग्र-आत्म-गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of तम्; समासः—आत्मगतिः (आत्मनः गतिः) तत्पुरुष, तत्र अव्यग्रः इति विशेषण

• सती: the virtuous lady
• सती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त; √अस् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण ‘सा’ इत्यस्य (as an epithet: virtuous lady)

• आलक्ष्य: having noticed
• आलक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having noticed/observed’

• लक्षण-अभिज्ञा: skilled in reading signs
• लक्षण-अभिज्ञा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण of सा; समासः—लक्षणेषु अभिज्ञा (knowing the signs)

• समपृच्छत्: asked
• समपृच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शुचि-स्मिता: with a pure/bright smile
• शुचि-स्मिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मित (कृदन्त; √स्मि/स्मि? ‘to smile’ as nominal ‘smita’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण of सा

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī
• Brāhmaṇa messenger (Rukmiṇī’s envoy)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about reading auspicious signs (lakṣaṇa) in devotion?

This verse notes that Rukmiṇī is “lakṣaṇābhijñā,” skilled in recognizing auspicious indications, and she observes the messenger’s calm, joyful demeanor as a favorable sign before inquiring further.

Why did Rukmiṇī question the messenger after seeing his joyful face?

Rukmiṇī had sent him to Kṛṣṇa; seeing him return composed and pleased suggested success, so she gently asked for the outcome—whether Kṛṣṇa had accepted her appeal.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from the messenger’s “unagitated” demeanor?

A devotee can cultivate steadiness and clarity—doing one’s duty without anxiety—so that one’s speech and actions reflect inner composure and faith in Bhagavān’s guidance.