Shloka 39
Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī
Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude
एवं प्रेमकलाबद्धा वदन्ति स्म पुरौकस: । कन्या चान्त:पुरात् प्रागाद् भटैर्गुप्ताम्बिकालयम् ॥ ३९ ॥
evaṁ prema-kalā-baddhā vadanti sma puraukasaḥ kanyā cāntaḥ-purāt prāgād bhaṭair guptāmbikālayam
Bound by the swelling tide of love, the townspeople spoke in this way. Then the bride, guarded by soldiers, left the inner palace to visit the temple of Ambikā.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the Medinī dictionary’s definition of the word kalā as follows: kalā mūle pravṛddhau syāc chilādāv aṁśa-mātrake. “The word kalā means ‘a root,’ ‘increase,’ ‘a stone’ or ‘a mere part.’”
FAQs
As part of the customary pre-marriage worship, Rukmiṇī went from the palace to Ambikā’s temple, escorted by guards—an event that also set the scene for Kṛṣṇa to take her away.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this verse while describing the public excitement in the city and Rukmiṇī’s movement from the palace to Ambikā’s shrine.
The verse shows how decisive moments arise amid social noise and public opinion; a devotee can remain focused on the intended spiritual goal while moving carefully and responsibly within worldly circumstances.