Shloka 56

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

रथं समारोप्य सुपर्णलक्षणं राजन्यचक्रं परिभूय माधव: । ततो ययौ रामपुरोगम: शनै: श‍ृगालमध्यादिव भागहृद्धरि: ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

rathaṁ samāropya suparṇa-lakṣaṇaṁ rājanya-cakraṁ paribhūya mādhavaḥ tato yayau rāma-purogamaḥ śanaiḥ śṛgāla-madhyād iva bhāga-hṛd dhariḥ

Translation

Placing the princess upon His chariot, whose banner bore the emblem of Garuḍa, Lord Mādhava drove back the ring of kings. With Balarāma leading, He withdrew slowly—like a lion carrying off its prey from the midst of jackals.

Synonyms

• रथम्: the chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समारोप्य: having placed (her) upon
• समारोप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-√रुह्/√रुप् (धातु; causative sense ‘to place upon’)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव

• सुपर्ण: Garuda
• सुपर्ण: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘Garuda’ as member

• लक्षणम्: bearing Garuda’s emblem
• लक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सुपर्ण-लक्षणम् = तत्पुरुष (‘marked with Garuḍa’)

• राजन्य: kings/warriors
• राजन्य: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; ‘warrior-kings’ as member

• चक्रम्: the host of kings
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; राजन्य-चक्रम् = तत्पुरुष (‘circle/host of kings’)

• परिभूय: having overcome; bypassing
• परिभूय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि-√भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• माधवः: Mādhava (Krishna)
• माधवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ततः: then; from there
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (then/from there)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• राम: Rama (Balarama)
• राम: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• पुरोगमः: with Rama leading
• पुरोगमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; राम-पुरोगमः = तत्पुरुष (‘having Rama in front/led by Rama’)

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• शृगाल: jackals
• शृगाल: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृगाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• मध्यात्: from the midst
• मध्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; शृगाल-मध्यात् = तत्पुरुष (‘from among jackals’)

• इव: as if; like
• इव: Upamana-marker (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (particle of comparison)

• भाग: share; portion
• भाग: Samasa-anga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग

• हृत्: stealer of the share
• हृत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाग-हृत् = उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘share-stealing/abducting’)

• हरिः: Hari (Krishna)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava, Hari)
• Balarāma (Rāma)
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the meaning of Kṛṣṇa’s chariot marked with Garuḍa (suparṇa-lakṣaṇa) in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

It signifies the Lord’s supreme sovereignty and divine protection—Kṛṣṇa rides under the emblem of Garuḍa, the eternal carrier of Viṣṇu, indicating that no worldly power can obstruct His will.

Why did Kṛṣṇa overpower the assembled kings in Canto 10 Chapter 53?

Those kings opposed Kṛṣṇa’s taking of Rukmiṇī; the verse describes Kṛṣṇa effortlessly brushing aside their military circle, demonstrating that divine purpose and dharma prevail over pride and rivalry.

How can devotees apply the lesson of ‘lion among jackals’ in modern life?

By cultivating steady devotion and moral courage—remaining composed and purposeful amid social pressure, criticism, or hostility—trusting that sincere dharma-centered action is ultimately protected by the Lord.