Shloka 23
Chapter 54
विकत्थमानः कुमतिर् ईश्वरस्याप्रमाण-वित् ।
रथेनैकेन गोविन्दं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेत्य अथाह्वयत् ॥
vikatthamānaḥ kumatir īśvarasyāpramāṇa-vit / rathenaikena govindaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭhety athāhvayat //
Boasting arrogantly, that misguided man—ignorant of the immeasurable power of the Supreme Lord—challenged Govinda from his lone chariot, crying, “Stand! Stand!”
In the Rukmiṇī-haraṇa narrative, Rukmī’s pride reaches its peak. Though facing Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord whose potency cannot be measured by ordinary standards, Rukmī imagines himself equal or superior due to worldly strength, royal status, and martial confidence. The verse highlights a recurring Bhagavata theme: when intelligence becomes “kumatī” (misdirected), a person mistakes temporary power for ultimate authority. Rukmī’s challenge—“tiṣṭha, tiṣṭha” (“stand and fight”)—is not merely a call to battle but a symptom of ego that wants to control the Lord’s movements and outcomes. Yet Govinda is never bound by another’s command; He participates in battle as līlā, to protect dharma and to humble arrogance. Devotionally, this shloka warns seekers that the Supreme cannot be assessed by material calculation; surrender and humility are the proper approach to the Lord, whereas boasting leads to humiliation and downfall.
FAQs
This verse shows that boasting rooted in misguided intelligence blinds one to the Lord’s immeasurable supremacy, leading to eventual humiliation when reality asserts itself.
Overpowered by ego and rivalry, Rukmī tried to force Krishna into his preferred terms of battle, forgetting that the Supreme Lord is never controlled by anyone’s command.
Avoid measuring yourself and others by temporary power; cultivate humility and remembrance of God’s supremacy, which protects one from ego-driven conflict and poor decisions.