Shloka 32
Chapter 54
दृष्ट्वा भ्रातृ-वधोद्योगं रुक्मिणी भय-विह्वला । पतित्वा पादयोर्भर्तुर् उवाच करुणं सती ॥
dṛṣṭvā bhrātṛ-vadhodyogaṃ rukmiṇī bhaya-vihvalā / patitvā pādayor bhartur uvāca karuṇaṃ satī //
Seeing her husband about to slay her brother, saintly Rukmiṇī was overwhelmed with fear. Falling at her Lord’s feet, she spoke with tender compassion.
The Bhagavatam here reveals the tender, devotional heart of Śrī Rukmiṇī and the moral beauty of Kṛṣṇa’s līlā. Though Rukmī is an offender who attacked Kṛṣṇa, he is still Rukmiṇī’s brother; thus, she experiences a painful conflict between justice and familial bond. Her response is not argument or pride but surrender—she falls at Kṛṣṇa’s feet, the classic posture of śaraṇāgati (taking shelter). By describing her as satī (chaste, virtuous, faithful), the text emphasizes her purity of motive: she seeks mercy, not to excuse wrongdoing, but to prevent excessive violence and preserve dharmic balance. This moment also teaches that the Lord is moved by the heartfelt appeal of His devotee; divine action in the Bhagavatam is relational—Kṛṣṇa’s power is complete, yet He willingly allows love and devotion to ‘bind’ Him. The verse thus becomes a meditation on compassion, surrender, and the transforming influence of a devotee’s prayer.
FAQs
This verse portrays Rukmiṇī taking shelter by falling at Kṛṣṇa’s feet—an emblem of śaraṇāgati—showing that heartfelt surrender is the devotee’s strongest appeal.
Although Rukmī had offended and attacked, he was her brother; fearing his death, Rukmiṇī compassionately begged Kṛṣṇa to restrain His punishment.
It teaches to uphold dharma while cultivating compassion—seek resolution through humility, sincere speech, and appeal to higher principles rather than vengeance.