Shloka 4

Chapter 54

Devanagari script

पत्युर्बलं शरासारैश्छन्नं वीक्ष्य सुमध्यमाः ।

सव्रीड्मैक्षत तद्वक्त्रं भयविह्वललोचना ॥

Transliteration

patyur balaṃ śarāsāraiś channaṃ vīkṣya su-madhyamā / sa-vrīḍm aikṣat tad-vaktraṃ bhaya-vihvala-locanā //

Translation

Seeing her husband’s army covered by volleys of arrows, the slender-waisted Rukmiṇī—her eyes trembling with fear—looked toward His face, her glance tinged with shyness.

Synonyms

• पत्युः: of (her) husband
• पत्युः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Genitive singular masculine

• बलम्: army/strength
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Accusative singular neuter

• शर-आसारैः: by torrents of arrows
• शर-आसारैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + आसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (शराणाम् आसारैः); पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; Instrumental plural masculine

• छन्नम्: covered
• छन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √छद् (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; agreeing with बलम्

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वीक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः)
• Form: अव्यय-भावः, क्त्वान्त (Gerund); having seen

• सु-मध्यमाः: the slender-waisted lady (Rukmiṇī)
• सु-मध्यमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (सु + मध्यमाः = ‘very slender-waisted’); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular feminine

• स-व्रीडम्: bashfully
• स-व्रीडम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय) + व्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; क्रियाविशेषणम्; ‘with modesty/shame’

• ऐक्षत: looked
• ऐक्षत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमा-पुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; Past active ‘she looked’

• तद्-वक्त्रम्: his face
• तद्-वक्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (तस्य वक्त्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Accusative singular neuter

• भय-विह्वल-लोचना: whose eyes were agitated with fear
• भय-विह्वल-लोचना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (भयेन विह्वलानि लोचनानि यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular feminine

Purport

Rukmiṇī’s inner mood is revealed with great tenderness. Though she has chosen Kṛṣṇa as her husband and shelter, the immediate sight of danger naturally stirs fear—bhaya-vihvala-locanā. The Bhāgavatam does not portray devotion as emotionally numb; rather, it shows a devotee’s humanity harmonized with surrender. Her glance toward Kṛṣṇa’s face indicates where her real refuge lies: not in military arrangements, but in the Lord Himself. The phrase sa-vrīḍam (“with shyness”) also preserves the sweetness of conjugal devotion (mādhurya-bhakti): even amid crisis, her relationship with Kṛṣṇa remains intimate and personal. In the larger narrative, such moments magnify Kṛṣṇa’s role as protector and beloved, strengthening the reader’s trust that Bhagavān guides and safeguards those who take shelter of Him.

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

Why was Rukmini afraid if Krishna is the Supreme Lord?

The verse shows natural human emotion in līlā; despite fear, Rukmiṇī instinctively seeks reassurance by looking to Kṛṣṇa’s face, revealing her dependence on Him.

What does ‘sa-vrīḍam’ (with shyness) indicate in this verse?

It highlights the intimate conjugal mood of devotion—Rukmiṇī’s loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa remains present even amid battlefield danger.

Practical application: how can this verse help during anxiety?

It teaches that fear can arise, but the practice is to turn one’s attention toward the Lord—seeking His shelter through remembrance, prayer, and steady trust.