Shloka 10

Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara

Devanagari script

सा तं पतिं पद्मदलायतेक्षणं प्रलम्बबाहुं नरलोकसुन्दरम् । सव्रीडहासोत्तभितभ्रुवेक्षती प्रीत्योपतस्थे रतिरङ्ग सौरतै: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

sā tam patiṁ padma-dalāyatekṣaṇaṁ pralamba-bāhuṁ nara-loka-sundaram sa-vrīḍa-hāsottabhita-bhruvekṣatī prītyopatasthe ratir aṅga saurataiḥ

Translation

My dear King, with a bashful smile and raised eyebrows, Māyāvatī exhibited various gestures of conjugal attraction as she lovingly approached her husband, whose eyes were broad like the petals of a lotus, whose arms were very long and who was the most beautiful of men.

Synonyms

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तम् इति विशेष्य (apposition)

• पद्मदलायतेक्षणम्: whose eyes are long like lotus-petals
• पद्मदलायतेक्षणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म-दल-आयत-ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक: पद्म + दल + आयत + ईक्षण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य ईक्षणे पद्मदलवत् आयते’ इति; विशेषण पतिम्

• प्रलम्बबाहुम्: long-armed
• प्रलम्बबाहुम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलम्ब-बाहु (प्रातिपदिक: प्रलम्ब + बाहु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य बाहू प्रलम्बौ’ इति; विशेषण पतिम्

• नरलोकसुन्दरम्: beautiful in the world of men
• नरलोकसुन्दरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर-लोक-सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक: नर + लोक + सुन्दर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘नरलोके सुन्दरः’ इति (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषण पतिम्

• सव्रीडहासोत्तभितभ्रुवेक्षती: looking with brows raised by a shy smile
• सव्रीडहासोत्तभितभ्रुवेक्षती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स- व्रीडा-हास-उत्तभित-भ्रु-ईक्षत् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-समूह)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ) ‘ईक्षती’—स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पूर्वपद-समासः बहुव्रीहिः—‘व्रीडाहासेन उत्तभिते भ्रू यस्याः’ इति; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन (as descriptive participle of subject)

• प्रीत्या: with love
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाव-करण (instrumental of manner)

• उपतस्थे: she attended/approached
• उपतस्थे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• रतिः: Rati
• रतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अङ्ग: O dear
• अङ्ग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अङ्ग (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधनार्थक-निपात (vocative particle/interjection)

• सौरतैः: with amorous acts/embraces
• सौरतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; साधन/प्रकार (means/manner)

Purport

Māyāvatī exhibited her conjugal attraction for Pradyumna even before revealing their true identities. Naturally this caused some confusion at first, as described in the following verse.

Characters & Entities

• Rati
• Pradyumna

FAQs

Who is Rati in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.55, and why does she approach Pradyumna like this?

Rati is Kāma-deva’s consort; in this chapter she recognizes Pradyumna as her eternal husband (Kāma reborn) and, after his victory, approaches him with modest affection in lawful conjugal love.

What does Bhagavatam 10.55.10 teach about conjugal love and devotion?

The verse portrays refined, affectionate marital intimacy—showing that love and beauty, when aligned with dharma and purity of heart, can be expressed as a sacred bond rather than mere sensuality.

How can a modern reader apply the message of this shloka in daily life?

Cultivate affection, respect, and modesty within committed relationships, seeing love as service and responsibility rather than exploitation—thus elevating household life with virtue and devotion.