Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

अवधार्य शनैरीषद्वैलक्षण्येन योषित: । उपजग्मु: प्रमुदिता: सस्‍त्रीरत्नं सुविस्मिता: ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

avadhārya śanair īṣad vailakṣaṇyena yoṣitaḥ upajagmuḥ pramuditāḥ sa-strī ratnaṁ su-vismitāḥ

Translation

Gradually, noticing slight differences between His appearance and Kṛṣṇa’s, the women understood He was not the Lord Himself. Delighted and amazed, they approached Pradyumna together with his consort, a jewel among women.

Synonyms

• अवधार्य: having observed/realized
• अवधार्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive); ‘having ascertained/considered’

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अल्पत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• वैलक्षण्येन: by (their) embarrassment/awkwardness
• वैलक्षण्येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैलक्षण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; भाववाचक संज्ञा

• योषितः: the women
• योषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (वैदिक/काव्य-प्रयोगे ‘योषितः’); कर्तृपद

• उपजग्मुः: they approached
• उपजग्मुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• प्रमुदिताः: delighted
• प्रमुदिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-मुद् (धातु) → प्रमुदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• स-स्त्रीरत्नम्: along with the jewel among women (Rukmiṇī)
• स-स्त्रीरत्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + स्त्रीरत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सह’ अर्थे अव्ययीभाव; गन्तव्य/प्राप्तव्य (कर्म)

• सुविस्मिताः: greatly astonished
• सुविस्मिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + विस्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘सु’ अव्ययपूर्वक; कर्तृविशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

Who is called the 'strī-ratna' (jewel among women) in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.55.29?

In this verse, the phrase “sa-strī-ratnam” refers to Rukmiṇī, celebrated as an exceptional and virtuous queen, whose presence astonishes the women who approach her.

Why were the women shy and astonished when approaching Rukmiṇī in Canto 10 Chapter 55?

They had just seen or recognized her extraordinary beauty, fortune, and divine connection with Śrī Kṛṣṇa; this produced joyful wonder along with natural feminine bashfulness (vailakṣaṇya).

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 10.55.29 for modern life?

The verse highlights reverence for genuine virtue and devotion: when encountering true excellence, approach with humility, joy, and respectful conduct rather than envy or harsh judgment.