Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28

Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance

Devanagari script

प्रमृज्याश्रुकले नेत्रे स्तनौ चोपहतौ शुचा । आश्लिष्य बाहुना राजननन्यविषयां सतीम् ॥ २७ ॥ सान्‍त्‍वयामास सान्‍त्‍वज्ञ: कृपया कृपणां प्रभु: । हास्यप्रौढिभ्रमच्चित्तामतदर्हां सतां गति: ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

pramṛjyāśru-kale netre stanau copahatau śucā āśliṣya bāhunā rājan ananya-viṣayāṁ satīm

Translation

O King, the Lord, refuge of the saintly, wiped her tear-filled eyes and her breast wet with sorrow’s tears, and embraced His chaste wife who desired only Him. Expert in consolation, Śrī Kṛṣṇa mercifully soothed grieving Rukmiṇī, whose mind had been unsettled by His subtle joking, though she did not deserve such pain.

Synonyms

• सान्त्वयामास: consoled
• सान्त्वयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय् (धातु, नामधातु from सान्त्व)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he consoled’

• सान्त्व-ज्ञः: skilled in consoling
• सान्त्व-ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष = ‘knowing consolation/skillful in comforting’; qualifies ‘prabhuḥ/gatiḥ (subject)’

• कृपया: with compassion
• कृपया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• कृपणाम्: the pitiable woman
• कृपणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; object of ‘sāntvayāmāsa’

• प्रभुः: the Lord/master
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; apposition to subject

• हास्य-प्रौढि-भ्रमत्-चित्ताम्: whose mind was bewildered by intense joking
• हास्य-प्रौढि-भ्रमत्-चित्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हास्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रौढि (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रमत् (भ्रम् धातु, शतृ) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष समास = ‘whose mind is whirling due to the intensity of (his) joking/laughter’; qualifies ‘kṛpaṇām’

• अतदर्हाम्: not deserving that
• अतदर्हाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + तद् (सर्वनाम) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष = ‘not deserving that (treatment)’; qualifies ‘kṛpaṇām’

• सताम्: of the virtuous
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• गतिः: refuge/destination
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; apposition to subject (‘prabhuḥ’)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Rukmiṇī
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna consoling His devotees?

This verse portrays Kṛṣṇa as sāntva-jña (expert at comforting) and satāṁ gati (refuge of the saintly), personally embracing and consoling Rukmiṇī when His joking caused her distress.

Why did Krishna comfort Rukmini in Bhagavatam 10.60?

Kṛṣṇa’s playful, bold joking bewildered Rukmiṇī and made her sorrowful; seeing her tears and pain, He compassionately reassured her because she was a chaste, exclusive-hearted devotee who did not deserve such distress.

What is the practical teaching of ananya-bhakti (exclusive devotion) from Rukmini’s mood?

Rukmiṇī’s “ananya-viṣayā” focus shows steadiness in love for the Lord alone; in daily life it means keeping one’s spiritual center in Kṛṣṇa despite emotional ups and downs, trusting Him as the ultimate shelter.