Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 33
Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival
यस्मिन् तदा मधुपतेर्महिषीसहस्रं श्रोणीभरेण शनकै: क्वणदङ्घ्रिशोभम् । मध्ये सुचारु कुचकुङ्कुमशोणहारं श्रीमन्मुखं प्रचलकुण्डलकुन्तलाढ्यम् ॥ ३३ ॥
yasmin tadā madhu-pater mahiṣī-sahasraṁ śroṇī-bhareṇa śanakaiḥ kvaṇad-aṅghri-śobham madhye su-cāru kuca-kuṅkuma-śoṇa-hāraṁ śrīman-mukhaṁ pracala-kuṇḍala-kuntalāḍhyam
In that palace were also the thousands of queens of Lord Madhupati, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Burdened by their hips, they moved with gentle, measured steps, and the bells on their feet chimed sweetly. Their waists were exquisitely slender, the kuṅkuma from their breasts tinged their pearl necklaces red, and their swaying earrings and flowing hair enhanced the radiant beauty of their faces.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “After looking at such beauties in the palace of King Yudhiṣṭhira, Duryodhana became envious. He became especially envious and lustful upon seeing the beauty of Draupadī because he had cherished a special attraction for her from the very beginning of her marriage with the Pāṇḍavas. In the marriage selection assembly of Draupadī, Duryodhana had also been present, and with other princes he had been very much captivated by the beauty of Draupadī, but he had failed to achieve her.”
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes Kṛṣṇa’s queens as moving gracefully with softly chiming anklets, radiant faces, and ornaments marked by kuṅkuma—presenting their beauty as part of Kṛṣṇa’s divine opulence.
He is narrating the splendor of the royal scene in Canto 10, highlighting Kṛṣṇa’s majesty and the exalted status of His associates, which deepens the listener’s devotional remembrance (smaraṇa).
Use the verse for devotional contemplation: reflect on the sacredness of Kṛṣṇa’s entourage and cultivate respectful, focused remembrance rather than mundane, objectifying vision.