Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
तस्मिनन्तर्गृहे भ्राजन्मुक्तादामविलम्बिना । विराजिते वितानेन दीपैर्मणिमयैरपि ॥ ३ ॥ मल्लिकादामभि: पुष्पैर्द्विरेफकुलनादिते । जालरन्ध्रप्रविष्टैश्च गोभिश्चन्द्रमसोऽमलै: ॥ ४ ॥ पारिजातवनामोदवायुनोद्यानशालिना । धूपैरगुरुजै राजन् जालरन्ध्रविनिर्गतै: ॥ ५ ॥ पय:फेननिभे शुभ्रे पर्यङ्के कशिपूत्तमे । उपतस्थे सुखासीनं जगतामीश्वरं पतिम् ॥ ६ ॥
tasmin antar-gṛhe bhrājan- muktā-dāma-vilambinā virājite vitānena dīpair maṇi-mayair api
Los aposentos de la reina Rukmiṇī eran de una belleza extrema: un dosel colgaba con resplandecientes hileras de perlas, y gemas radiantes servían de lámparas. Guirnaldas de jazmín y otras flores, zumbadas por enjambres de abejas, adornaban el lugar, y los puros rayos de la luna entraban por las celosías. Oh rey, el incienso de aguru que salía por las rendijas y la brisa perfumada del bosque de pārijāta daban al cuarto el aire de un jardín. Allí la reina sirvió a su esposo, el Señor de todos los mundos, recostado con dicha en un lecho blanco y suave como la espuma de la leche.
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Rukmiṇī’s palace was quite famous then, as now, and these descriptions give a glimpse into its opulence. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī adds that the word amalaiḥ in this verse may also be read aruṇaiḥ, which would indicate that when this pastime took place the moon had just risen, bathing the entire palace in beautiful ruddy moonshine.
This verse depicts the inner chamber adorned with pearl garlands, jeweled lamps, and a canopy—showing divine opulence as part of Kṛṣṇa’s royal pastimes in Dvārakā.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these details to King Parīkṣit while recounting Kṛṣṇa’s līlā with Queen Rukmiṇī.
Offer beauty and cleanliness in one’s home or altar as devotion—seeing refinement not as vanity, but as loving service when centered on the Lord.