Shloka 22

Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture

Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict

Devanagari script

सा च तं सुन्दरवरं विलोक्य मुदितानना । दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये स्वगृहे पुम्भी रेमे प्राद्युम्निना समम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

sā ca taṁ sundara-varaṁ vilokya muditānanā duṣprekṣye sva-gṛhe pumbhī reme prādyumninā samam

Translation

Al contemplarlo, el más hermoso de los hombres, el rostro de Ūṣā se iluminó de gozo. Llevó al hijo de Pradyumna a sus aposentos privados—prohibidos incluso a la mirada de los varones—y allí disfrutó con él.

Synonyms

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुन्दरवरम्: the most handsome
• सुन्दरवरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय—सुन्दरः वरः (most handsome/excellent)

• विलोक्य: having seen
• विलोक्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय-भाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having looked at)

• मुदितानना: with a delighted face
• मुदितानना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मुद्) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः बहुव्रीहि—मुदितम् आननं यस्याः (one whose face is delighted)

• दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये: in a place hard to behold (secluded)
• दुष्प्रेक्ष्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्प्रेक्ष्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + √प्रेक्ष् + य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (स्थानवाचक-विशेषण), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; योग्यतार्थक (hard to be looked at)

• स्वगृहे: in her own house
• स्वगृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—स्वस्य गृहे (in her own house)

• पुम्भी: the maiden
• पुम्भी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्भी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (rare form) ‘young woman/maiden’

• रेमे: enjoyed/sported
• रेमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्राद्युम्निना: with Prādyumni (Aniruddha)
• प्राद्युम्निना: Saha (सह/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राद्युम्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सहार्थ (instrumental of accompaniment)

• समम्: together/equally
• समम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī
• Pradyumna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Rukmini and Pradyumna?

This verse describes Rukmiṇī’s joyful attraction to Pradyumna and their mutual conjugal happiness, emphasizing his exceptional beauty and her exclusive devotion within the palace setting.

Why is Rukmini described as 'difficult for other men to behold' (duṣprekṣyā)?

It indicates her protected, chaste royal status—unapproachable to other men—while highlighting that her intimacy was rightly shared only with her husband, Pradyumna.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It underscores fidelity, dignity, and sanctity in relationships—joy is deepest when love is aligned with dharma and exclusive commitment.