Shloka 42
Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
कान्यं श्रयेत तव पादसरोजगन्ध- माघ्राय सन्मुखरितं जनतापवर्गम् । लक्ष्म्यालयं त्वविगणय्य गुणालयस्य मर्त्या सदोरुभयमर्थविविक्तदृष्टि: ॥ ४२ ॥
kānyaṁ śrayeta tava pāda-saroja-gandham āghrāya san-mukharitaṁ janatāpavargam lakṣmy-ālayaṁ tv avigaṇayya guṇālayasya martyā sadoru-bhayam artha-viviita-dṛṣṭiḥ
L'arôme de Vos pieds pareils au lotus, glorifié par les grands saints, accorde aux gens la libération et est la demeure de la déesse Lakshmi. Quelle femme chercherait refuge auprès d'un autre homme après avoir savouré cet arôme ? Puisque Vous êtes la demeure des qualités transcendantales, quelle femme mortelle ayant la perspicacité de distinguer son véritable intérêt mépriserait ce parfum et dépendrait plutôt de quelqu'un qui est toujours sujet à une peur terrible ?
In text 16 Lord Kṛṣṇa claimed that He was guṇair hīnāḥ, “bereft of all good qualities.” To refute this claim, the devoted Rukmiṇī here states that the Lord is guṇālaya, “the abode of all good qualities.” In a single moment the so-called powerful men of this world can be reduced to utter helplessness and confusion. Indeed, destruction is the inevitable fate of all powerful masculine bodies. The Lord, however, has an eternal, spiritual body that is omnipotent and infinitely beautiful, and thus, as Queen Rukmiṇī argues here, how could any sane, enlightened woman take shelter of anyone but the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa?
FAQs
It teaches that once one understands Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet as the true refuge that ends suffering, a discerning person will not seek other shelters that ultimately produce fear and insecurity.
In response to Kṛṣṇa’s teasing words, Rukmiṇī affirms her exclusive devotion, declaring that no worthy alternative shelter exists once one has tasted the sweetness and safety of His lotus feet.
Practice choosing spiritual shelter over unstable supports—regularly hear and speak Kṛṣṇa’s glories, remember His feet as your refuge, and reduce dependence on sources of security that can change or fail.