Shloka 6
Kṛṣṇa’s Queens, Their Sons, and Balarāma’s Victory over Rukmī at Dice
Aniruddha–Rocanā Marriage Context
प्रत्युद्गमासनवरार्हणपादशौच- ताम्बूलविश्रमणवीजनगन्धमाल्यै: । केशप्रसारशयनस्नपनोपहार्यै- र्दासीशता अपि विभोर्विदधु: स्म दास्यम् ॥ ६ ॥
pratyudgamāsana-varārhaṇa-pāda-śauca- tāmbūla-viśramaṇa-vījana-gandha-mālyaiḥ keśa-prasāra-śayana-snapanopahāryaiḥ dāsī-śatā api vibhor vidadhuḥ sma dāsyam
Walau tiap permaisuri memiliki ratusan pelayan, mereka tetap memilih melayani Tuhan sendiri: menyongsong-Nya dengan rendah hati, mempersilakan duduk, memuja dengan perlengkapan terbaik, membasuh dan memijat kaki-Nya, menyuguhkan tāmbūla, mengipasi, mengoleskan cendana harum, menghias dengan rangkaian bunga, merapikan rambut, menyiapkan peraduan, memandikan, serta mempersembahkan aneka hadiah—demikianlah mereka menjalankan bhakti sebagai hamba-Nya.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Śukadeva Gosvāmī is so eager to describe these glorious pastimes of the Lord with His queens that he has repeated these verses. That is, text 5 of this chapter is almost identical with text 44 of the Fifty-ninth Chapter in this canto, and text 6 is identical with text 45 of that chapter. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the term varārhaṇa (“excellent offerings”) indicates that the queens offered the Lord palmfuls of flowers ( puṣpāñjali ) and palmfuls of jewels ( ratnāñjali ).
FAQs
This verse describes dāsya-bhakti as intimate, practical service to Kṛṣṇa—welcoming Him, honoring Him, washing His feet, and caring for His comfort with offerings like garlands, fragrance, fanning, bathing, and preparing His resting place.
Śukadeva highlights that even those in seemingly ordinary roles in Dvārakā were engaged in exalted devotion, because their daily duties became direct loving service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Offer practical, consistent service with devotion—care for sacred practices (pujā, cleanliness, offerings), serve devotees, and do everyday work in a spirit of honoring and pleasing the Lord.