Shloka 16
Draupadī Meets Kṛṣṇa’s Queens — Narratives of the Lord’s Marriages and the Queens’ Bhakti
श्रीभद्रोवाच पिता मे मातुलेयाय स्वयमाहूय दत्तवान् । कृष्णे कृष्णाय तच्चित्तामक्षौहिण्या सखीजनै: ॥ १५ ॥ अस्य मे पादसंस्पर्शो भवेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि । कर्मभिर्भ्राम्यमाणाया येन तच्छ्रेय आत्मन: ॥ १६ ॥
śrī-bhadrovāca pitā me mātuleyāya svayam āhūya dattavān kṛṣṇe kṛṣṇāya tac-cittām akṣauhiṇyā sakhī-janaiḥ
Śrī Bhadrā berkata: Wahai Draupadī, ayahku dengan kehendaknya sendiri memanggil keponakannya, Śrī Kṛṣṇa—kepada-Nya hatiku telah kuserahkan—lalu menyerahkan aku kepada-Nya sebagai mempelai. Ayahku mempersembahkan aku kepada Tuhan dengan pengawal militer satu akṣauhiṇī dan rombongan sahabat perempuanku. Kesempurnaanku yang tertinggi ialah ini: meski aku mengembara dari kelahiran ke kelahiran karena karma, semoga di setiap kelahiran aku diizinkan menyentuh kaki teratai Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
With the word ātmanaḥ, Queen Bhadrā speaks not only for herself but for all living entities as well. The soul’s perfection ( śreya ātmanaḥ ) is devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, both in this world and beyond, in liberation.
FAQs
In this verse Bhadrā highlights that her mind was fixed on Kṛṣṇa, showing that devotion (single-minded remembrance) is central even within worldly relationships when Kṛṣṇa is the object.
She describes the royal marriage arrangement: along with the bride, wealth and protection were offered—here, an akṣauhiṇī division and attendants—indicating the political and dynastic context around Kṛṣṇa’s marriages.
Cultivate steady remembrance of Kṛṣṇa through daily japa, reading Bhagavatam, and offering one’s duties to Him—so the mind remains anchored in devotion amid responsibilities.