Shloka 8

Mucukunda’s Departure; Jarāsandha’s Pursuit; Prelude to Rukmiṇī’s Abduction

Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins

Devanagari script

विहाय वित्तं प्रचुरमभीतौ भीरुभीतवत् । पद्‍भ्यां पद्मपलाशाभ्यां चेलतुर्बहुयोजनम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

vihāya vittaṁ pracuram abhītau bhīru-bhīta-vat padbhyāṁ palāśābhyāṁ celatur bahu-yojanam

Translation

豊かな財を捨て、恐れなきまま恐れるふりをして、蓮の葉のような御足で幾多の由旬を歩まれた。

Synonyms

• विहाय: having abandoned
• विहाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकालिक क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), from √हा with उपसर्ग वि-; ‘having abandoned’

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रचुरम्: abundant
• प्रचुरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रचुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of वित्तम्

• अभीतौ: fearless (the two)
• अभीतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् of implied ‘तौ’ (the two)

• भीरु-भीत-वत्: as if frightened
• भीरु-भीत-वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भीरु (प्रातिपदिक) + भीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable) formed with -वत् ‘like’; ‘like one afraid of a timid person’/‘as if frightened’

• पद्भ्याम्: with (their) feet
• पद्भ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), द्विवचन

• पद्म-पलाशाभ्याम्: with (feet) like lotus-leaves
• पद्म-पलाशाभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण) / Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पलाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/उपमान-भाव): ‘lotus-leaf (like)’; used as upamā for feet

• चेलतुः: they moved / went
• चेलतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• बहु-योजनम्: many yojanas (a long distance)
• बहु-योजनम्: Karma (कर्म) / Deśa-parimāṇa (देशपरिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे/परिमाणवाचकं: ‘many yojanas (a long distance)’ as extent

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about abandoning wealth in times of danger?

This verse highlights that when fear arises, even those who are ordinarily fearless may abandon great wealth and flee—showing how unstable material security is compared to inner strength and divine shelter.

Who is speaking this verse in Canto 10 Chapter 52 of Srimad Bhagavatam?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating the events of Canto 10 to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, describing the swift flight of the persons involved in the conflict surrounding Rukmiṇī’s marriage episode.

What is the practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It teaches detachment and perspective: wealth cannot guarantee safety or peace, so one should cultivate steadiness, courage, and spiritual refuge rather than relying solely on possessions.