Shloka 17

Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance

Devanagari script

अथात्मनोऽनुरूपं वै भजस्व क्षत्रियर्षभम् । येन त्वमाशिष: सत्या इहामुत्र च लप्स्यसे ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

athātmano ’nurūpaṁ vai bhajasva kṣatriyarṣabham yena tvam āśiṣaḥ satyā ihāmutra ca lapsyase

Translation

ഇപ്പോൾ നീ നിനക്കനുരൂപമായ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ക്ഷത്രിയ-നരശ്രേഷ്ഠനെ ഭർത്താവായി സ്വീകരിക്ക; അവനാൽ നിന്റെ ആശീർവാദങ്ങളും ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളും ഇഹലോകത്തും പരലോകത്തും സത്യമായി സഫലമാകും.

Synonyms

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/now)

• आत्मनः: of yourself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive); एकवचन

• अनुरूपम्: suitable, befitting
• अनुरूपम्: Karma (कर्म/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied object/choice)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/एवकारार्थ (emphatic particle: indeed)

• भजस्व: choose/seek/serve
• भजस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• क्षत्रियर्षभम्: the best of kṣatriyas
• क्षत्रियर्षभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षत्रियाणाम् ऋषभः = best of kṣatriyas)

• येन: by whom/whereby
• येन: Karana (करण/हेतु-साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental); एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/nominative); एकवचन

• आशिषः: blessings/boons
• आशिषः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); बहुवचन (आशिषः = blessings, acc. pl.)

• सत्याः: true, unfailing
• सत्याः: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative); बहुवचन; विशेषण (आशिषः)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (adverb: here/in this world)

• अमुत्र: there/afterlife
• अमुत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अमुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (adverb: there/in the next world)

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

• लप्स्यसे: you will obtain
• लप्स्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa continues to tease His beautiful wife, trying to provoke her loving anger.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Rukmiṇī

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about choosing a suitable spouse?

This verse advises accepting a partner who is truly befitting one’s position and dharma, so that one’s rightful aspirations are fulfilled both materially (iha) and spiritually (amutra).

Why did Krishna say this to Rukmini in Canto 10 Chapter 60?

In their intimate exchange, Kṛṣṇa speaks in a way that tests and deepens Rukmiṇī’s loving devotion, while also presenting a dharmic principle about suitability and fulfillment.

What is the practical application of “iha and amutra” in modern life?

Make life choices aligned with dharma and devotion—so they bring stability and goodness now, and also support spiritual progress beyond this life.