Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
श्रीभगवानुवाच मा मा वैदर्भ्यसूयेथा जाने त्वां मत्परायणाम् । त्वद्वच: श्रोतुकामेन क्ष्वेल्याचरितमङ्गने ॥ २९ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca mā mā vaidarbhy asūyethā jāne tvāṁ mat-parāyaṇām tvad-vacaḥ śrotu-kāmena kṣvelyācaritam aṅgane
Tuhan Yang Maha Esa bersabda: “Wahai Vaidarbhī, janganlah engkau berkecil hati terhadap-Ku. Aku tahu engkau sepenuhnya berserah kepada-Ku. Wahai wanita terkasih, Aku hanya berkata secara bergurau kerana ingin mendengar apa yang akan engkau ucapkan.”
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Lord Kṛṣṇa spoke the present verse because He thought that lovely Rukmiṇī might be afraid He would again say something to disturb her, or that she might be angry at what He had done.
It shows that Kṛṣṇa may speak or act playfully to deepen loving exchange, not to harm; He affirms the devotee’s sincerity and draws out heartfelt words.
After joking words that distressed Rukmiṇī, Kṛṣṇa reassures her that He knows her complete devotion and that His behavior was only playful, meant to hear her loving speech.
By keeping Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate refuge—responding to challenges without bitterness, strengthening prayer and remembrance, and maintaining trust that the Lord’s dealings ultimately nourish devotion.