Shloka 34
Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
श्रीरुक्मिण्युवाच नन्वेवमेतदरविन्दविलोचनाह यद्वै भवान् भगवतोऽसदृशी विभूम्न: । क्व स्वे महिम्न्यभिरतो भगवांस्त्र्यधीश: क्वाहं गुणप्रकृतिरज्ञगृहीतपादा ॥ ३४ ॥
śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca nanv evam etad aravinda-vilocanāha yad vai bhavān bhagavato ’sadṛśī vibhūmnaḥ kva sve mahimny abhirato bhagavāṁs try-adhīśaḥ kvāhaṁ guṇa-prakṛtir ajña-gṛhīta-pādā
Śrī Rukmiṇī berkata: Wahai yang bermata teratai, apa yang Engkau katakan memang benar. Aku tidak layak bagi Bhagavān Yang Mahakuasa. Apa bandingannya antara Tuhan Tertinggi, penguasa tiga dewa utama yang bersukacita dalam kemuliaan-Nya sendiri, dengan diriku—seorang wanita bersifat duniawi yang kakinya digenggam oleh orang bodoh?
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī lists the faults Lord Kṛṣṇa had described in Himself that He claimed disqualified Him from being Rukmiṇī’s husband. These include incompatibility, fearfulness, taking shelter in the ocean, quarreling with the powerful, abandoning His kingdom, uncertainty as to His identity, acting against ordinary standards of behavior, having no good qualities, being praised falsely by beggars, aloofness, and lack of desire for family life. The Lord claimed that Rukmiṇī had failed to recognize these bad qualities in Him. Now she begins to respond to all the Lord’s statements.
FAQs
Rukmiṇī acknowledges Kṛṣṇa as the unequaled Supreme Lord and places herself as materially conditioned and ignorant, showing that true bhakti naturally expresses humility and dependence on His lotus feet.
In the intimate exchange where Kṛṣṇa playfully tests her, Rukmiṇī responds with devotional humility—affirming His supreme position and her own smallness—thus revealing her deep surrender and love.
Practice sincere humility by remembering God’s greatness, reducing ego-driven comparisons, and consciously taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa through prayer, mantra, and service—even while living amid worldly duties.