Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
इति त्रिलोकेशपतेस्तदात्मन: प्रियस्य देव्यश्रुतपूर्वमप्रियम् । आश्रुत्य भीता हृदि जातवेपथु- श्चिन्तां दुरन्तां रुदती जगाम ह ॥ २२ ॥
iti trilokeśa-pates tadātmanaḥ priyasya devy aśruta-pūrvam apriyam āśrutya bhītā hṛdi jāta-vepathuś cintāṁ durantāṁ rudatī jagāma ha
Богиня Рукмини никогда прежде не слышала от своего возлюбленного — Господа Шри Кришны, владыки владык трёх миров — таких неприятных слов. Она испугалась; сердце её задрожало, и в невыносимой тревоге она заплакала.
Because Kṛṣṇa—her beloved and very life—spoke words that sounded unpleasing and rejecting, which she had never heard from Him before; fearing loss of His favor, she trembled and wept in overwhelming anxiety.
In this līlā, Kṛṣṇa’s words function as a divine test and revelation of Rukmiṇī’s pure devotion—showing how deeply a perfected devotee depends on the Lord’s grace and cannot tolerate separation in any form.
When spiritual life brings moments that feel like rejection or dryness, this verse reminds a devotee to stay sincere and humble, taking refuge in prayer and steadiness rather than resentment—trusting that the Lord’s tests can deepen bhakti.