Shloka 12
Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
राजभ्यो बिभ्यत: सुभ्रु समुद्रं शरणं गतान् । बलवद्भि: कृतद्वेषान् प्रायस्त्यक्तनृपासनान् ॥ १२ ॥
rājabhyo bibhyataḥ su-bhru samudraṁ śaraṇaṁ gatān balavadbhiḥ kṛta-dveṣān prāyas tyakta-nṛpāsanān
โอ้สตรีคิ้วงาม ด้วยความหวาดกลัวต่อกษัตริย์เหล่านั้น เราจึงไปพึ่งพามหาสมุทรเป็นที่ลี้ภัย เราได้ก่อเวรกับผู้มีกำลัง และแทบละทิ้งบัลลังก์ราชาไปแล้ว
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments on this verse as follows: “The Lord’s mentality here can be understood as follows: ‘When I gave Rukmiṇī a single flower from the heavenly pārijāta tree, Satyabhāmā showed such a torrent of fury that I could not pacify her even by bowing down at her feet. Only when I gave her a whole pārijāta tree was she satisfied. Rukmiṇī, however, did not display any anger even when she saw Me give Satyabhāmā the whole tree. So how can I enjoy the nectar of angry words from this wife, who never feels jealousy, who is supremely sober and who always speaks pleasingly?’ Thus considering, the Supreme Lord decided, ‘If I speak like this to her, I will be able to provoke her anger.’ This is how some authorities explain Kṛṣṇa’s speech to Rukmiṇī.”
FAQs
In this verse, Kṛṣṇa explains that due to fear of hostile kings and the enmity of powerful rulers, He and His people took refuge by the ocean—pointing to the strategic, protected setting of Dvārakā.
Kṛṣṇa is addressing Rukmiṇī directly (“O fair-browed one”), explaining the political hostility surrounding Him—how many rulers opposed Him, prompting the move to an ocean-protected capital.
When surrounded by conflict or opposition, one should seek proper shelter—spiritual refuge in Bhagavān and practical protection through wise planning—without abandoning dharma.