Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

अयं हि परमो लाभो गृहेषु गृहमेधिनाम् । यन्नर्मैरीयते याम: प्रियया भीरु भामिनि ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

ayaṁ hi paramo lābho gṛheṣu gṛha-medhinām yan narmair īyate yāmaḥ priyayā bhīru bhāmini

Translation

โอ นางผู้ขี้อายและเจ้าอารมณ์ ความสุขอันยิ่งใหญ่ที่สุดที่คฤหัสถ์จะได้ในเรือน คือการใช้เวลาไปกับการหยอกล้อพูดเล่นกับภรรยาผู้เป็นที่รัก

Synonyms

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘lābhaḥ’

• लाभः: gain/benefit
• लाभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गृहेषु: in homes
• गृहेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन

• गृह-मेधिनाम्: of householders
• गृह-मेधिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक) + मेधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष = ‘of householders’

• यत्: that which/whereby
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun introducing clause (‘that which/whereby’)

• नर्मैः: by playful words/jokes
• नर्मैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ईयते: is spent/passes
• ईयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु, गत्यर्थ)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘is passed/spent’

• यामः: time (a watch/period)
• यामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of ‘īyate’

• प्रियया: with the beloved
• प्रियया: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• भीरु: O timid one
• भीरु: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• भामिनि: O lovely/angry-eyed lady
• भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Purport

The word bhāmini indicates an angry, passionate, temperamental woman. Since lovely Rukmiṇī did not become angry despite all provocation, the Lord is still speaking facetiously.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Rukmiṇī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the greatest gain for materialistic householders (gṛhamedhīs)?

This verse says their ‘supreme gain’ is spending the night-hours in affectionate, playful talk with one’s beloved—highlighting how their happiness is centered on intimate domestic enjoyment.

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

In Kṛṣṇa’s exchange with Rukmiṇī, He speaks in a teasing, instructive mood—contrasting worldly household pleasure with higher spiritual values, while also engaging in loving marital banter.

Practical application: what does this verse teach modern readers about relationships and spirituality?

It shows how easily ‘life’s greatest profit’ can be reduced to emotional comfort and romance; a devotee can value affection while remembering that lasting fulfillment comes from devotion to Bhagavān, not merely domestic enjoyment.