Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 3
Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
तस्मिनन्तर्गृहे भ्राजन्मुक्तादामविलम्बिना । विराजिते वितानेन दीपैर्मणिमयैरपि ॥ ३ ॥ मल्लिकादामभि: पुष्पैर्द्विरेफकुलनादिते । जालरन्ध्रप्रविष्टैश्च गोभिश्चन्द्रमसोऽमलै: ॥ ४ ॥ पारिजातवनामोदवायुनोद्यानशालिना । धूपैरगुरुजै राजन् जालरन्ध्रविनिर्गतै: ॥ ५ ॥ पय:फेननिभे शुभ्रे पर्यङ्के कशिपूत्तमे । उपतस्थे सुखासीनं जगतामीश्वरं पतिम् ॥ ६ ॥
tasmin antar-gṛhe bhrājan- muktā-dāma-vilambinā virājite vitānena dīpair maṇi-mayair api
Napakaganda ng silid ni Reyna Rukmiṇī: may toldang nakasabit ang makinang na mga kuwintas ng perlas at mga hiyas na nagniningning na parang mga ilawan. Ang mga garland ng sampagita at iba pang bulaklak ay pinupuno ng ugong ng mga bubuyog, at ang dalisay na sinag ng buwan ay sumisilip sa mga butas ng bintanang may rehas. O Hari, ang usok ng insensong aguru na lumalabas sa mga siwang at ang simoy na may halimuyak ng gubat ng pārijāta ay ginawang parang hardin ang silid. Doon, pinaglingkuran ng Reyna ang kanyang asawa—ang Panginoon ng lahat ng daigdig—na nakahilig nang maginhawa sa puting malambot na higaan na tila bula ng gatas.
According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Rukmiṇī’s palace was quite famous then, as now, and these descriptions give a glimpse into its opulence. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī adds that the word amalaiḥ in this verse may also be read aruṇaiḥ, which would indicate that when this pastime took place the moon had just risen, bathing the entire palace in beautiful ruddy moonshine.
FAQs
This verse depicts the inner chamber adorned with pearl garlands, jeweled lamps, and a canopy—showing divine opulence as part of Kṛṣṇa’s royal pastimes in Dvārakā.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these details to King Parīkṣit while recounting Kṛṣṇa’s līlā with Queen Rukmiṇī.
Offer beauty and cleanliness in one’s home or altar as devotion—seeing refinement not as vanity, but as loving service when centered on the Lord.