Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं सौरतसंलापैर्भगवान् जगदीश्वर: । स्वरतो रमया रेमे नरलोकं विडम्बयन् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ saurata-saṁlāpair bhagavān jagad-īśvaraḥ sva-rato ramayā reme nara-lokaṁ viḍambayan

Translation

شری شُک دیو نے کہا—یوں عاشقانہ گفتگوؤں کے ذریعے جگدیश्वर بھگوان نے رما (لکشمی) کے ساتھ لطف لیا اور انسانی سماج کے طریقوں کی نقالی کی۔

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: श्रीमान् शुकः

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb): प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• saurata-saṁlāpaiḥ: by amorous conversations
• saurata-saṁlāpaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saurata + saṁlāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: सौरताः संलापाः (amorous talks)

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jagad-īśvaraḥ: the Lord of the universe
• jagad-īśvaraḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: जगतः ईश्वरः

• sva-rataḥ: self-satisfied
• sva-rataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: स्वे रतः (delighting in himself)

• ramayā: with Ramā (Rukmiṇī)
• ramayā: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• reme: enjoyed / sported
• reme: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• nara-lokam: the world of men
• nara-lokam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: नराणां लोकः

• viḍambayan: mocking / imitating (as if)
• viḍambayan: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√ḍamb (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (concomitant action)

Purport

The word viḍambayan means “imitating” and also “ridiculing.” The Lord acted like a husband of this world, but His pastimes are transcendental and expose the perverted nature of mundane activities aimed at bodily sense gratification.

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Ramā (Rukmiṇī/Śrī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna imitating human behavior?

This verse says the Supreme Lord (jagad-īśvara) freely enjoys with Rukmiṇī while “viḍambayan” — playfully imitating the customs and moods of human society.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Krishna’s intimate talk with Rukmini?

To show that Kṛṣṇa’s household and romantic pastimes are divine līlā—He remains the Lord of all, yet out of love He participates in affectionate, humanlike exchanges with His devotee-wife.

How can devotees apply this teaching in modern life?

See sacred relationships through the lens of devotion: love and intimacy become purified when centered on God, remembering that the Lord can be present in ordinary life while remaining transcendental.