Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 39
Kṛṣṇa Teases Rukmiṇī; Her Devotional Reply and the Lord’s Assurance
त्वं न्यस्तदण्डमुनिभिर्गदितानुभाव आत्मात्मदश्च जगतामिति मे वृतोऽसि । हित्वा भवद्भ्रुव उदीरितकालवेग ध्वस्ताशिषोऽब्जभवनाकपतीन् कुतोऽन्ये ॥ ३९ ॥
tvaṁ nyasta-daṇḍa-munibhir gaditānubhāva ātmātma-daś ca jagatām iti me vṛto ’si hitvā bhavad-bhruva udīrita-kāla-vega- dhvastāśiṣo ’bja-bhava-nāka-patīn kuto ’nye
主啊，我知晓那些已舍弃僧杖的大圣者宣说祢的威德：祢是诸世界的至上灵（Paramātmā），且慈悲至极，甚至能赐出祢自身。故我择祢为夫，舍弃梵天、湿婆与因陀罗等天界主宰；他们的愿望皆被从祢眉间生出的时流之力摧碎。我又怎会对其他求婚者有丝毫兴趣？
This is Queen Rukmiṇī’s refutation of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s statement in text 16. There the Lord Kṛṣṇa said, bhikṣubhiḥ ślāghitā mudhā: “I am glorified by beggars.” But Queen Rukmiṇī points out that those so-called beggars are actually sages in the paramahaṁsa stage of life — sannyāsīs who have reached the highest level of spiritual advancement and thus given up the sannyāsī rod. Lord Kṛṣṇa also made two specific accusations against His wife in text 16. He said, vaidarbhy etad avijñāya — “My dear Vaidarbhī, you were not aware of the situation” — and tvayādīrgha-samīkṣayā — “because you lack foresight.” In the present verse, Rukmiṇī’s statement iti me vṛto ’si indicates “I chose You as my husband because You possess the above-mentioned qualities. It was not a blind choice at all.” Rukmiṇī further mentions that she passed over lesser personalities like Brahmā, Śiva and the rulers of heaven because she saw that even though, materially speaking, they are great personalities, they are frustrated by the powerful waves of time, which emanate from the eyebrows of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, far from lacking foresight, Rukmiṇī chose Lord Kṛṣṇa after an exhaustive appraisal of the entire cosmic situation. Thus she lovingly rebukes her husband here.
FAQs
This verse shows Rukmiṇī choosing Kṛṣṇa because He is the Supreme Self and controller of time; even exalted gods like Brahmā and Indra are subject to time and cannot be the ultimate shelter.
In her intimate address to Kṛṣṇa, Rukmiṇī explains the spiritual reason for selecting Him as her husband—His supremacy as the inner Self of all and the one beyond the temporary boons of worldly and heavenly rulers.
Prioritize devotion and character over status and temporary benefits—seek lasting shelter in the Divine (through bhakti, prayer, and remembrance) rather than relying on changing external powers.