Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 33
Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival
यस्मिन् तदा मधुपतेर्महिषीसहस्रं श्रोणीभरेण शनकै: क्वणदङ्घ्रिशोभम् । मध्ये सुचारु कुचकुङ्कुमशोणहारं श्रीमन्मुखं प्रचलकुण्डलकुन्तलाढ्यम् ॥ ३३ ॥
yasmin tadā madhu-pater mahiṣī-sahasraṁ śroṇī-bhareṇa śanakaiḥ kvaṇad-aṅghri-śobham madhye su-cāru kuca-kuṅkuma-śoṇa-hāraṁ śrīman-mukhaṁ pracala-kuṇḍala-kuntalāḍhyam
宫殿中还住着主摩杜帕提——圣克里希纳——的千位王后。她们因丰臀而步履徐缓，足铃叮咚，清妙悦耳。纤细的腰肢、胸前的红粉（昆库玛）染红了珍珠项链；摇曳的耳环与披垂的秀发，更衬出她们面容的绝妙端丽。
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “After looking at such beauties in the palace of King Yudhiṣṭhira, Duryodhana became envious. He became especially envious and lustful upon seeing the beauty of Draupadī because he had cherished a special attraction for her from the very beginning of her marriage with the Pāṇḍavas. In the marriage selection assembly of Draupadī, Duryodhana had also been present, and with other princes he had been very much captivated by the beauty of Draupadī, but he had failed to achieve her.”
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes Kṛṣṇa’s queens as moving gracefully with softly chiming anklets, radiant faces, and ornaments marked by kuṅkuma—presenting their beauty as part of Kṛṣṇa’s divine opulence.
He is narrating the splendor of the royal scene in Canto 10, highlighting Kṛṣṇa’s majesty and the exalted status of His associates, which deepens the listener’s devotional remembrance (smaraṇa).
Use the verse for devotional contemplation: reflect on the sacredness of Kṛṣṇa’s entourage and cultivate respectful, focused remembrance rather than mundane, objectifying vision.