Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.53.51-55
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRukmiṇī’s Beauty Is for Kṛṣṇa Alone
“Rukmiṇī appeared as enchanting as the Lord’s illusory potency, who enchants even the sober and grave. Thus the kings gazed upon her virgin beauty, her shapely waist, and her lovely face adorned with earrings. Her hips were graced with a jewel-studded belt, her breasts were just budding, and her eyes seemed apprehensive of her encroaching locks of hair. She smiled sweetly, her jasmine-bud teeth reflecting the glow of her bimba-red lips. As she walked with the motions of a royal swan, the effulgence of her tinkling ankle bells beautified her feet. Seeing her, the assembled heroes were totally bewildered. Lust tore at their hearts. Indeed, when the kings saw her broad smile and shy glance, they became stupefied, dropped their weapons and fell unconscious to the ground from their elephants, chariots and horses. On the pretext of the procession, Rukmiṇī displayed her beauty for Kṛṣṇa alone. Slowly she advanced the two moving lotus-whorls of her feet, awaiting the arrival of the Supreme Lord. With the fingernails of her left hand she pushed some strands of hair away from her face and shyly looked from the corners of her eyes at the kings standing before her. At that moment she saw Kṛṣṇa. Then, while His enemies looked on, the Lord seized the princess, who was eager to mount His chariot.”
What the purport teaches
- Rukmiṇī is most eager to see her beloved Kṛṣṇa. She worries that her locks of hair might obstruct her vision.
- Nondevotees see the Lord’s opulences as meant for their own gross sense gratification. But Rukmiṇī, an expansion of Kṛṣṇa’s internal pleasure potency, is meant for the Lord alone.
- Lust places the covering of Māyā between a person and spiritual beauty; the kings therefore see the Lord’s illusory potency rather than Rukmiṇī’s spiritual form. Rukmiṇī awaits the Supreme Lord, who takes her as she eagerly desires to mount His chariot.
Try this today
Choose one small act of devotional service today and do it with the intention of pleasing Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How can you turn your attention from personal enjoyment toward pleasing Kṛṣṇa?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.