Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.54.24
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesAn Insult Can Carry Praise
“Rukmī drew his bow with great strength and struck Lord Kṛṣṇa with three arrows. Then he said, “Stand here for a moment, O defiler of the Yadu dynasty!”
What the purport teaches
- Rukmī drew his bow with great strength and struck Lord Kṛṣṇa with three arrows. He then addressed Him with an apparent insult against His dynasty.
- Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that kula-pāṁsana can be understood as kula-pa, “O master of the Yadu dynasty,” and aṁsana, “O expert killer of enemies.”
- The ācārya gives grammatical details supporting this interpretation. Rukmī’s words can thus proclaim Kṛṣṇa’s mastery rather than dishonor Him.
Try this today
Read the two meanings given in the purport aloud once, remembering Kṛṣṇa as master of the Yadu dynasty.
Ask yourself
How does the ācārya’s explanation change my understanding of Rukmī’s words?
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.