Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.54.26
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Smiles at Rukmī’s Threat
“Release the girl before You are struck dead by my arrows and made to lie down!” In response to this, Lord Kṛṣṇa smiled, and with six arrows He struck Rukmī and broke his bow.
What the purport teaches
- Rukmī demanded that Kṛṣṇa release the girl, threatening to strike Him dead with arrows.
- Lord Kṛṣṇa responded with a smile. With six arrows, He struck Rukmī and broke his bow.
- Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Kṛṣṇa was actually meant to lie down with Rukmiṇī on a beautiful bed of flowers. Out of shyness, Rukmī did not mention this directly.
Try this today
Spend a minute rereading Kṛṣṇa’s smiling response and the purport’s description of His lying down with Rukmiṇī.
Ask yourself
What contrast do I notice between Rukmī’s threatening words and Kṛṣṇa’s smiling response?
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.