Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.60.3-6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesOpulence Surrounds Service to the Supreme Lord
“Queen Rukmiṇī’s quarters were extremely beautiful, boasting a canopy hung with brilliant strings of pearls, as well as effulgent jewels serving as lamps. Garlands of jasmine and other flowers hung here and there, attracting swarms of humming bees, and the spotless rays of the moon shone through the holes of the lattice windows. As aguru incense drifted out of the window holes, my dear King, the breeze wafting the scent of the pārijāta grove carried the mood of a garden into the room. There the Queen served her husband, the Supreme Lord of all the worlds, as He reclined upon an opulent pillow on her bed, which was as soft and white as the foam of milk.”
What the purport teaches
- Pearls, jeweled lamps, flowers and fragrant breezes make Rukmiṇī’s quarters extraordinarily beautiful. Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that this description gives a glimpse of her famous palace’s opulence.
- Moonlight shines through the lattice windows. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī notes an alternative reading that suggests beautiful ruddy light from the newly risen moon.
- Within this setting, Rukmiṇī serves her husband as He reclines on her soft white bed. He is the Supreme Lord of all the worlds.
Try this today
Spend a minute recalling the scene, keeping your attention on Rukmiṇī serving the Supreme Lord.
Ask yourself
What stands out when you place Rukmiṇī’s service at the center of this beautiful scene?
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.