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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 52: Rukmiṇī’s Message to Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.52.16-1710.52.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.52.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 10.52.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

भगवान् भीष्मकसुतां रुक्‍मिणीं रुचिराननाम् ।

राक्षसेन विधानेन उपयेम इति श्रुतम् ॥ १८ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

bhagavān bhīṣmaka-sutāṁ

rukmiṇīṁ rucirānanām

rākṣasena vidhānena

upayema iti śrutam

Translation

King Parīkṣit said: The Supreme Lord married Rukmiṇī, the beautiful-faced daughter of Bhīṣmaka, in the Rākṣasa style — or so I have heard.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understanding the Rākṣasa Marriage Style

  1. 1

    King Parīkṣit says he has heard that the Supreme Lord married Rukmiṇī in the Rākṣasa style.

  2. 2

    The purport defines a Rākṣasa marriage as one in which the bride is taken by force from rival suitors.

  3. 3

    In this account, Kṛṣṇa had to beat down opposing kings to take Rukmiṇī.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, Śukadeva Gosvāmī himself has already said, rājñaḥ pramathya: Kṛṣṇa had to beat down opposing kings to take Rukmiṇī.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Yearning and danger → Marriage and reciprocity. A wider range of divine relationships appears.

Chapters 50–59 of Canto 10: Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī and royal rescues. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 52: Rukmiṇī’s Message to Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Rukmiṇī, the young daughter of Bhīṣmaka, King of Vidarbha, had heard of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, strength and other fine qualities, and she therefore made up her mind that He would be the perfect husband for her. Lord Kṛṣṇa also wanted to marry her.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.52
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācathe King (Parīkṣit Mahārāja) said
  2. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  3. bhīṣmaka-sutāmthe daughter of Bhīṣmaka
  4. rukmiṇīmŚrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī
  5. ruciracharming
  6. ānanāmwhose face
  7. rākṣasenacalled Rākṣasa
  8. vidhānenaby the method (namely, by kidnapping)
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the purport’s definition clarify what Parīkṣit has heard?

Practice

Write down the definition of Rākṣasa marriage given in the purport.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstanding the Rākṣasa Marriage StyleThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.52.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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