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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
10.52.2210.52.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.52.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.52.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forRukmiṇī Devī· Hearing of Kṛṣṇa

सोपश्रुत्य मुकुन्दस्य रूपवीर्यगुणश्रिय: ।

गृहागतैर्गीयमानास्तं मेने सद‍ृशं पतिम् ॥ २३ ॥

sopaśrutya mukundasya

rūpa-vīrya-guṇa-śriyaḥ

gṛhāgatair gīyamānās

taṁ mene sadṛśaṁ patim

Translation

Hearing of the beauty, prowess, transcendental character and opulence of Mukunda from visitors to the palace who sang His praises, Rukmiṇī decided that He would be the perfect husband for her.

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.

Hearing Kṛṣṇa’s Glories Awakens Attraction

  1. 1

    Visitors to the palace praised Mukunda’s beauty, prowess, transcendental character and opulence. Hearing them, Rukmiṇī decided that He would be her perfect husband.

  2. 2

    Rukmiṇī and Śrī Kṛṣṇa had similar qualities and were naturally attracted to each other.

  3. 3

    King Bhīṣmaka was pious, and the purport explains that spiritually advanced visitors must have come to his palace. These saintly persons openly spoke about Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s glories.

Key points from the purport
  • The word sadṛśam indicates that Rukmiṇī and Śrī Kṛṣṇa had similar qualities and thus were naturally attracted to each other.
  • King Bhīṣmaka was a pious man, and therefore many spiritually advanced persons must have visited his palace.
  • Undoubtedly these saintly persons preached openly about the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

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. sāshe
  2. upaśrutyahearing
  3. mukundasyaKṛṣṇa’s
  4. rūpaabout the beauty
  5. vīryaprowess
  6. guṇacharacter
  7. śriyaḥand opulences
  8. gṛhato her family’s residence
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: “hearing”

  • 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 hearing about Kṛṣṇa’s qualities shape your attraction to Him?

Practice

Spend a minute reading aloud the qualities of Mukunda named in this verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing Kṛṣṇa’s Glories Awakens AttractionThis 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 10.52.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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