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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
10.52.3610.52.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.52.37

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Rukmiṇīsince 10.52.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीरुक्‍मिण्युवाच

श्रुत्वा गुणान् भुवनसुन्दर श‍ृण्वतां ते

निर्विश्य कर्णविवरैर्हरतोऽङ्गतापम् ।

रूपं द‍ृशां द‍ृशिमतामखिलार्थलाभं

त्वय्यच्युताविशति चित्तमपत्रपं मे ॥ ३७ ॥

śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca

śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāṁ te

nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato ’ṅga-tāpam

rūpaṁ dṛśāṁ dṛśimatām akhilārtha-lābhaṁ

tvayy acyutāviśati cittam apatrapaṁ me

Translation

Śrī Rukmiṇī said [in her letter, as read by the brāhmaṇa]: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your qualities, which enter the ears of those who hear and remove their bodily distress, and having also heard of Your beauty, which fulfills all the visual desires of those who see, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You, O Kṛṣṇa.

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 About Kṛṣṇa Draws the Heart

  1. 1

    Rukmiṇī hears of Kṛṣṇa's qualities, which enter the ears and remove bodily distress.

  2. 2

    She also hears of His beauty, which fulfills the visual desires of those who see Him. Her mind becomes fixed upon Him.

  3. 3

    The purport describes Rukmiṇī as courageous and bold: she would rather die than lose Kṛṣṇa. She therefore writes frankly, begging Him to come and take her away.

Key points from the purport
  • Rukmiṇī was a king’s daughter, courageous and bold, and furthermore she would rather die than lose Kṛṣṇa.
  • Considering all this, she wrote a frank, explicit letter, begging Kṛṣṇa to come and take her away.

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

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.52

This verse (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.52.37) was written by Rukmiṇīdevī in a letter to Kṛṣṇa inviting Him to kidnap her.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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-rukmiṇī uvācaŚrī Rukmiṇī said
  2. śrutvāhearing
  3. guṇānthe qualities
  4. bhuvanaof all the worlds
  5. sundaraO beauty
  6. śṛṇvatāmfor those who hear
  7. teYour
  8. nirviśyahaving entered
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”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.52

    In this verse: “distress”

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

What quality of Kṛṣṇa draws my mind toward Him?

Practice

Read Rukmiṇī's words aloud once, then spend a minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa's qualities and beauty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing About Kṛṣṇa Draws the HeartThis 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 10.52.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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