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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 54: The Marriage of Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī
10.54.3310.54.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.54.34

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.54.34inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

तया परित्रासविकम्पिताङ्गया

शुचावशुष्यन्मुखरुद्धकण्ठया ।

कातर्यविस्रंसितहेममालया

गृहीतपाद: करुणो न्यवर्तत ॥ ३४ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

tayā paritrāsa-vikampitāṅgayā

śucāvaśuṣyan-mukha-ruddha-kaṇṭhayā

kātarya-visraṁsita-hema-mālayā

gṛhīta-pādaḥ karuṇo nyavartata

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Rukmiṇī’s utter fear caused her limbs to tremble and her mouth to dry up, while her throat choked up out of sorrow. And in her agitation her golden necklace scattered. She grasped Kṛṣṇa’s feet, and the Lord, feeling compassionate, desisted.

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.

Compassion Even Toward the Wicked

  1. 1

    Rukmiṇī’s fear and sorrow made her tremble, dried her mouth and choked her throat. She grasped Kṛṣṇa’s feet.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the worldly rule that one’s sister is the personification of mercy.

  3. 3

    Although Rukmī was wicked and opposed his sister’s best interest, Rukmiṇī felt compassion for him. The Lord shared her compassion and desisted.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the “worldly rule” that one’s sister is the personification of mercy: dayāyā bhaginī mūrtiḥ.
  • Even though Rukmī was wicked and was opposed to his sister’s best interest, Rukmiṇī was compassionate toward him, and the Lord shared her compassion.

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 54: The Marriage of Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Accepting Lord Balarāma’s instructions, Rukmiṇī gave up her sorrow. Rukmī, meanwhile, felt totally frustrated, deprived as he was of all his strength and his will to fight.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.54
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. tayāby her
  3. paritrāsain total fear
  4. vikampitatrembling
  5. aṅgayāwhose limbs
  6. śucāout of sorrow
  7. avaśuṣyatdrying up
  8. mukhawhose mouth
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.54

    In this verse: “compassionate”, “compassion”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.54

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.54

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

Can I wish for mercy for someone who has acted against my interests?

Practice

Pray today for the well-being of one person whose conduct has hurt you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompassion Even Toward the WickedThis 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.

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