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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.60.3-6

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्मिनन्तर्गृहे भ्राजन्मुक्तादामविलम्बिना ।

विराजिते वितानेन दीपैर्मणिमयैरपि ॥ ३ ॥

मल्लिकादामभि: पुष्पैर्द्विरेफकुलनादिते ।

जालरन्ध्रप्रविष्टैश्च गोभिश्चन्द्रमसोऽमलै: ॥ ४ ॥

पारिजातवनामोदवायुनोद्यानशालिना ।

धूपैरगुरुजै राजन् जालरन्ध्रविनिर्गतै: ॥ ५ ॥

पय:फेननिभे शुभ्रे पर्यङ्के कशिपूत्तमे ।

उपतस्थे सुखासीनं जगतामीश्वरं पतिम् ॥ ६ ॥

tasmin antar-gṛhe bhrājan-

muktā-dāma-vilambinā

virājite vitānena

dīpair maṇi-mayair api

mallikā-dāmabhiḥ puṣpair

dvirepha-kula-nādite

jāla-randhra-praviṣṭaiś ca

gobhiś candramaso ’malaiḥ

pārijāta-vanāmoda-

vāyunodyāna-śālinā

dhūpair aguru-jai rājan

jāla-randhra-vinirgataiḥ

payaḥ-phena-nibhe śubhre

paryaṅke kaśipūttame

upatasthe sukhāsīnaṁ

jagatām īśvaraṁ patim

Translation

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.

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.

Opulence Surrounds Service to the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    Moonlight shines through the lattice windows. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī notes an alternative reading that suggests beautiful ruddy light from the newly risen moon.

  3. 3

    Within this setting, Rukmiṇī serves her husband as He reclines on her soft white bed. He is the Supreme Lord of all the worlds.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Rukmiṇī’s palace was quite famous then, as now, and these descriptions give a glimpse into its opulence.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī adds that the word amalaiḥ in this verse may also be read aruṇaiḥ, which would indicate that when this pastime took place the moon had just risen, bathing the entire palace in beautiful ruddy moonshine.

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

Conflict and affection → Devotional wonder. Divine intimacy coexists with royal duties.

Chapters 60–69 of Canto 10: Palace life, family bonds and heroic protection. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 60: Lord Kṛṣṇa Teases Queen Rukmiṇī.

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One day Lord Kṛṣṇa sat at ease in Queen Rukmiṇī’s bedroom while she and her maidservants attended to Him in various ways. Rukmiṇī always responded to Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s moods, whatever they might be.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.60
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasminin that
  2. antaḥ-gṛheprivate part of the palace
  3. bhrājatbrilliant
  4. muktāof pearls
  5. dāmawith strings
  6. vilambināhanging
  7. virājiteresplendent
  8. vitānenawith a canopy
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.60

    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

What stands out when you place Rukmiṇī’s service at the center of this beautiful scene?

Practice

Spend a minute recalling the scene, keeping your attention on Rukmiṇī serving the Supreme Lord.

Live this todayOpulence Surrounds Service to the Supreme LordThis 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 10.60.3-6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.