Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE
Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa
This chapter relates a conversation between Draupadī and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s foremost queens, in which each of them describes how the Lord married her.
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa returned from His meeting with the gopīs and asked King Yudhiṣṭhira and His other relatives whether they were well. They replied, “My Lord, anyone who has just once imbibed through his ears the honey of Your pastimes can never know misfortune.”
Then Draupadī inquired from Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives how the Lord had come to marry them. Queen Rukmiṇī spoke first: “Many kings, headed by Jarāsandha, were intent on giving me in marriage to Śiśupāla. Thus at my wedding they all stood with bows in hand, ready to support Śiśupāla against any opponents. But Śrī Kṛṣṇa came and forcibly took me away, as a lion takes his prey from amidst goats and sheep.”
Queen Satyabhāmā said, “When my uncle Prasena was killed, my father, Satrājit, falsely accused Lord Kṛṣṇa of murder. To clear His name, Kṛṣṇa defeated Jāmbavān, recovered the Syamantaka jewel and returned it to Satrājit. Repentant, my father presented the Lord with both the jewel and myself.”
Queen Jāmbavatī said, “When Śrī Kṛṣṇa entered my father’s cave in search of the Syamantaka jewel, at first my father, Jāmbavān, did not understand who He was. So my father fought with Him for twenty-seven days and nights. Finally, Jāmbavān understood that Kṛṣṇa was none other than Lord Rāmacandra, his worshipable Lord. Thus he gave Kṛṣṇa the Syamantaka jewel, along with me.”
Queen Kālindī said, “To obtain Kṛṣṇa as my husband, I performed severe austerities. Then one day Lord Kṛṣṇa came to me in the company of Arjuna, and at that time the Lord agreed to marry me.”
Queen Mitravindā said, “Śrī Kṛṣṇa came to my svayaṁvara ceremony, where He defeated all the opposing kings and took me away to His city of Dvārakā.”
Queen Satyā said, “My father stipulated that to win my hand, a prospective suitor would have to subdue and tie up seven powerful bulls. Accepting this challenge, Lord Kṛṣṇa playfully subdued them, defeated all His rival suitors and married me.”
Queen Bhadrā said, “My father invited his nephew Kṛṣṇa, to whom I had already given my heart, and offered me to Him as His bride. The dowry was an entire military division and a retinue of my female companions.”
Queen Lakṣmaṇā said to Draupadī, “At my svayaṁvara, as at yours, a fish-target was fastened near the ceiling. But in my case the fish was concealed on all sides, and only its reflection could be seen in a pot of water below. Several kings tried to hit the fish with an arrow but failed. Arjuna then made his attempt. He concentrated on the reflection of the fish in the water and took careful aim, but when he released his arrow it only grazed the target. Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa fixed His arrow on the bow and shot it straight through the target, knocking it to the ground. I placed the victory necklace on Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s neck, but the kings who had failed raised a violent protest. Lord Kṛṣṇa valiantly fought them, cutting off the heads, arms and legs of many and sending the rest fleeing for their lives. Then the Lord took me to Dvārakā for our lavish wedding.”
Rohiṇī-devī, representing all the other queens, explained that they were daughters of the kings defeated by Bhaumāsura. The demon had held them captive, but when Lord Kṛṣṇa killed him He had released them and married them all.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
तथानुगृह्य भगवान् गोपीनां स गुरुर्गति: ।
युधिष्ठिरमथापृच्छत् सर्वांश्च सुहृदोऽव्ययम् ॥ १ ॥
तथानुगृह्य भगवान् गोपीनां स गुरुर्गति: ।
युधिष्ठिरमथापृच्छत् सर्वांश्च सुहृदोऽव्ययम् ॥ १ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
tathānugṛhya bhagavān
gopīnāṁ sa gurur gatiḥ
yudhiṣṭhiram athāpṛcchat
sarvāṁś ca suhṛdo ’vyayam
tathānugṛhya bhagavān
gopīnāṁ sa gurur gatiḥ
yudhiṣṭhiram athāpṛcchat
sarvāṁś ca suhṛdo ’vyayam
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tathā — in this way; anugṛhya — showing favor; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; gopīnām — of the young cowherd women; saḥ — He; guruḥ — their spiritual master; gatiḥ — and goal; yudhiṣṭhiram — from Yudhiṣṭhira; atha — then; apṛcchat — He inquired; sarvān — all; ca — and; su-hṛdaḥ — His well-wishing relatives; avyayam — welfare.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa, the spiritual master of the gopīs and the very purpose of their life, showed them His mercy. He then met with Yudhiṣṭhira and all His other relatives and inquired from them about their welfare.
Purport
The words gurur gatiḥ have been translated here in their usual sense: “spiritual master and goal.” Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, however, points out an additional meaning: While Lord Kṛṣṇa is the goal for all sādhus in general, for the gopīs specifically He is that goal which is guru, “predominant,” in the sense of completely eclipsing the significance of all other possible goals.
Devanagari
त एवं लोकनाथेन परिपृष्टा: सुसत्कृता: ।
प्रत्यूचुर्हृष्टमनसस्तत्पादेक्षाहतांहस: ॥ २ ॥
प्रत्यूचुर्हृष्टमनसस्तत्पादेक्षाहतांहस: ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
ta evaṁ loka-nāthena
paripṛṣṭāḥ su-sat-kṛtāḥ
pratyūcur hṛṣṭa-manasas
tat-pādekṣā-hatāṁhasaḥ
paripṛṣṭāḥ su-sat-kṛtāḥ
pratyūcur hṛṣṭa-manasas
tat-pādekṣā-hatāṁhasaḥ
Synonyms
te — they (Yudhiṣṭhira and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s other relatives); evam — thus; loka — of the universe; nāthena — by the Lord; paripṛṣṭāḥ — questioned; su — very much; sat-kṛtāḥ — honored; pratyūcuḥ — replied; hṛṣṭa — joyful; manasaḥ — whose minds; tat — His; pāda — the feet; īkṣā — by seeing; hata — destroyed; aṁhasaḥ — whose sins.
Translation
Feeling greatly honored, King Yudhiṣṭhira and the others, freed of all sinful reactions by seeing the feet of the Lord of the universe, gladly answered His inquiries.
Devanagari
कुतोऽशिवं त्वच्चरणाम्बुजासवं
महन्मनस्तो मुखनि:सृतं क्वचित् ।
पिबन्ति ये कर्णपुटैरलं प्रभो
देहंभृतां देहकृदस्मृतिच्छिदम् ॥ ३ ॥
महन्मनस्तो मुखनि:सृतं क्वचित् ।
पिबन्ति ये कर्णपुटैरलं प्रभो
देहंभृतां देहकृदस्मृतिच्छिदम् ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
kuto ’śivaṁ tvac-caraṇāmbujāsavaṁ
mahan-manasto mukha-niḥsṛtaṁ kvacit
pibanti ye karṇa-puṭair alaṁ prabho
dehaṁ-bhṛtāṁ deha-kṛd-asmṛti-cchidam
mahan-manasto mukha-niḥsṛtaṁ kvacit
pibanti ye karṇa-puṭair alaṁ prabho
dehaṁ-bhṛtāṁ deha-kṛd-asmṛti-cchidam
Synonyms
kutaḥ — from where; aśivam — inauspiciousness; tvat — Your; caraṇa — of the feet; ambuja — lotuslike; āsavam — the intoxicating nectar; mahat — of great souls; manastaḥ — from the minds; mukha — through their mouths; niḥsṛtam — poured out; kvacit — at any time; pibanti — drink; ye — who; karṇa — of their ears; puṭaiḥ — with the drinking cups; alam — as much as they wish; prabho — O master; deham — material bodies; bhṛtām — for those who possess; deha — of bodies; kṛt — about the creator; asmṛti — of forgetfulness; chidam — the eradicator.
Translation
[Lord Kṛṣṇa’s relatives said:] O master, how can misfortune arise for those who have even once freely drunk the nectar coming from Your lotus feet? This intoxicating liquor pours into the drinking cups of their ears, having flowed from the minds of great devotees through their mouths. It destroys the embodied souls’ forgetfulness of the creator of their bodily existence.
Devanagari
हि त्वात्मधामविधुतात्मकृतत्र्यवस्था-
मानन्दसम्प्लवमखण्डमकुण्ठबोधम् ।
कालोपसृष्टनिगमावन आत्तयोग-
मायाकृतिं परमहंसगतिं नता: स्म ॥ ४ ॥
मानन्दसम्प्लवमखण्डमकुण्ठबोधम् ।
कालोपसृष्टनिगमावन आत्तयोग-
मायाकृतिं परमहंसगतिं नता: स्म ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
hi tvātma dhāma-vidhutātma-kṛta-try-avasthām
ānanda-samplavam akhaṇḍam akuṇṭha-bodham
kālopasṛṣṭa-nigamāvana ātta-yoga-
māyākṛtiṁ paramahaṁsa-gatiṁ natāḥ sma
ānanda-samplavam akhaṇḍam akuṇṭha-bodham
kālopasṛṣṭa-nigamāvana ātta-yoga-
māyākṛtiṁ paramahaṁsa-gatiṁ natāḥ sma
Synonyms
hi — indeed; tvā — to You; ātma — of Your personal form; dhāma — by the illumination; vidhuta — dispelled; ātma — by material consciousness; kṛta — created; tri — three; avasthām — the material conditions; ānanda — in ecstasy; samplavam — (within whom is) the total immersion; akhaṇḍam — unlimited; akuṇṭha — unrestricted; bodham — whose knowledge; kāla — by time; upasṛṣṭa — endangered; nigama — of the Vedas; avane — for the protection; ātta — having assumed; yoga-māyā — by Your divine power of illusion; ākṛtim — this form; parama-haṁsa — of perfect saints; gatim — the goal; natāḥ sma — (we) have bowed down.
Translation
The radiance of Your personal form dispels the threefold effects of material consciousness, and by Your grace we become immersed in total happiness. Your knowledge is indivisible and unrestricted. By Your Yoga-māyā potency You have assumed this human form for protecting the Vedas, which had been threatened by time. We bow down to You, the final destination of perfect saints.
Purport
Simply by the effulgent light emanating from the beautiful form of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one’s intelligence is purified of all material contamination, and thus the soul’s various entanglements in the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance are dispelled. “How then,” the Lord’s relatives imply, “can we ever suffer misfortune? We are always immersed in absolute happiness.” This is their answer to His inquiry about their welfare.
Devanagari
श्रीऋषिरुवाच
इत्युत्तम:श्लोकशिखामणिं जने-
ष्वभिष्टुवत्स्वन्धककौरवस्त्रिय: ।
समेत्य गोविन्दकथा मिथोऽगृणं-
स्त्रिलोकगीता: शृणु वर्णयामि ते ॥ ५ ॥
इत्युत्तम:श्लोकशिखामणिं जने-
ष्वभिष्टुवत्स्वन्धककौरवस्त्रिय: ।
समेत्य गोविन्दकथा मिथोऽगृणं-
स्त्रिलोकगीता: शृणु वर्णयामि ते ॥ ५ ॥
Verse text
śrī-ṛṣir uvāca
ity uttamaḥ-śloka-śikhā-maṇiṁ janeṣv
abhiṣṭuvatsv andhaka-kaurava-striyaḥ
sametya govinda-kathā mitho ’gṛnaṁs
tri-loka-gītāḥ śṛṇu varṇayāmi te
ity uttamaḥ-śloka-śikhā-maṇiṁ janeṣv
abhiṣṭuvatsv andhaka-kaurava-striyaḥ
sametya govinda-kathā mitho ’gṛnaṁs
tri-loka-gītāḥ śṛṇu varṇayāmi te
Synonyms
śrī-ṛṣiḥ uvāca — the great sage, Śukadeva, said; iti — thus; uttamaḥ-śloka — of great personalities who are glorified in choice poetry; śikhā-maṇim — the crest jewel (Lord Kṛṣṇa); janeṣu — His devotees; abhiṣṭuvatsu — while they were glorifying; andhaka-kaurava — of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans; striyaḥ — the women; sametya — meeting; govinda-kathāḥ — topics of Lord Govinda; mithaḥ — among one another; agṛṇan — spoke; tri — three; loka — in the worlds; gītāḥ — sung; śṛṇu — please hear; varṇayāmi — I will describe; te — to you (Parīkṣit Mahārāja).
Translation
The great sage Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: As Yudhiṣṭhira and the others were thus praising Lord Kṛṣṇa, the crest jewel of all sublimely glorified personalities, the women of the Andhaka and Kaurava clans met with one another and began discussing topics about Govinda that are sung throughout the three worlds. Please listen as I relate these to you.
Devanagari
श्रीद्रौपद्युवाच
हे वैदर्भ्यच्युतो भद्रे हे जाम्बवति कौशले ।
हे सत्यभामे कालिन्दि शैब्ये रोहिणि लक्ष्मणे ॥ ६ ॥
हे कृष्णपत्न्य एतन्नो ब्रूते वो भगवान् स्वयम् ।
उपयेमे यथा लोकमनुकुर्वन् स्वमायया ॥ ७ ॥
हे वैदर्भ्यच्युतो भद्रे हे जाम्बवति कौशले ।
हे सत्यभामे कालिन्दि शैब्ये रोहिणि लक्ष्मणे ॥ ६ ॥
हे कृष्णपत्न्य एतन्नो ब्रूते वो भगवान् स्वयम् ।
उपयेमे यथा लोकमनुकुर्वन् स्वमायया ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
śrī-draupady uvāca
he vaidarbhy acyuto bhadre
he jāmbavati kauśale
he satyabhāme kālindi
śaibye rohiṇi lakṣmaṇe
he vaidarbhy acyuto bhadre
he jāmbavati kauśale
he satyabhāme kālindi
śaibye rohiṇi lakṣmaṇe
he kṛṣṇa-patnya etan no
brūte vo bhagavān svayam
upayeme yathā lokam
anukurvan sva-māyayā
brūte vo bhagavān svayam
upayeme yathā lokam
anukurvan sva-māyayā
Synonyms
śrī-draupadī uvāca — Śrī Draupadī said; he vaidarbhi — O daughter of Vaidarbha (Rukmiṇī); acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhadre — O Bhadrā; he jāmbavati — O daughter of Jāmbavān; kauśale — O Nāgnajitī; he satyabhāme — O Satyabhāmā; kālindi — O Kālindī; śaibye — O Mitravindā; rohiṇi — O Rohiṇī (one of the sixteen thousand queens married after the killing of Narakāsura); lakṣmaṇe — O Lakṣmaṇā; he kṛṣṇa-patnyaḥ — O (other) wives of Kṛṣṇa; etat — this; naḥ — to us; brūte — please speak; vaḥ — you; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; svayam — Himself; upayeme — married; yathā — how; lokam — ordinary society; anukurvan — imitating; sva-māyayā — by His own mystic power.
Translation
Śrī Draupadī said: O Vaidarbhī, Bhadrā and Jāmbavatī, O Kauśalā, Satyabhāmā and Kālindī, O Śaibyā, Rohiṇī, Lakṣmaṇā and other wives of Lord Kṛṣṇa, please tell me how the Supreme Lord Acyuta, imitating the ways of this world by His mystic power, came to marry each of you.
Purport
The Rohiṇī addressed here by Draupadī is not Lord Balarāma’s mother but another Rohiṇī, the foremost of the sixteen thousand princesses Lord Kṛṣṇa rescued from the prison of Bhaumāsura. Draupadī turns to her as the representative of all sixteen thousand, and as a virtual equal to Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s eight chief queens.
Devanagari
श्रीरुक्मिण्युवाच
चैद्याय मार्पयितुमुद्यतकार्मुकेषु
राजस्वजेयभटशेखरिताङ्घ्रिरेणु: ।
निन्ये मृगेन्द्र इव भागमजावियूथात्
तच्छ्रीनिकेतचरणोऽस्तु ममार्चनाय ॥ ८ ॥
चैद्याय मार्पयितुमुद्यतकार्मुकेषु
राजस्वजेयभटशेखरिताङ्घ्रिरेणु: ।
निन्ये मृगेन्द्र इव भागमजावियूथात्
तच्छ्रीनिकेतचरणोऽस्तु ममार्चनाय ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
caidyāya mārpayitum udyata-kārmukeṣu
rājasv ajeya-bhaṭa-śekharitāṅghri-reṇuḥ
ninye mṛgendra iva bhāgam ajāvi-yūthāt
tac-chrī-niketa-caraṇo ’stu mamārcanāya
caidyāya mārpayitum udyata-kārmukeṣu
rājasv ajeya-bhaṭa-śekharitāṅghri-reṇuḥ
ninye mṛgendra iva bhāgam ajāvi-yūthāt
tac-chrī-niketa-caraṇo ’stu mamārcanāya
Synonyms
śrī-rukmiṇī uvāca — Śrī Rukmiṇī said; caidyāya — to Śiśupāla; mā — me; arpayitum — in order to offer; udyata — holding at the ready; kārmukeṣu — whose bows; rājasu — when the kings; ajeya — invincible; bhaṭa — of soldiers; śekharita — placed upon the heads; aṅghri — of whose feet; reṇuḥ — the dust; ninye — He took away; mṛgendraḥ — a lion; iva — as if; bhāgam — his share; aja — of goats; avi — and sheep; yūthāt — from a group; tat — of Him; śrī — of the supreme goddess of fortune; niketa — who is the abode; caraṇaḥ — the feet; astu — may be; mama — my; arcanāya — for the worship.
Translation
Śrī Rukmiṇī said: When all the kings held their bows at the ready to assure that I would be presented to Śiśupāla, He who puts the dust of His feet on the heads of invincible warriors took me from their midst, as a lion forcibly takes his prey from the midst of goats and sheep. May I always be allowed to worship those feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the abode of Goddess Śrī.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastime of kidnapping Rukmiṇī is narrated in detail in Chapters Fifty-two through Fifty-four of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam’s Tenth Canto.
Devanagari
श्रीसत्यभामोवाच
यो मे सनाभिवधतप्तहृदा ततेन
लिप्ताभिशापमपमार्ष्टुमुपाजहार ।
जित्वर्क्षराजमथ रत्नमदात् स तेन
भीत: पितादिशत मां प्रभवेऽपि दत्ताम् ॥ ९ ॥
यो मे सनाभिवधतप्तहृदा ततेन
लिप्ताभिशापमपमार्ष्टुमुपाजहार ।
जित्वर्क्षराजमथ रत्नमदात् स तेन
भीत: पितादिशत मां प्रभवेऽपि दत्ताम् ॥ ९ ॥
Verse text
śrī-satyabhāmovāca
yo me sanābhi-vadha-tapta-hṛdā tatena
liptābhiśāpam apamārṣṭum upājahāra
jitvarkṣa-rājam atha ratnam adāt sa tena
bhītaḥ pitādiśata māṁ prabhave ’pi dattām
yo me sanābhi-vadha-tapta-hṛdā tatena
liptābhiśāpam apamārṣṭum upājahāra
jitvarkṣa-rājam atha ratnam adāt sa tena
bhītaḥ pitādiśata māṁ prabhave ’pi dattām
Synonyms
śrī-satyabhāmā uvāca — Śrī Satyabhāmā said; yaḥ — who; me — my; sanābhi — of my brother; vadha — by the killing; tapta — distressed; hṛdā — whose heart; tatena — by my father; lipta — tainted; abhiśāpam — with condemnation; apamārṣṭum — to cleanse away; upājahāra — He removed; jitvā — after defeating; ṛkṣa-rājam — the king of the bears, Jāmbavān; atha — then; ratnam — the jewel (Syamantaka); adāt — gave; saḥ — He; tena — because of this; bhītaḥ — afraid; pitā — my father; adiśata — offered; mām — me; prabhave — to the Lord; api — although; dattām — already given.
Translation
Śrī Satyabhāmā said: My father, his heart tormented by his brother’s death, accused Kṛṣṇa of killing him. To remove the stain on His reputation, the Lord defeated the king of the bears and took back the Syamantaka jewel, which He then returned to my father. Fearing the consequences of his offense, my father offered me to the Lord, even though I had already been promised to others.
Purport
As described in Chapter Fifty-six of this canto, King Satrājit had already compromised himself by promising his daughter’s hand first to Akrūra and then again to a number of other suitors. But after the return of the Syamantaka jewel, he felt impelled by his shame to offer her to Lord Kṛṣṇa instead. According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, the word prabhave (“unto the Lord”) answers any doubt as to the propriety of offering Kṛṣṇa a bride who had already been promised to others. It is perfectly proper to offer Him everything one owns, and improper to withhold anything from Him.
Devanagari
श्रीजाम्बवत्युवाच
प्राज्ञाय देहकृदमुं निजनाथदैवं
सीतापतिं त्रिनवहान्यमुनाभ्ययुध्यत् ।
ज्ञात्वा परीक्षित उपाहरदर्हणं मां
पादौ प्रगृह्य मणिनाहममुष्य दासी ॥ १० ॥
प्राज्ञाय देहकृदमुं निजनाथदैवं
सीतापतिं त्रिनवहान्यमुनाभ्ययुध्यत् ।
ज्ञात्वा परीक्षित उपाहरदर्हणं मां
पादौ प्रगृह्य मणिनाहममुष्य दासी ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
śrī-jāmbavaty uvāca
prājñāya deha-kṛd amuṁ nija-nātha-daivaṁ
sītā-patiṁ tri-navahāny amunābhyayudhyat
jñātvā parīkṣita upāharad arhaṇaṁ māṁ
pādau pragṛhya maṇināham amuṣya dāsī
prājñāya deha-kṛd amuṁ nija-nātha-daivaṁ
sītā-patiṁ tri-navahāny amunābhyayudhyat
jñātvā parīkṣita upāharad arhaṇaṁ māṁ
pādau pragṛhya maṇināham amuṣya dāsī
Synonyms
śrī-jāmbavatī uvāca — Śrī Jāmbavatī said; prājñāya — unaware; deha — of my body; kṛt — the maker (my father); amum — of Him; nija — his own; nātha — as the master; daivam — and worshipable Deity; sītā — of Goddess Sītā; patim — the husband; tri — three; nava — times nine; ahāni — for days; amunā — with Him; abhyayudhyat — he fought; jñātvā — recognizing; parīkṣitaḥ — awakened to proper understanding; upāharat — he presented; arhaṇam — as a respectful offering; mām — me; pādau — His feet; pragṛhya — taking hold of; maṇinā — with the jewel; aham — I; amuṣya — His; dāsī — maidservant.
Translation
Śrī Jāmbavatī said: Unaware that Lord Kṛṣṇa was none other than his own master and worshipable Deity, the husband of Goddess Sītā, my father fought with Him for twenty-seven days. When my father finally came to his senses and recognized the Lord, he took hold of His feet and presented Him with both me and the Syamantaka jewel as tokens of his reverence. I am simply the Lord’s maidservant.
Purport
Jāmbavān had been Lord Rāmacandra’s servant many thousands of years before. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī mentions that while hearing Jāmbavatī’s story, the women present recognized her as the girl whom Jāmbavān had once offered to Lord Śrī Rāma to be His wife. Since Lord Rāma had taken a vow to have only one wife, He could not accept her then, but did so when He returned in the Dvāpara-yuga as Kṛṣṇa. The other queens wanted to honor Jāmbavatī for this, but she replied humbly, “I am just the Lord’s maidservant.”
How Jāmbavatī and Satyabhāmā became Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives is told in Chapter Fifty-six of the Tenth Canto.
Devanagari
श्रीकालिन्द्युवाच
तपश्चरन्तीमाज्ञाय स्वपादस्पर्शनाशया ।
सख्योपेत्याग्रहीत् पाणिं योऽहं तद्गृहमार्जनी ॥ ११ ॥
तपश्चरन्तीमाज्ञाय स्वपादस्पर्शनाशया ।
सख्योपेत्याग्रहीत् पाणिं योऽहं तद्गृहमार्जनी ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
śrī-kālindy uvāca
tapaś carantīm ājñāya
sva-pāda-sparśanāśayā
sakhyopetyāgrahīt pāṇiṁ
yo ’haṁ tad-gṛha-mārjanī
tapaś carantīm ājñāya
sva-pāda-sparśanāśayā
sakhyopetyāgrahīt pāṇiṁ
yo ’haṁ tad-gṛha-mārjanī
Synonyms
śrī-kālindī uvāca — Śrī Kālindī said; tapaḥ — penances; carantīm — executing; ājñāya — knowing; sva — His; pāda — of the feet; sparśana — for the touch; āśayā — with the desire; sakhyā — together with His friend (Arjuna); upetya — coming; agrahīt — took; pāṇim — my hand; yaḥ — who; aham — I; tat — His; gṛha — of the residence; mārjanī — the cleaner.
Translation
Śrī Kālindī said: The Lord knew I was performing severe austerities and penances with the hope of one day touching His lotus feet. So He came to me in the company of His friend and took my hand in marriage. Now I am engaged as a sweeper in His palace.
Devanagari
श्रीमित्रविन्दोवाच
यो मां स्वयंवर उपेत्य विजित्य भूपान्
निन्ये श्वयूथगमिवात्मबलिं द्विपारि: ।
भ्रातृंश्च मेऽपकुरुत: स्वपुरं श्रियौक-
स्तस्यास्तु मेऽनुभवमङ्घ्रयवनेजनत्वम् ॥ १२ ॥
यो मां स्वयंवर उपेत्य विजित्य भूपान्
निन्ये श्वयूथगमिवात्मबलिं द्विपारि: ।
भ्रातृंश्च मेऽपकुरुत: स्वपुरं श्रियौक-
स्तस्यास्तु मेऽनुभवमङ्घ्रयवनेजनत्वम् ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
śrī-mitravindovāca
yo māṁ svayaṁvara upetya vijitya bhū-pān
ninye śva-yūtha-gaṁ ivātma-baliṁ dvipāriḥ
bhrātṝṁś ca me ’pakurutaḥ sva-puraṁ śriyaukas
tasyāstu me ’nu-bhavam aṅghry-avanejanatvam
yo māṁ svayaṁvara upetya vijitya bhū-pān
ninye śva-yūtha-gaṁ ivātma-baliṁ dvipāriḥ
bhrātṝṁś ca me ’pakurutaḥ sva-puraṁ śriyaukas
tasyāstu me ’nu-bhavam aṅghry-avanejanatvam
Synonyms
śrī-mitravindā uvāca — Śrī Mitravindā said; yaḥ — who; mām — me; svayaṁ-vare — during my svayaṁvara (the ceremony in which a princess chooses a husband from a number of eligible suitors); upetya — coming forward; vijitya — after defeating; bhū-pān — kings; ninye — took; śva — of dogs; yūtha — into a group; gam — gone; iva — as if; ātma — own; balim — share; dvipa-ariḥ — a lion (“enemy of elephants”); bhrātṝn — brothers; ca — and; me — my; apakurutaḥ — who were insulting Him; sva — to His; puram — capital city; śrī — of the goddess of fortune; okaḥ — the residence; tasya — His; astu — may be; me — for me; anu-bhavam — life after life; aṅghri — the feet; avanejanatvam — the status of washing.
Translation
Śrī Mitravindā said: At my svayaṁvara ceremony He came forward, defeated all the kings present — including my brothers, who dared insult Him — and took me away just as a lion removes his prey from amidst a pack of dogs. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, brought me to His capital city. May I be allowed to serve Him by washing His feet, life after life.
Devanagari
श्रीसत्योवाच
सप्तोक्षणोऽतिबलवीर्यसुतीक्ष्णशृङ्गान्
पित्रा कृतान् क्षितिपवीर्यपरीक्षणाय ।
तान् वीरदुर्मदहनस्तरसा निगृह्य
क्रीडन् बबन्ध ह यथा शिशवोऽजतोकान् ॥ १३ ॥
य इत्थं वीर्यशुल्कां मां दासीभिश्चतुरङ्गिणीम् ।
पथि निर्जित्य राजन्यान् निन्ये तद्दास्यमस्तु मे ॥ १४ ॥
सप्तोक्षणोऽतिबलवीर्यसुतीक्ष्णशृङ्गान्
पित्रा कृतान् क्षितिपवीर्यपरीक्षणाय ।
तान् वीरदुर्मदहनस्तरसा निगृह्य
क्रीडन् बबन्ध ह यथा शिशवोऽजतोकान् ॥ १३ ॥
य इत्थं वीर्यशुल्कां मां दासीभिश्चतुरङ्गिणीम् ।
पथि निर्जित्य राजन्यान् निन्ये तद्दास्यमस्तु मे ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
śrī-satyovāca
saptokṣaṇo ’ti-bala-vīrya-su-tīkṣṇa-śṛṅgān
pitrā kṛtān kṣitipa-vīrya-parīkṣaṇāya
tān vīra-durmada-hanas tarasā nigṛhya
krīḍan babandha ha yathā śiśavo ’ja-tokān
saptokṣaṇo ’ti-bala-vīrya-su-tīkṣṇa-śṛṅgān
pitrā kṛtān kṣitipa-vīrya-parīkṣaṇāya
tān vīra-durmada-hanas tarasā nigṛhya
krīḍan babandha ha yathā śiśavo ’ja-tokān
ya itthaṁ vīrya-śulkāṁ māṁ
dāsībhiś catur-angiṇīm
pathi nirjitya rājanyān
ninye tad-dāsyam astu me
dāsībhiś catur-angiṇīm
pathi nirjitya rājanyān
ninye tad-dāsyam astu me
Synonyms
śrī-satyā uvāca — Śrī Satyā said; sapta — seven; ukṣaṇaḥ — bulls; ati — great; bala — whose strength; vīrya — and vitality; su — very; tīkṣṇa — sharp; śṛṅgān — whose horns; pitrā — by my father; kṛtān — made; kṣitipa — of the kings; vīrya — the prowess; parīkṣaṇāya — for testing; tān — them (the bulls); vīra — of heroes; durmada — the false pride; hanaḥ — who destroyed; tarasā — quickly; nigṛhya — subduing; krīḍan — playing; babandha ha — He tied up; yathā — as; śiśavaḥ — children; aja — of goats; tokān — the infants; yaḥ — who; ittham — in this manner; vīrya — heroism; śulkām — whose price; mām — me; dāsībhiḥ — with maidservants; catuḥ-aṅgiṇīm — protected by an army of four divisions (chariots, horses, elephants and infantry); pathi — along the road; nirjitya — defeating; rājanyān — the kings; ninye — He took me away; tat — to Him; dāsyam — servitude; astu — may there be; me — my.
Translation
Śrī Satyā said: My father arranged for seven extremely powerful and vigorous bulls with deadly sharp horns to test the prowess of the kings who desired my hand in marriage. Although these bulls destroyed the false pride of many heroes, Lord Kṛṣṇa subdued them effortlessly, tying them up in the same way that children playfully tie up a goat’s kids. He thus purchased me with His valor. Then He took me away with my maidservants and a full army of four divisions, defeating all the kings who opposed Him along the road. May I be granted the privilege of serving that Lord.
Devanagari
श्रीभद्रोवाच
पिता मे मातुलेयाय स्वयमाहूय दत्तवान् ।
कृष्णे कृष्णाय तच्चित्तामक्षौहिण्या सखीजनै: ॥ १५ ॥
अस्य मे पादसंस्पर्शो भवेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि ।
कर्मभिर्भ्राम्यमाणाया येन तच्छ्रेय आत्मन: ॥ १६ ॥
पिता मे मातुलेयाय स्वयमाहूय दत्तवान् ।
कृष्णे कृष्णाय तच्चित्तामक्षौहिण्या सखीजनै: ॥ १५ ॥
अस्य मे पादसंस्पर्शो भवेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि ।
कर्मभिर्भ्राम्यमाणाया येन तच्छ्रेय आत्मन: ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
śrī-bhadrovāca
pitā me mātuleyāya
svayam āhūya dattavān
kṛṣṇe kṛṣṇāya tac-cittām
akṣauhiṇyā sakhī-janaiḥ
pitā me mātuleyāya
svayam āhūya dattavān
kṛṣṇe kṛṣṇāya tac-cittām
akṣauhiṇyā sakhī-janaiḥ
asya me pāda-saṁsparśo
bhavej janmani janmani
karmabhir bhrāmyamāṇāyā
yena tac chreya ātmanaḥ
bhavej janmani janmani
karmabhir bhrāmyamāṇāyā
yena tac chreya ātmanaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-bhadrā uvāca — Śrī Bhadrā said; pitā — father; me — my; mātuleyāya — to my maternal cousin; svayam — of his own accord; āhūya — inviting; dattavān — gave; kṛṣṇe — O Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī); kṛṣṇāya — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; tat — absorbed in whom; cittām — whose heart; akṣauhiṇyā — with an akṣauhiṇī military guard; sakhī-janaiḥ — and with my female companions; asya — His; me — for me; pāda — of the feet; saṁsparśaḥ — the touch; bhavet — may it be; janmani janmani — in one life after another; karmabhiḥ — due to the reactions of material activities; bhrāmyamāṇāyāḥ — who will be wandering; yena — by which; tat — that; śreyaḥ — ultimate perfection; ātmanaḥ — of myself.
Translation
Śrī Bhadrā said: My dear Draupadī, of his own free will my father invited his nephew Kṛṣṇa, to whom I had already dedicated my heart, and offered me to Him as His bride. My father presented me to the Lord with an akṣauhiṇi military guard and a retinue of my female companions. My ultimate perfection is this: to always be allowed to touch Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet as I wander from life to life, bound by my karma.
Purport
With the word ātmanaḥ, Queen Bhadrā speaks not only for herself but for all living entities as well. The soul’s perfection (śreya ātmanaḥ) is devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, both in this world and beyond, in liberation.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī comments that although in civilized society it is normally considered disrespectful to publicly speak the name of one’s guru or husband, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s name is unique: the mere utterance of the name Kṛṣṇa is commendable as the highest expression of reverence for God. As the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad (4.19) states, yasya nāma mahad yaśaḥ: “The holy name of the Lord is supremely glorious.”
Devanagari
श्रीलक्ष्मणोवाच
ममापि राज्ञ्यच्युतजन्मकर्म
श्रुत्वा मुहुर्नारदगीतमास ह ।
चित्तं मुकुन्दे किल पद्महस्तया
वृत: सुसम्मृश्य विहाय लोकपान् ॥ १७ ॥
ममापि राज्ञ्यच्युतजन्मकर्म
श्रुत्वा मुहुर्नारदगीतमास ह ।
चित्तं मुकुन्दे किल पद्महस्तया
वृत: सुसम्मृश्य विहाय लोकपान् ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
śrī-lakṣmaṇovāca
mamāpi rājñy acyuta-janma-karma
śrutvā muhur nārada-gītam āsa ha
cittaṁ mukunde kila padma-hastayā
vṛtaḥ su-sammṛśya vihāya loka-pān
mamāpi rājñy acyuta-janma-karma
śrutvā muhur nārada-gītam āsa ha
cittaṁ mukunde kila padma-hastayā
vṛtaḥ su-sammṛśya vihāya loka-pān
Synonyms
śrī-lakṣmaṇā uvāca — Śrī Lakṣmaṇā said; mama — my; api — also; rājñi — O Queen; acyuta — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; janma — about the births; karma — and activities; śrutvā — hearing; muhuḥ — repeatedly; nārada — by Nārada Muni; gītam — chanted; āsa ha — became; cittam — my heart; mukunde — (fixed) upon Mukunda; kila — indeed; padma-hastayā — by the supreme goddess of fortune, who holds a lotus in her hand; vṛtaḥ — chosen; su — carefully; sammṛśya — considering; vihāya — rejecting; loka — of planets; pān — the rulers.
Translation
Śrī Lakṣmaṇā said: O Queen, I repeatedly heard Nārada Muni glorify the appearances and activities of Acyuta, and thus my heart also became attached to that Lord, Mukunda. Indeed, even Goddess Padmahastā chose Him as her husband after careful consideration, rejecting the great demigods who rule various planets.
Devanagari
ज्ञात्वा मम मतं साध्वि पिता दुहितृवत्सल: ।
बृहत्सेन इति ख्यातस्तत्रोपायमचीकरत् ॥ १८ ॥
बृहत्सेन इति ख्यातस्तत्रोपायमचीकरत् ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
jñātvā mama mataṁ sādhvi
pitā duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ
bṛhatsena iti khyātas
tatropāyam acīkarat
pitā duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ
bṛhatsena iti khyātas
tatropāyam acīkarat
Synonyms
Translation
My father, Bṛhatsena, was by nature compassionate to his daughter, and knowing how I felt, O saintly lady, he arranged to fulfill my desire.
Devanagari
यथा स्वयंवरे राज्ञि मत्स्य: पार्थेप्सया कृत: ।
अयं तु बहिराच्छन्नो दृश्यते स जले परम् ॥ १९ ॥
अयं तु बहिराच्छन्नो दृश्यते स जले परम् ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
yathā svayaṁ-vare rājñi
matsyaḥ pārthepsayā kṛtaḥ
ayaṁ tu bahir ācchanno
dṛśyate sa jale param
matsyaḥ pārthepsayā kṛtaḥ
ayaṁ tu bahir ācchanno
dṛśyate sa jale param
Synonyms
yathā — just as; svayam-vare — in (your) svayaṁvara ceremony; rājñi — O Queen; matsyaḥ — a fish; pārtha — Arjuna; īpsayā — with the desire of obtaining; kṛtaḥ — made (into a target); ayam — this (fish); tu — however; bahiḥ — outwardly; ācchannaḥ — covered; dṛśyate — was seen; saḥ — it; jale — in water; param — only.
Translation
Just as a fish was used as a target in your svayaṁvara ceremony, O Queen, to assure that you would obtain Arjuna as your husband, so a fish was also used in my ceremony. In my case, however, it was concealed on all sides, and only its reflection could be seen in a pot of water below.
Purport
Arjuna is famous as the most expert bowman. Why, then, could he not hit the fish target at Śrīmatī Lakṣmaṇā’s svayaṁvara ceremony just as he had done once before to win Draupadī? Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains: The target at Draupadī’s svayaṁvara had been covered only partially, so that a marksman could see it if he looked straight up the pillar on which it was placed. To shoot Lakṣmaṇā’s target, however, it was necessary to aim by looking up and down at the same time, an impossible feat for any mortal. Therefore only Kṛṣṇa could strike the target.
Devanagari
श्रुत्वैतत् सर्वतो भूपा आययुर्मत्पितु: पुरम् ।
सर्वास्त्रशस्त्रतत्त्वज्ञा: सोपाध्याया: सहस्रश: ॥ २० ॥
सर्वास्त्रशस्त्रतत्त्वज्ञा: सोपाध्याया: सहस्रश: ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
śrutvaitat sarvato bhū-pā
āyayur mat-pituḥ puram
sarvāstra-śastra-tattva-jñāḥ
sopādhyāyāḥ sahasraśaḥ
āyayur mat-pituḥ puram
sarvāstra-śastra-tattva-jñāḥ
sopādhyāyāḥ sahasraśaḥ
Synonyms
śrutvā — hearing; etat — of this; sarvataḥ — from everywhere; bhū-pāḥ — kings; āyayuḥ — came; mat — my; pituḥ — of the father; puram — to the city; sarva — all; astra — concerning weapons shot as arrows; śastra — and other weapons; tattva — of the science; jñāḥ — expert knowers; sa — along with; upādhyāyāḥ — their teachers; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands.
Translation
Hearing of this, thousands of kings expert in shooting arrows and in wielding other weapons converged from all directions on my father’s city, accompanied by their military teachers.
Devanagari
पित्रा सम्पूजिता: सर्वे यथावीर्यं यथावय: ।
आददु: सशरं चापं वेद्धुं पर्षदि मद्धिय: ॥ २१ ॥
आददु: सशरं चापं वेद्धुं पर्षदि मद्धिय: ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
pitrā sampūjitāḥ sarve
yathā-vīryaṁ yathā-vayaḥ
ādaduḥ sa-śaraṁ cāpaṁ
veddhuṁ parṣadi mad-dhiyaḥ
yathā-vīryaṁ yathā-vayaḥ
ādaduḥ sa-śaraṁ cāpaṁ
veddhuṁ parṣadi mad-dhiyaḥ
Synonyms
pitrā — by my father; sampūjitāḥ — fully honored; sarve — all of them; yathā — according to; vīryam — strength; yathā — according to; vayaḥ — age; ādaduḥ — they took up; sa — with; śaram — arrows; cāpam — the bow; veddhum — to pierce (the target); parṣadi — in the assembly; mat — (fixed) upon me; dhiyaḥ — whose minds.
Translation
My father properly honored each king according to his strength and seniority. Then those whose minds were fixed on me took up the bow and arrow and one by one tried to pierce the target in the midst of the assembly.
Purport
According to the ācāryas, only those kings who were extremely intent on winning the hand of the princess even dared try to shoot the target.
Devanagari
आदाय व्यसृजन् केचित् सज्यं कर्तुमनीश्वरा: ।
आकोष्ठं ज्यां समुत्कृष्य पेतुरेकेऽमुना हता: ॥ २२ ॥
आकोष्ठं ज्यां समुत्कृष्य पेतुरेकेऽमुना हता: ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
ādāya vyasṛjan kecit
sajyaṁ kartum anīśvarāḥ
ā-koṣṭhaṁ jyāṁ samutkṛṣya
petur eke ’munāhatāḥ
sajyaṁ kartum anīśvarāḥ
ā-koṣṭhaṁ jyāṁ samutkṛṣya
petur eke ’munāhatāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Some of them picked up the bow but could not string it, and so they threw it aside in frustration. Some managed to pull the bowstring toward the tip of the bow, only to have the bow spring back and knock them to the ground.
Devanagari
सज्यं कृत्वापरे वीरा मागधाम्बष्ठचेदिपा: ।
भीमो दुर्योधन: कर्णो नाविदंस्तदवस्थितिम् ॥ २३ ॥
भीमो दुर्योधन: कर्णो नाविदंस्तदवस्थितिम् ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
sajyaṁ kṛtvāpare vīrā
māgadhāmbaṣṭha-cedipāḥ
bhīmo duryodhanaḥ karṇo
nāvidaṁs tad-avasthitim
māgadhāmbaṣṭha-cedipāḥ
bhīmo duryodhanaḥ karṇo
nāvidaṁs tad-avasthitim
Synonyms
sajyam — strung; kṛtvā — making (the bow); apare — other; vīrāḥ — heroes; māgadha — the King of Magadha (Jarāsandha); ambaṣṭha — the King of Ambaṣṭha; cedi-pāḥ — the ruler of Cedi (Śiśupāla); bhīmaḥ duryodhanaḥ karṇaḥ — Bhīma, Duryodhana and Karṇa; na avidan — they could not find; tad — of it (the target); avasthitim — the location.
Translation
A few heroes — namely Jarāsandha, Śiśupāla, Bhīma, Duryodhana, Karṇa and the King of Ambaṣṭha — succeeded in stringing the bow, but none of them could find the target.
Purport
These kings were very strong physically, but they were not skillful enough to find the target.
Devanagari
मत्स्याभासं जले वीक्ष्य ज्ञात्वा च तदवस्थितिम् ।
पार्थो यत्तोऽसृजद् बाणं नाच्छिनत् पस्पृशे परम् ॥ २४ ॥
पार्थो यत्तोऽसृजद् बाणं नाच्छिनत् पस्पृशे परम् ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
matsyābhāsaṁ jale vīkṣya
jñātvā ca tad-avasthitim
pārtho yatto ’sṛjad bāṇaṁ
nācchinat paspṛśe param
jñātvā ca tad-avasthitim
pārtho yatto ’sṛjad bāṇaṁ
nācchinat paspṛśe param
Synonyms
matsya — of the fish; ābhāsam — the reflection; jale — in the water; vīkṣya — looking at; jñātvā — knowing; ca — and; tat — its; avasthitim — location; pārthaḥ — Arjuna; yattaḥ — taking careful aim; asṛjat — shot; bāṇam — the arrow; na acchinat — he did not pierce it; paspṛśe — he touched it; param — only.
Translation
Then Arjuna looked at the reflection of the fish in the water and determined its position. When he carefully shot his arrow at it, however, he did not pierce the target but merely grazed it.
Purport
According to the explanation of Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Arjuna was more expert a marksman than the other kings, but his physical strength was not adequate to the task of shooting it with perfect accuracy.
Devanagari
राजन्येषु निवृत्तेषु भग्नमानेषु मानिषु ।
भगवान् धनुरादाय सज्यं कृत्वाथ लीलया ॥ २५ ॥
तस्मिन् सन्धाय विशिखं मत्स्यं वीक्ष्य सकृज्जले ।
छित्त्वेषुणापातयत्तं सूर्ये चाभिजिति स्थिते ॥ २६ ॥
भगवान् धनुरादाय सज्यं कृत्वाथ लीलया ॥ २५ ॥
तस्मिन् सन्धाय विशिखं मत्स्यं वीक्ष्य सकृज्जले ।
छित्त्वेषुणापातयत्तं सूर्ये चाभिजिति स्थिते ॥ २६ ॥
Verse text
rājanyeṣu nivṛtteṣu
bhagna-māneṣu māniṣu
bhagavān dhanur ādāya
sajyaṁ kṛtvātha līlayā
bhagna-māneṣu māniṣu
bhagavān dhanur ādāya
sajyaṁ kṛtvātha līlayā
tasmin sandhāya viśikhaṁ
matsyaṁ vīkṣya sakṛj jale
chittveṣuṇāpātayat taṁ
sūrye cābhijiti sthite
matsyaṁ vīkṣya sakṛj jale
chittveṣuṇāpātayat taṁ
sūrye cābhijiti sthite
Synonyms
rājanyeṣu — when the kings; nivṛtteṣu — had given up; bhagna — defeated; māneṣu — whose pride; māniṣu — proud; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; dhanuḥ — the bow; ādāya — taking up; sajyam kṛtvā — stringing it; atha — then; līlayā — as play; tasmin — onto it; sandhāya — fixing; viśikham — the arrow; matsyam — the fish; vīkṣya — looking at; sakṛt — only once; jale — in the water; chittvā — piercing; iṣuṇā — with the arrow; apātayat — He made fall; tam — it; sūrye — when the sun; ca — and; abhijite — in the constellation Abhijit; sthite — situated.
Translation
After all the arrogant kings had given up, their pride broken, the Supreme Personality of Godhead picked up the bow, easily strung it and then fixed His arrow upon it. As the sun stood in the constellation Abhijit, He looked at the fish in the water only once and then pierced it with the arrow, knocking it to the ground.
Purport
Each day the sun passes once through the lunar constellation Abhijit, marking the period most auspicious for victory. As pointed out by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, on this particular day the muhūrta of Abhijit coincided with high noon, further emphasizing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s greatness by making the target all the more difficult to see.
Devanagari
दिवि दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्जयशब्दयुता भुवि ।
देवाश्च कुसुमासारान् मुमुचुर्हर्षविह्वला: ॥ २७ ॥
देवाश्च कुसुमासारान् मुमुचुर्हर्षविह्वला: ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
divi dundubhayo nedur
jaya-śabda-yutā bhuvi
devāś ca kusumāsārān
mumucur harṣa-vihvalāḥ
jaya-śabda-yutā bhuvi
devāś ca kusumāsārān
mumucur harṣa-vihvalāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Kettledrums resounded in the sky, and on the earth people shouted “Jaya! Jaya!” Overjoyed, demigods showered flowers.
Devanagari
तद् रङ्गमाविशमहं कलनूपुराभ्यां
पद्भ्यां प्रगृह्य कनकोज्ज्वलरत्नमालाम् ।
नूत्ने निवीय परिधाय च कौशिकाग्र्ये
सव्रीडहासवदना कवरीधृतस्रक् ॥ २८ ॥
पद्भ्यां प्रगृह्य कनकोज्ज्वलरत्नमालाम् ।
नूत्ने निवीय परिधाय च कौशिकाग्र्ये
सव्रीडहासवदना कवरीधृतस्रक् ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
tad raṅgam āviśam ahaṁ kala-nūpurābhyāṁ
padbhyāṁ pragṛhya kanakoijvala-ratna-mālām
nūtne nivīya paridhāya ca kauśikāgrye
sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-vadanā kavarī-dhṛta-srak
padbhyāṁ pragṛhya kanakoijvala-ratna-mālām
nūtne nivīya paridhāya ca kauśikāgrye
sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-vadanā kavarī-dhṛta-srak
Synonyms
tat — then; raṅgam — the arena; āviśam — entered; aham — I; kala — gently sounding; nūpurābhyām — having ankle bells; padbhyām — with feet; pragṛhya — holding; kanaka — of gold; ujjvala — brilliant; ratna — with jewels; mālām — a necklace; nūtne — new; nivīya — having tied with a belt; paridhāya — wearing; ca — and; kauśika — a pair of silk garments; agrye — excellent; sa-vrīḍa — shy; hāsa — with a smile; vadanā — my face; kavarī — on the locks of my hair; dhṛta — carrying; srak — a wreath of flowers.
Translation
Just then I walked onto the ceremonial ground, the ankle bells on my feet gently tinkling. I was wearing new garments of the finest silk, tied with a belt, and I carried a brilliant necklace fashioned of gold and jewels. There was a shy smile on my face and a wreath of flowers in my hair.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī states that Śrī Lakṣmaṇā was so excited by remembering how she obtained the Supreme Lord that she forgot her natural shyness and went on to describe her own triumph.
Devanagari
उन्नीय वक्त्रमुरुकुन्तलकुण्डलत्विड्
गण्डस्थलं शिशिरहासकटाक्षमोक्षै: ।
राज्ञो निरीक्ष्य परित: शनकैर्मुरारे-
रंसेऽनुरक्तहृदया निदधे स्वमालाम् ॥ २९ ॥
गण्डस्थलं शिशिरहासकटाक्षमोक्षै: ।
राज्ञो निरीक्ष्य परित: शनकैर्मुरारे-
रंसेऽनुरक्तहृदया निदधे स्वमालाम् ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
unnīya vaktram uru-kuntala-kuṇḍala-tviḍ-
gaṇḍa-sthalaṁ śiśira-hāsa-kaṭākṣa-mokṣaiḥ
rājño nirīkṣya paritaḥ śanakair murārer
aṁse ’nurakta-hṛdayā nidadhe sva-mālām
gaṇḍa-sthalaṁ śiśira-hāsa-kaṭākṣa-mokṣaiḥ
rājño nirīkṣya paritaḥ śanakair murārer
aṁse ’nurakta-hṛdayā nidadhe sva-mālām
Synonyms
unnīya — lifting; vaktram — my face; uru — abundant; kuntala — with locks of hair; kuṇḍala — of earrings; tviṭ — and with the effulgence; gaṇḍa-sthalam — whose cheeks; śiśira — cooling; hāsa — with a smile; kaṭa-akṣa — of sidelong glances; mokṣaiḥ — and with the casting; rājñaḥ — the kings; nirīkṣya — looking at; paritaḥ — all around; śanakaiḥ — slowly; murāreḥ — of Kṛṣṇa; aṁse — upon the shoulder; anurakta — attracted; hṛdayā — whose heart; nidadhe — I placed; sva — my; mālām — necklace.
Translation
I lifted my face, which was encircled by my abundant locks and effulgent from the glow of my earrings reflected from my cheeks. Smiling coolly, I glanced about. Then, looking around at all the kings, I slowly placed the necklace on the shoulder of Murāri, who had captured my heart.
Devanagari
तावन्मृदङ्गपटहा: शङ्खभेर्यानकादय: ।
निनेदुर्नटनर्तक्यो ननृतुर्गायका जगु: ॥ ३० ॥
निनेदुर्नटनर्तक्यो ननृतुर्गायका जगु: ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
tāvan mṛdaṅga-paṭahāḥ
śaṅkha-bhery-ānakādayaḥ
ninedur naṭa-nartakyo
nanṛtur gāyakā jaguḥ
śaṅkha-bhery-ānakādayaḥ
ninedur naṭa-nartakyo
nanṛtur gāyakā jaguḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Just then there were loud sounds of conchshells and mṛdaṅga, paṭaha, bherī and ānaka drums, as well as other instruments. Men and women began to dance, and singers began to sing.
Devanagari
एवं वृते भगवति मयेशे नृपयूथपा: ।
न सेहिरे याज्ञसेनि स्पर्धन्तो हृच्छयातुरा: ॥ ३१ ॥
न सेहिरे याज्ञसेनि स्पर्धन्तो हृच्छयातुरा: ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
evaṁ vṛte bhagavati
mayeśe nṛpa-yūthapāḥ
na sehire yājñaseni
spardhanto hṛc-chayāturāḥ
mayeśe nṛpa-yūthapāḥ
na sehire yājñaseni
spardhanto hṛc-chayāturāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The leading kings there could not tolerate my having chosen the Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Draupadī. Burning with lust, they became quarrelsome.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments that the contamination of lust led the kings to quarrel foolishly with the Lord even after seeing His supreme power.
Devanagari
मां तावद् रथमारोप्य हयरत्नचतुष्टयम् ।
शार्ङ्गमुद्यम्य सन्नद्धस्तस्थावाजौ चतुर्भुज: ॥ ३२ ॥
शार्ङ्गमुद्यम्य सन्नद्धस्तस्थावाजौ चतुर्भुज: ॥ ३२ ॥
Verse text
māṁ tāvad ratham āropya
haya-ratna-catuṣṭayam
śārṅgam udyamya sannaddhas
tasthāv ājau catur-bhujaḥ
haya-ratna-catuṣṭayam
śārṅgam udyamya sannaddhas
tasthāv ājau catur-bhujaḥ
Synonyms
mām — me; tāvat — at that point; ratham — on the chariot; āropya — lifting; haya — of horses; ratna — gems; catuṣṭayam — having four; śārṅgam — His bow, named Śārṅga; udyamya — readying; sannaddhaḥ — putting on His armor; tasthau — He stood; ājau — on the battleground; catuḥ — four; bhujaḥ — with arms.
Translation
The Lord then placed me on His chariot, drawn by four most excellent horses. Donning His armor and readying His bow Śārṅga, He stood on the chariot, and there on the battleground He manifested His four arms.
Purport
With two of His four arms, according to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Lord Kṛṣṇa embraced His bride, and with the other two He held His bow and arrows.
Devanagari
दारुकश्चोदयामास काञ्चनोपस्करं रथम् ।
मिषतां भूभुजां राज्ञि मृगाणां मृगराडिव ॥ ३३ ॥
मिषतां भूभुजां राज्ञि मृगाणां मृगराडिव ॥ ३३ ॥
Verse text
dārukaś codayām āsa
kāñcanopaskaraṁ ratham
miṣatāṁ bhū-bhujāṁ rājñi
mṛgāṇāṁ mṛga-rāḍ iva
kāñcanopaskaraṁ ratham
miṣatāṁ bhū-bhujāṁ rājñi
mṛgāṇāṁ mṛga-rāḍ iva
Synonyms
Translation
Dāruka drove the Lord’s gold-trimmed chariot as the kings looked on, O Queen, like small animals helplessly watching a lion.
Devanagari
तेऽन्वसज्जन्त राजन्या निषेद्धुं पथि केचन ।
संयत्ता उद्धृतेष्वासा ग्रामसिंहा यथा हरिम् ॥ ३४ ॥
संयत्ता उद्धृतेष्वासा ग्रामसिंहा यथा हरिम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Verse text
te ’nvasajjanta rājanyā
niṣeddhuṁ pathi kecana
saṁyattā uddhṛteṣv-āsā
grāma-siṁhā yathā harim
niṣeddhuṁ pathi kecana
saṁyattā uddhṛteṣv-āsā
grāma-siṁhā yathā harim
Synonyms
Translation
The kings pursued the Lord like village dogs chasing a lion. Some kings, raising their bows, stationed themselves on the road to stop Him as He passed by.
Devanagari
ते शार्ङ्गच्युतबाणौघै: कृत्तबाह्वङ्घ्रिकन्धरा: ।
निपेतु: प्रधने केचिदेके सन्त्यज्य दुद्रुवु: ॥ ३५ ॥
निपेतु: प्रधने केचिदेके सन्त्यज्य दुद्रुवु: ॥ ३५ ॥
Verse text
te śārṅga-cyuta-bāṇaughaiḥ
kṛtta-bāhv-aṅghri-kandharāḥ
nipetuḥ pradhane kecid
eke santyajya dudruvuḥ
kṛtta-bāhv-aṅghri-kandharāḥ
nipetuḥ pradhane kecid
eke santyajya dudruvuḥ
Synonyms
Translation
These warriors were deluged by arrows shot from the Lord’s bow, Śārṅga. Some of the kings fell on the battlefield with severed arms, legs and necks; the rest gave up the fight and fled.
Devanagari
तत: पुरीं यदुपतिरत्यलङ्कृतां
रविच्छदध्वजपटचित्रतोरणाम् ।
कुशस्थलीं दिवि भुवि चाभिसंस्तुतां
समाविशत्तरणिरिव स्वकेतनम् ॥ ३६ ॥
रविच्छदध्वजपटचित्रतोरणाम् ।
कुशस्थलीं दिवि भुवि चाभिसंस्तुतां
समाविशत्तरणिरिव स्वकेतनम् ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
tataḥ purīṁ yadu-patir aty-alaṅkṛtāṁ
ravi-cchada-dhvaja-paṭa-citra-toraṇām
kuśasthalīṁ divi bhuvi cābhisaṁstutāṁ
samāviśat taraṇir iva sva-ketanam
ravi-cchada-dhvaja-paṭa-citra-toraṇām
kuśasthalīṁ divi bhuvi cābhisaṁstutāṁ
samāviśat taraṇir iva sva-ketanam
Synonyms
tataḥ — then; purīm — His city; yadu-patiḥ — the Lord of the Yadus; ati — profusely; alaṅkṛtām — decorated; ravi — the sun; chada — blocking; dhvaja — upon flagpoles; paṭa — with banners; citra — wonderful; toraṇām — and with archways; kuśasthalīm — Dvārakā; divi — in heaven; bhuvi — on the earth; ca — and; abhisaṁstutām — glorified; samāviśat — He entered; taraṇiḥ — the sun; iva — as if; sva — his own; ketanam — abode.
Translation
The Lord of the Yadus then entered His capital city, Kuśasthalī [Dvārakā], which is glorified in heaven and on earth. The city was elaborately decorated with flagpoles carrying banners that blocked the sun, and also with splendid archways. As Lord Kṛṣṇa entered, He appeared like the sun-god entering his abode.
Purport
The abode of the sun is in the western mountains, where he sets each evening.
Devanagari
पिता मे पूजयामास सुहृत्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान् ।
महार्हवासोऽलङ्कारै: शय्यासनपरिच्छदै: ॥ ३७ ॥
महार्हवासोऽलङ्कारै: शय्यासनपरिच्छदै: ॥ ३७ ॥
Verse text
pitā me pūjayām āsa
suhṛt-sambandhi-bāndhavān
mahārha-vāso-’laṅkāraiḥ
śayyāsana-paricchadaiḥ
suhṛt-sambandhi-bāndhavān
mahārha-vāso-’laṅkāraiḥ
śayyāsana-paricchadaiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
My father honored his friends, family and in-laws with priceless clothing and jewelry and with royal beds, thrones and other furnishings.
Devanagari
दासीभि: सर्वसम्पद्भिर्भटेभरथवाजिभि: ।
आयुधानि महार्हाणि ददौ पूर्णस्य भक्तित: ॥ ३८ ॥
आयुधानि महार्हाणि ददौ पूर्णस्य भक्तित: ॥ ३८ ॥
Verse text
dāsībhiḥ sarva-sampadbhir
bhaṭebha-ratha-vājibhiḥ
āyudhāni mahārhāṇi
dadau pūrṇasya bhaktitaḥ
bhaṭebha-ratha-vājibhiḥ
āyudhāni mahārhāṇi
dadau pūrṇasya bhaktitaḥ
Synonyms
dāsībhiḥ — along with maidservants; sarva — all; sampadbhiḥ — endowed with riches; bhaṭa — with infantry soldiers; ibha — soldiers riding elephants; ratha — soldiers riding chariots; vājibhiḥ — and soldiers riding horses; āyudhāni — weapons; mahā-arhāṇi — extremely valuable; dadau — he gave; pūrṇasya — to the perfectly complete Lord; bhaktitaḥ — out of devotion.
Translation
With devotion he presented the perfectly complete Lord with a number of maidservants bedecked with precious ornaments. Accompanying these maidservants were guards walking on foot and others riding elephants, chariots and horses. He also gave the Lord extremely valuable weapons.
Purport
The Supreme Lord is pūrṇa, perfect and complete in Himself. He requires nothing for His satisfaction. Knowing this, a pure devotee makes offerings to the Lord only out of love, bhaktitaḥ, with no expectation of material profit. And on His part, the Lord happily accepts even a small gift of flowers, tulasī leaves and water when it has been offered in love.
Devanagari
आत्मारामस्य तस्येमा वयं वै गृहदासिका: ।
सर्वसङ्गनिवृत्त्याद्धा तपसा च बभूविम ॥ ३९ ॥
सर्वसङ्गनिवृत्त्याद्धा तपसा च बभूविम ॥ ३९ ॥
Verse text
ātmārāmasya tasyemā
vayaṁ vai gṛha-dāsikāḥ
sarva-saṅga-nivṛttyāddhā
tapasā ca babhūvima
vayaṁ vai gṛha-dāsikāḥ
sarva-saṅga-nivṛttyāddhā
tapasā ca babhūvima
Synonyms
Translation
Thus, by renouncing all material association and practicing austere penances, we queens have all become personal maidservants of the self-satisfied Supreme Lord.
Purport
In the opinion of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Śrīmatī Lakṣmaṇā became embarrassed when she realized that she had been talking about herself, and so she spoke this verse praising her co-wives. In her humility Lakṣmaṇā claimed that Kṛṣṇa’s queens, unlike ordinary wives, could not bring their husband under control, and thus they could relate to Him only as servile housekeepers. In fact, however, since the Lord’s queens are direct expansions of His internal pleasure potency (hlādinī-śakti), they fully controlled Him with their love.
Devanagari
महिष्य ऊचु:
भौमं निहत्य सगणं युधि तेन रुद्धा
ज्ञात्वाथ न: क्षितिजये जितराजकन्या: ।
निर्मुच्य संसृतिविमोक्षमनुस्मरन्ती:
पादाम्बुजं परिणिनाय य आप्तकाम: ॥ ४० ॥
भौमं निहत्य सगणं युधि तेन रुद्धा
ज्ञात्वाथ न: क्षितिजये जितराजकन्या: ।
निर्मुच्य संसृतिविमोक्षमनुस्मरन्ती:
पादाम्बुजं परिणिनाय य आप्तकाम: ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
mahiṣya ūcuḥ
bhaumaṁ nihatya sa-gaṇaṁ yudhi tena ruddhā
jñātvātha naḥ kṣiti-jaye jita-rāja-kanyāḥ
nirmucya saṁsṛti-vimokṣam anusmarantīḥ
pādāmbujaṁ pariṇināya ya āpta-kāmaḥ
bhaumaṁ nihatya sa-gaṇaṁ yudhi tena ruddhā
jñātvātha naḥ kṣiti-jaye jita-rāja-kanyāḥ
nirmucya saṁsṛti-vimokṣam anusmarantīḥ
pādāmbujaṁ pariṇināya ya āpta-kāmaḥ
Synonyms
mahiṣyaḥ ūcuḥ — the (other) queens said; bhaumam — the demon Bhauma; nihatya — killing; sa — along with; gaṇam — his followers; yudhi — in battle; tena — by him (Bhauma); ruddhāḥ — imprisoned; jñātvā — knowing; atha — then; naḥ — us; kṣiti-jaye — during (Bhauma’s) conquest of the earth; jita — defeated; rāja — of kings; kanyāḥ — the daughters; nirmucya — releasing; saṁsṛti — from material existence; vimokṣam — (the source of) liberation; anusmarantīḥ — constantly remembering; pāda-ambujam — His lotus feet; pariṇināya — married; yaḥ — who; āpta-kāmaḥ — already fulfilled in all desires.
Translation
Rohiṇī-devi, speaking for the other queens, said: After killing Bhaumāsura and his followers, the Lord found us in the demon’s prison and could understand that we were the daughters of the kings whom Bhauma had defeated during his conquest of the earth. The Lord set us free, and because we had been constantly meditating upon His lotus feet, the source of liberation from material entanglement, He agreed to marry us, though His every desire is already fulfilled.
Purport
Rohiṇī-devī was one of the nine queens questioned by Draupadī in texts 6 and 7, and thus it is assumed that she speaks here, representing the 16,099 other queens. Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms this in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Devanagari
न वयं साध्वि साम्राज्यं स्वाराज्यं भौज्यमप्युत ।
वैराज्यं पारमेष्ठ्यं च आनन्त्यं वा हरे: पदम् ॥ ४१ ॥
कामयामह एतस्य श्रीमत्पादरज: श्रिय: ।
कुचकुङ्कुमगन्धाढ्यं मूर्ध्ना वोढुं गदाभृत: ॥ ४२ ॥
वैराज्यं पारमेष्ठ्यं च आनन्त्यं वा हरे: पदम् ॥ ४१ ॥
कामयामह एतस्य श्रीमत्पादरज: श्रिय: ।
कुचकुङ्कुमगन्धाढ्यं मूर्ध्ना वोढुं गदाभृत: ॥ ४२ ॥
Verse text
na vayaṁ sādhvi sāmrājyaṁ
svārājyaṁ bhaujyam apy uta
vairājyaṁ pārameṣṭhyaṁ ca
ānantyaṁ vā hareḥ padam
svārājyaṁ bhaujyam apy uta
vairājyaṁ pārameṣṭhyaṁ ca
ānantyaṁ vā hareḥ padam
kāmayāmaha etasya
śrīmat-pāda-rajaḥ śriyaḥ
kuca-kuṅkuma-gandhāḍhyaṁ
mūrdhnā voḍhuṁ gadā-bhṛtaḥ
śrīmat-pāda-rajaḥ śriyaḥ
kuca-kuṅkuma-gandhāḍhyaṁ
mūrdhnā voḍhuṁ gadā-bhṛtaḥ
Synonyms
na — not; vayam — we; sādhvi — O saintly lady (Draupadī); sāmrājyam — rulership over the entire earth; sva-rājyam — the position of Lord Indra, King of heaven; bhaujyam — unlimited powers of enjoyment; api uta — even; vairājyam — mystic power; pārameṣṭhyam — the position of Lord Brahmā, creator of the universe; ca — and; ānantyam — immortality; vā — or; hareḥ — of the Supreme Lord; padam — the abode; kāmayāmahe — we desire; etasya — His; śrī-mat — divine; pāda — of the feet; rajaḥ — the dust; śrīyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune; kuca — from the breast; kuṅkuma — of the cosmetic powder; gandha — by the fragrance; āḍhyam — enriched; mūrdhnā — on our heads; voḍhum — to carry; gadābhṛtaḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of the club.
Translation
O saintly lady, we do not desire dominion over the earth, the sovereignty of the King of heaven, unlimited facility for enjoyment, mystic power, the position of Lord Brahmā, immortality or even attainment of the kingdom of God. We simply desire to carry on our heads the glorious dust of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet, enriched by the fragrance of kuṅkuma from His consort’s bosom.
Purport
The verb rāj means “to rule,” and from it are derived the words sāmrājyam, meaning “rulership over the entire earth,” and svārājyam, meaning “rulership over heaven.” Bhaujyam comes from the verb bhuj, “to enjoy,” and thus refers to the capacity of enjoying whatever one desires. Virāṭ is explained by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī as representing the phrase vividhaṁ virājate (“one enjoys many kinds of opulence”) and specifically indicating the eight mystic perfections of aṇimā and so on.
An alternative explanation of these terms is given by Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, who says that according to the Bahv-ṛca Brāhmaṇa, these four terms designate the power of sovereignty over each of the four cardinal directions: sāmrājya for the East, bhaujya for the South, svārājya for the West, and vairājya for the North.
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens clearly state that they do not desire any of these powers, or even the position of Brahmā, liberation or entrance into the kingdom of God. They simply want the dust from Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s feet, which Goddess Śrī herself worships. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī tells us that the goddess of fortune mentioned here is not Lakṣmī, the consort of Nārāyaṇa. After all, the ācārya explains, Goddess Lakṣmī could not attain the direct association of Kṛṣṇa even after performing extended austerities, as Uddhava states: nāyaṁ śrīyo ’ṅga u nitānta-rateḥ prasādaḥ (Bhāg. 10.47.60). Rather, the Śrī referred to here is the supreme goddess of fortune identified by the Bṛhad-gautamīya-tantra:
devī kṛṣṇa-mayī proktā
rādhikā para-devatā
sarva-lakṣmī-mayī sarva
kāntiḥ sammohinī parā
rādhikā para-devatā
sarva-lakṣmī-mayī sarva
kāntiḥ sammohinī parā
“The transcendental goddess Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the direct counterpart of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”
Devanagari
व्रजस्त्रियो यद् वाञ्छन्ति पुलिन्द्यस्तृणवीरुध: ।
गावश्चारयतो गोपा: पदस्पर्शं महात्मन: ॥ ४३ ॥
गावश्चारयतो गोपा: पदस्पर्शं महात्मन: ॥ ४३ ॥
Verse text
vraja-striyo yad vāñchanti
pulindyas tṛṇa-vīrudhaḥ
gāvaś cārayato gopāḥ
pada-sparśaṁ mahātmanaḥ
pulindyas tṛṇa-vīrudhaḥ
gāvaś cārayato gopāḥ
pada-sparśaṁ mahātmanaḥ
Synonyms
vraja — of Vraja; striyaḥ — the women; yat — as; vāñchanti — they desire; pulindyaḥ — the women of the aborigine Pulinda tribe in Vraja; tṛṇa — from the grass; vīrudhaḥ — and plants; gāvaḥ — the cows; cārayataḥ — who is grazing; gopāḥ — the cowherd boys; pāda — of the feet; sparśam — the touch; mahā-ātmanaḥ — of the Supreme Soul.
Translation
We desire the same contact with the Supreme Lord’s feet that the young women of Vraja, the cowherd boys and even the aborigine Pulinda women desire — the touch of the dust He leaves on the plants and grass as He tends His cows.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī reminds us of the jealous rivalry that always existed between the queens of Dvārakā and the gopīs of Vraja. The gopīs considered the sophisticated women of Dvārakā the most serious threat to their hold on Śrī Kṛṣṇa, confessing their anxiety to Uddhava: kasmāt kṛṣṇa ihāyāti prāpta-rājyo hatāhitaḥ/ narendra-kanyā udvāhya.
“Why should Kṛṣṇa come back here after winning a kingdom, killing His enemies and marrying the daughters of kings?” (Bhāg. 10.47.45)
Rukmiṇī and her seven chief co-wives considered themselves so fortunate in their relationship with Kṛṣṇa as He appeared in Dvārakā that they did not especially desire to see Him as He is in Vṛndāvana. But the sixteen thousand lesser queens, after hearing Uddhava describe Śrī Rādhā’s superexcellent qualities, became attracted to touch the dust that falls from Kṛṣṇa’s feet onto the grass and plants of Vṛndāvana. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī indicates that some commentators give this as the reason why, after the mauṣala-līlā, these sixteen thousand queens were stolen from Arjuna on the road by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself in the disguise of sixteen thousand cowherds, who then took them away to Gokula.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Eighty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa.”