Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.55.29
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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īṣat-vailakṣaṇyena
—
by the slight difference of appearance
Compound: īṣat (slight) + vailakṣaṇyena (by distinction, instr.). The difference is real but small — Pradyumna is an aṁśa, not Bhagavān Himself. Gauḍīyas read this as the doctrinal tag: aṁśa is non-different in kind, slightly different in degree.
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pramuditāḥ
—
delighted
From pra-√mud — to rejoice intensely. The queens' delight at the resolved confusion is the chapter's emotional pivot — fear-of-discovered-husband becomes joy-at-discovered-son.
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strī-ratnam
—
the jewel among women
Compound: strī (woman) + ratnam (jewel). Used of Rukmiṇī in 10.52, of Sītā in the Rāmāyaṇa, here of Māyāvatī. The wife of an aṁśa receives the same honorific the wife of Bhagavān receives.
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su-vismitaḥ
—
very surprised
Compound: su (very) + vismitaḥ (astonished). Vismaya/adbhuta-rasa, again — the chapter is bracketed by it (cf. v.5, v.6). Recognition of the Lord proceeds through wonder.
Understanding (avadharya) that he (tam from the previous verse) was not Krsna by his differing characteristics, they approached him.
He was slightly different since his color and other features were slightly less than Kṛṣṇa’s. He was modest in behavior, devoid of Kṛṣṇa’s bhāva and way of observing things. From this they understood he was not Kṛṣṇa, and approached him. They were very joyful since he had a similar form and nature as Kṛṣṇa’s. They smiled (śuci-smitāḥ) since such happenings were not possible elsewhere. Sometimes suvismitāḥ is seen instead. They did not realize that the woman was his wife. Thus she is described as strī. She is called a jewel because by contact with him she became similar.
He was slightly different since his color and other features of beauty were slightly less than Kṛṣṇa’s, since he as a son was like a reflection. Or he did not have the same loving glance. He glanced them with politeness, with bowed head. Gradually, since the two had similar form, they understood he was not Kṛṣṇa because he did not immediately manifest bhāva for the wives. Or they could not immediately realize the difference by intelligence because of their natural affection and shyness. They then approached, with great joy because of arousal of parental affection or seeing similarity to Kṛṣṇa’s form. They were astonished since he arrived suddenly and had similarity to their husband. They did not know that the woman was his wife. Thus she is called a jewel among women.
- Where do you confuse 'similar' with 'identical' in spiritual contexts?
- How does noticing slight differences sharpen your devotion?
Gradually, the slight differences register — He is not quite the husband, only His mirror-image. The queens come forward, delighted and surprised, to meet Pradyumna and His jewel-wife. Recognition of the Lord is calibrated, not instantaneous; even those who know His body must compare to be sure.
My note
Source: vedabase.io