FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.55.31

को न्वयं नरवैदूर्य: कस्य वा कमलेक्षण: । धृत: कया वा जठरे केयं लब्धा त्वनेन वा ॥ ३१ ॥
ko nv ayam nara-vaidūryaḥ
[ko nv ayam nara-vaidooryah]
kasya vā kamalekṣaṇaḥ
[kasya vaa kamalekshanah]
dhṛtaḥ kayā vā jaṭhare
[dhritah kayaa vaa jathare]
keyaṁ labdhā tv anena vā
[keyam labdhaa tv anena vaa]
kaḥ — who nu — indeed ayam — this nara - vaidūryaḥ — gem among men kasya — whose (son) vā — and kamala - īkṣaṇaḥ — lotus-eyed dhṛtaḥ — carried kayā — by what woman vā — and jaṭhare — in her womb kā — who iyam — this woman labdhā — obtained tu — moreover anena — by Him vā — and .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ko nv ayam nara-vaidūryaḥ
kasya vā kamalekṣaṇaḥ
kaḥ
who
nu
indeed
dhṛtaḥ kayā vā jaṭhare
ayam
this
keyaṁ labdhā tv anena vā
nara - vaidūryaḥ
gem among men
kasya
whose (son)
vā
and
kamala - īkṣaṇaḥ
lotus-eyed
dhṛtaḥ
carried
kayā
by what woman
vā
and
jaṭhare
in her womb
kā
who
iyam
this woman
labdhā
obtained
tu
moreover
anena
by Him
vā
and .
  • nara-vaidūryaḥ — gem among men
    Compound: nara (man) + vaidūryaḥ (cat's-eye gem, beryl). A precious stone famed for its inner shifting light. Rukmiṇī's metaphor — among men, He is the stone you cannot stop turning in your hand.
  • kamala-īkṣaṇaḥ — lotus-eyed
    Compound: kamala (lotus) + īkṣaṇaḥ (eyed). The exact epithet she uses of her own husband (cf. her letter at 10.52.37, kamala-naya). She is unknowingly applying her husband's title to her son — the verse names the resemblance before she does.
  • jaṭhare — in the womb
    Locative of jaṭhara (belly, womb). Rukmiṇī asks: in whose jaṭhara was He carried? The same word she will ask about herself in v.34. The chapter's grammar prepares the self-recognition.
  • labdhā — obtained, won
    Past participle of √labh, fem. Rukmiṇī asks how He 'obtained' His wife — the standard verb for marriage-by-pursuit in the Bhāgavatam. She will soon learn the answer is exactly her own marriage-story in miniature.
[Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī said:] Who is this lotus-eyed jewel among men? What man’s son is He, and what woman carried Him in her womb? And who is this woman He has taken as His wife?
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
[Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī said:] Who is this lotus-eyed jewel among men? What man's son is He, and what woman carried Him in her womb? And who is this woman He has taken as His wife?
Commentary

Whose son (kasya) is this best among men (nara vaidurya)?

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Who is this best among men like a vaidūrya gem? Whose son is he?

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Nu indicates questioning. His gem-like nature is described. He has lotus eyes. This is an indication of a mahāpuruṣa. What man’s son is he, and what woman carried him in her womb? This shows the greater affection of the mother.

Concepts
Jiva
Who is this lotus-eyed jewel among men? What man's son is He, and what woman carried Him? Who is His wife? Specific questions accompany recognition; even the certain mother asks.
Reflection Questions
  • What specific questions would you ask if recognition were arriving?
  • Where do you let yourself ask the dignified series of inquiries?

Rukmiṇī begins to wonder aloud: 'Who is this lotus-eyed jewel? Whose son, by what mother carried, who is this wife of his?' She asks four questions and answers none — the recognition is hovering, not yet landed. Bhakti, even at the Lakṣmī-level, must work through inquiry.

📝 My note

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