FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.60.3-6

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-
[tasmin antar-grihe bhraajan-]
muktā-dāma-vilambinā
[muktaa-daama-vilambinaa]
virājite vitānena
[viraajite vitaanena]
dīpair maṇi-mayair api
[deepair mani-mayair api]
mallikā-dāmabhiḥ puṣpair
[mallikaa-daamabhih pushpair]
dvirepha-kula-nādite
[dvirepha-kula-naadite]
jāla-randhra-praviṣṭaiś ca
[jaala-randhra-pravishtaish cha]
gobhiś candramaso ’malaiḥ
[gobhish chandramaso ’malaih]
pārijāta-vanāmoda-
[paarijaata-vanaamoda-]
vāyunodyāna-śālinā
[vaayunodyaana-shaalinaa]
dhūpair aguru-jai rājan
[dhoopair aguru-jai raajan]
jāla-randhra-vinirgataiḥ
[jaala-randhra-vinirgataih]
payaḥ-phena-nibhe śubhre
[payah-phena-nibhe shubhre]
paryaṅke kaśipūttame
[paryanke kashipoottame]
upatasthe sukhāsīnaṁ
[upatasthe sukhaaseenam]
jagatām īśvaraṁ patim
[jagataam eeshvaram patim]
tasmin — in that antaḥ - gṛhe — private part of the palace bhrājat — brilliant muktā — of pearls dāma — with strings vilambinā — hanging virājite — resplendent vitānena — with a canopy dīpaiḥ — with lamps maṇi — of jewels mayaiḥ — made api — also mallikā — of jasmines dāmabhiḥ — with garlands puṣpaiḥ — with flowers dvirepha — of bees kula — with a swarm nādite — resounding jāla — of the lattice windows randhra — through the small holes praviṣṭaiḥ — which entered ca — and gobhiḥ — with the rays candramasaḥ — of the moon amalaiḥ — spotless pārijāta — of pārijāta trees vana — of the grove āmoda — (carrying) the fragrance vāyunā — by the wind udyāna — of a garden śālinā — bringing the presence dhūpaiḥ — with incense aguru — from aguru perfume jaiḥ — produced rājan — O King (Parīkṣit) jāla - randhra — through the holes of the lattice windows vinirgataiḥ — exiting payaḥ — of milk phena — the foam nibhe — resembling śubhre — shining paryaṅke — on the bed kaśipu — on a pillow uttame — excellent upatasthe — she served sukha — comfortably āsīnam — seated jagatām — of all the worlds īśvaram — the supreme controller patim — her husband .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmin antar-gṛhe bhrājan-
tasmin
in that
antaḥ - gṛhe
private part of the palace
bhrājat
brilliant
muktā-dāma-vilambinā
muktā
of pearls
dāma
with strings
vilambinā
hanging
virājite vitānena
virājite
resplendent
vitānena
with a canopy
dīpair maṇi-mayair api
dīpaiḥ
with lamps
maṇi
of jewels
mayaiḥ
made
api
also
mallikā-dāmabhiḥ puṣpair
mallikā
of jasmines
dāmabhiḥ
with garlands
puṣpaiḥ
with flowers
dvirepha-kula-nādite
dvirepha
of bees
kula
with a swarm
nādite
resounding
jāla-randhra-praviṣṭaiś ca
jāla
of the lattice windows
randhra
through the small holes
praviṣṭaiḥ
which entered
ca
and
gobhiś candramaso ’malaiḥ
gobhiḥ
with the rays
candramasaḥ
of the moon
pārijāta-vanāmoda-
amalaiḥ
spotless
vāyunodyāna-śālinā
dhūpair aguru-jai rājan
pārijāta
of pārijāta trees
jāla-randhra-vinirgataiḥ
payaḥ-phena-nibhe śubhre
paryaṅke kaśipūttame
upatasthe sukhāsīnaṁ
jagatām īśvaraṁ patim
vana
of the grove
āmoda
(carrying) the fragrance
vāyunā
by the wind
udyāna
of a garden
śālinā
bringing the presence
dhūpaiḥ
with incense
aguru
from aguru perfume
jaiḥ
produced
rājan
O King (Parīkṣit)
jāla - randhra
through the holes of the lattice windows
vinirgataiḥ
exiting
payaḥ
of milk
phena
the foam
nibhe
resembling
śubhre
shining
paryaṅke
on the bed
kaśipu
on a pillow
uttame
excellent
upatasthe
she served
sukha
comfortably
āsīnam
seated
jagatām
of all the worlds
īśvaram
the supreme controller
patim
her husband .
  • antaḥ-gṛhe — in that private part of the palace
    Compound: antaḥ (inner) + gṛha (house). The inner chamber — the locus of mādhurya-līlā, where the Lord steps out of public majesty into private intimacy with His queen.
  • muktā — of pearls
    The same word that names liberation. The Gauḍīya pun is irresistible: Rukmiṇī's bedchamber is hung with 'liberated ones' as ornaments — the room where He rests is built from the offerings of those who renounced everything for Him.
  • mallikā — jasmine (garlands)
    The Vaiṣṇava temple-fragrance par excellence; the same flower the gopīs wore in Vraja. Rukmiṇī's chamber is dressed in the perfume of Vraja-mādhurya, even in Dvārakā's marble palace.
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.

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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
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.
Commentary

The palace of Rukmini is described in order to show the perfection of all elements in her serving Krsna with love. The room was splendid, with shining jewels and a canopy hanging with clusters of bright pearls. It was splendid with the pure red rays of the rising moon, entering through the lattice work of the windows, and with aguru incense streaming out through the lattice work. There she served Krsna who was lying on the best of beds (kasiputtame).

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The place where the pastime took place is now described in seven lines. To describe their prema, first the articles acting as uddīpanas for Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī described. Three and a half verses included the description of house and the bed. One line describes Rukmiṇī’s prema as she served him and Kṛṣṇa sitting on the bed. She had a rectangular room within the palace which had many rooms with rooftop apartments. The room was lit naturally by jewels (rājite), and particularly bright (vi--rājite) by the canopies and jeweled lamps. Strings of jasmines decorated the doorways and other flowers were sprinkled here and there. In some versions dhupaiḥ is seen instead of puṣpaiḥ. This would be ordinary incense, since later aguru incense is mentioned. The moon rays were red (aruṇaiḥ—a version instead of amalaiḥ), having just risen. This incident took place after dusk. The rays of the moon and the aguru incense suggest the beauty of the room. The fumes of the incense left the room before the moon rays entered. Thus a pleasant breeze is also suggested. Previous to the episode with Indra, pārijāta plants had been established in each of the queens’ houses. Other trees were there, because of relationship with the wind from the chief pārijāta grove, like a chief sandalwood tree. That tree was not sent there by servants, but brought by the Lord personally, after a battle. Not only was there the fragrance of the pārijāta but the fragrance of many other flowers in the garden (udyana). Aguru incense streamed out everywhere (vi—nirgataḥ) through the lattice holes. In the rooftop apartment there was an excellent bed described in one line. Rukmiṇī served him. The continuous descriptions of her from this verse onwards indicate her desire to serve him.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The place where the pastime took place is now described in seven lines. To describe their prema, first the articles acting as uddīpanas for Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī are described. Three and a half verses include the description of house and the bed. The room was lit naturally by jewels (rājite), and particularly bright (vi--rājite) by the canopies and jeweled lamps. Strings of jasmines decorated the doorways and other flowers were sprinkled here and there. The proper setting is thus described. The pastime began in the evening. Pārijāta plants had been established in each of the queens’ houses by Indra previously for pleasing all the queens. Not only was there the fragrance of the pārijāta but the fragrance of many other flowers in the garden (udyana). The breeze was cool because of the cool garden. Not only was it cool but very gentle. Aguru incense streamed out everywhere (vi—nirgataḥ) through the lattice holes. Seeing Parīkṣit shining with joy on hearing this, Śukadeva calls to him. O shining king (rājan)! Out of joy the method of serving the Lord is described in two lines. In the room, there was a bed with an excellent pillow. The description of her serving is repeated to indicate her pleasure in serving.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)
Related verses
Rukmiṇī's quarters: pearl-strung canopy, jewel-lamps, jasmine garlands attracting hummingbees; the beautiful environment is detailed lovingly. Sacred environments are described in sensory detail; rooms hold relationships.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could you upgrade the sensory environment of your most important relationships?
  • What single detail could you add to a room where worship happens?

Imagine the inner chamber of a temple at midnight, every surface flickering with lamplight, garlands swaying, peacocks dozing in the courtyard — and yet the deity within is more beautiful than all the décor combined. Rukmiṇī's quarters are arranged like that chamber; Kṛṣṇa is the ārcā-vigraha at its heart.

📝 My note

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