Seeing her, with beauty greater than that of Laksmi in Vaikuntha, Krsna spoke. The reason is given: she had assumed a form corresponding to the form of the Lord for pastimes. Parasara has said, "When the Lord assumes the form of a deva, Laksmi assumes a devi form, and when he assumes a human form, she also assumes a human form. She will assume a form suitable to the form that the Lord assumes." As Krsna is more beautiful than the lord of Vaikuntha, so Rukmini is more beautiful than Laksmi. Krsna smiled slightly, thinking, "It is proper that Rukmini has assumed a form appropriate to my form. I will now joke with her, and hear what she will say." She had a sweet smile on her face which illuminated the directions, being decorated with curling locks of hair, earrings and throat ornaments.

Rukmiṇī (rūpinīm) had beauty and qualities superior to Lakṣmī and others in Vaikuṇṭha. The ending on the word (rūp--inīm) indicates praise. The reason for her beauty is explained. She had a form suitable for his form that he uses in his pastimes. It is said of Kṛṣṇa: yan martya-līlaupayikaṁ sva-yoga- māyā-balaṁ darśayatā gṛhītam vismāpanaṁ svasya ca saubhagarddheḥ paraṁ padaṁ bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣaṇāṅgam Kṛṣṇa possesses that form suitable for human pastimes to show the full capacity of his yoga-māyā. That form astonishes even the lord of Vaikuṇṭha. It is the pinnacle of auspicious qualities and enhances the beauty of his ornaments. SB 3.2.12 Similarly she appeared with the most exceptional beauty among all the Lord’s consorts. He was pleased with her with intense emotions (prītaḥ). He smiled because of her joking words and since she was dedicated only to him (ananya-gatim), spoke to her with special play on words (ā-babhāṣe), because he steals the composure of his dear devotees by his jokes (hariḥ). Or, he spoke so that every word she lamented (ā—babhāṣe). He should not have spoken in that way since such words were unsuitable for her.