Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.54.25
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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dhvāṅkṣa-vat
—
like a crow
Dhvāṅkṣa (crow) + vat (like). The crow in Vedic culture is the canonical thief of offerings — anyajña-bhakṣaka. Rukmī's metaphor convicts him: it is HE who is stealing what was offered to Bhagavān. Vyāsa lets the slip stand.
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haviḥ
—
the sacrificial butter / oblation
From √hu. The substance offered into the yajña-fire. The Bhāgavatam's quiet doctrine: every devotee is a havis offered into the fire of bhakti — and the Lord is the offering, the fire, and the receiver simultaneously (cf. BG 4.24).
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māyinaḥ
—
of the deceiver / of one with mystic power
From māyā. Rukmī calls Kṛṣṇa a 'māyin' — a deceiver. The word's other meaning is 'possessor of māyā,' which IS Bhagavān. The slander is true; only its valence is wrong.
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kūṭa-yodhinaḥ
—
of the cheating fighter
Kūṭa (cheating, illusion) + yodhin (warrior). Kūṭa is also the term for a Vedānta-paradox or hidden meaning — Kṛṣṇa's 'cheating' is the līlā-strategy by which He attracts His own. Rukmī condemns; the devotee adores.
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manda
—
fool
Manda — slow, dull. The same word the Bhāgavatam will use at SB 1.1.10 to describe the age we live in ('mandāḥ sumanda-matayaḥ'). Rukmī unwittingly identifies himself in the curse — manda is what Kali-yuga is, and Rukmī's posture is a foretaste.
In his hysterical attack, Rukmī displays the very qualities he attributes to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Every living being is part and parcel of the Lord and belongs to the Lord. Therefore Rukmī was like a crow trying to steal the sacrificial offering meant for the enjoyment of the Lord.
" Where are you going, taking my sister, like a crow (dhvanksa) taking away the offering. Today (adya), fool, I will take away your pride in being a false warrior and cheater." The other meaning is: "Where are you going, not having stolen from me (me amusitva) your own essence (sva saram), Mahalaksmi? I will steal my sister, releasing her from you, and will take her back to my house, like a crow takes the sacrificial offering. Please break (adya make eat) the pride of this false warrior, myself, who is a fool (manda) and cheater (mayi)." Havih means a sacrificial offering or ghee in the neuter.
You are like a crow stealing butter. The word dhvāṅkṣa means “having one eye.” The opposite adhvāṇkṣa means “having many eyes.” This ultimately means “having a thousand eyes Viṣṇu.” You have attained Rukmiṇī justly since Lakṣmī belongs to you. If your śakti of māyā goes away, then it is possible to fight with me. You fight justly with rascals like us (kuṭa-yodhinaḥ). I do not fight while facing you. I will give (hariṣye) joy (madam) to you by having you performing your pastime of conquering rascals like me. Or you did not steal (amuṣitvā) my sister who is like the sacrificial offering, since she is your share anyway. But I am like a crow.
Stealing my sister was highly improper, like a crow stealing butter. Śrīdhara Svāmī explains the other meaning. Because of deception, you fight by cheating. The real meaning is “I will offer you my pride. Why? You are merciful (māyinaḥ), determined in fighting (kūṭa-yodhinaḥ).”
A crow attempts to steal the puroḍāśa offered to Indra in a yajña — the bird snatches what was meant for a god and is shrieked away by all the priests. Rukmī, calling Kṛṣṇa a crow stealing havis, has the metaphor exactly backwards: Rukmiṇī is herself the offering, and Kṛṣṇa is the Indra-of-all-yajñas to whom she is owed.
My note
Source: vedabase.io