SB 10.60.5 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

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 ॥

Verse text

tasmin antar-gṛhe bhrājan- muktā-dāma-vilambinā virājite vitānena dīpair maṇi-mayair api mallikā-dāmabhiḥ puṣpair dvirepha-kula-nādite jāla-randhra-praviṣṭaiś ca gobhiś candramaso ’malaiḥ pārijāta-vanāmoda- vāyunodyāna-śālinā dhūpair aguru-jai rājan jāla-randhra-vinirgataiḥ payaḥ-phena-nibhe śubhre paryaṅke kaśipūttame upatasthe sukhāsīnaṁ jagatām īśvaraṁ patim

Synonyms

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 .

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.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

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. KB 10.60.3 The palace of Rukmiṇī was wonderfully furnished. Hanging from the ceiling were many canopies with laces bedecked with pearl garlands, and the whole palace was illuminated by the effulgence of valuable jewels. There were many flower groves of mallikā and cāmeli, which are considered the most fragrant flowers in India. There were many clusters of these plants, with blooming flowers enhancing the beauty of the palace. And because of the exquisite fragrance of the flowers, little groups of humming bees gathered around the trees, and at night the pleasing moonshine glittered through the network of holes in the windows. There were many heavily flowered trees of pārijāta, and the mild wind stirred the fragrance of the flowers all around. Incense burned within the walls of the palace, and the fragrant smoke leaked out of the window shutters. Within the room were mattresses covered with white bedsheets; the bedding was as soft and white as milk foam. In this situation, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa sat very comfortably and enjoyed the service of Rukmiṇījī, who was assisted by her maidservants. Rukmiṇī was very eager to get the opportunity to serve her husband, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Purport

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.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

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).

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

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.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

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.