Lessons from the Different Aspect of Sri Rukmini Devi

2014-11-28
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.53.25 - Lessons from the Different Aspect of Sri Rukmini Devi (download mp3)
by Radhika Vallabha Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net




SB 10.53.25
durbhagaya na me dhata
 nanukulo mahesvarah
devi va vimukhi gauri
 rudrani girija sati

Translation:
I am extremely unfortunate, for the creator is not favorably disposed toward me, nor is the great Lord Siva. Or perhaps Siva’s wife, Devi, who is known as Gauri, Rudrani, Girija and Sati, has turned against me.

Purport:
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti explains that Rukmini might have thought, “Even if Krsna wanted to come, He might have been stopped on the path by the creator, Brahma, who is not favorably inclined toward me. But why should he be unfavorable? Perhaps it is Mahesvara, Lord Siva, whom on some occasion I did not properly worship and who thus became angry with me. But he is Mahesvara, the great controller, so why would he be angry with such an insignificant and foolish girl as me?

“Perhaps it is Siva’s wife, Gauridevi, who is displeased, though I worship her every day. Alas, alas, how have I offended her so that she has turned against me? But after all, she is Rudrani, the wife of Rudra, and her very name means ‘one who makes everyone cry.’ So perhaps she and Siva want me to cry. But seeing that I am so miserable, about to give up my life, why don’t they soften their attitude? The reason must be that Goddess Devi is Girija, an adopted daughter, so why should she be soft-hearted? In her incarnation as Sati she gave up her body, so perhaps she now wants me to give up my body also.”

Thus the acarya, with realized poetic sensitivity, interprets the various names used in this verse.