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CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Kṛṣṇa Kidnaps Rukmiṇī

This chapter describes how Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa arrived in Kuṇḍina, the capital of Vidarbha, and kidnapped Rukmiṇī in the presence of powerful enemies.

After Lord Kṛṣṇa had heard the brāhmaṇa messenger recite Rukmiṇī’s letter, the Lord said to him, “I am indeed attracted to Rukmiṇī, and I know of her brother Rukmī’s opposition to My marrying her. Therefore I must kidnap her after crushing all the low-class kings, just as one might generate fire from wood by friction.” Since the solemnizing of vows between Rukmiṇī and Śiśupāla was scheduled to occur in only three days, Lord Kṛṣṇa had Dāruka ready His chariot at once. Then He immediately set out for Vidarbha, which He reached after one night’s travel.

King Bhīṣmaka, trapped by his affection for his son Rukmī, was prepared to give his daughter to Śiśupāla. Bhīṣmaka saw to all the necessary preparations: he had the city decorated in various ways and had its main roads and intersections thoroughly cleansed. Damaghoṣa, the King of Cedi, having also done everything necessary to prepare for his son’s marriage, arrived in Vidarbha. King Bhīṣmaka greeted him properly and gave him a place to stay. Many other kings, such as Jarāsandha, Śālva and Dantavakra, also came to witness the occasion. These enemies of Kṛṣṇa had conspired to kidnap the bride if Kṛṣṇa came. They planned to fight Him together and thus guarantee Śiśupāla his bride. Hearing of these plans, Lord Baladeva gathered His entire army and quickly went to Kuṇḍinapura.

On the night before the wedding, Rukmiṇī, about to retire, had still not seen either the brāhmaṇa or Kṛṣṇa arrive. In anxiety, she cursed her bad fortune. But just then she felt her left side twitch, a good omen. Indeed, the brāhmaṇa shortly appeared and related to her what Kṛṣṇa had said, including His firm promise to kidnap her.

When King Bhīṣmaka heard that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had arrived, he went out to greet Them to the accompaniment of triumphant music. He worshiped the Lords with various gifts and then designated residences for Them. Thus the King showed due respect to the Lords, as he did to each of his numerous royal guests.

The people of Vidarbha, seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa, remarked to one another that He alone would be a suitable husband for Rukmiṇī. They prayed that on the strength of whatever pious credit they had, Kṛṣṇa might win Rukmiṇī’s hand.

When the time came for Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī to visit the temple of Śrī Ambikā, she proceeded there surrounded by many guards. After bowing down to the deity, Rukmiṇī prayed to be allowed to have Śrī Kṛṣṇa as her husband. Then she took the hand of a girlfriend and left the Ambikā temple. Seeing her inexpressible beauty, the great heroes present dropped their weapons and fell to the ground unconscious. Rukmiṇī walked with deliberate steps until she noticed Kṛṣṇa. Then, as everyone looked on, Śrī Kṛṣṇa took Rukmiṇī onto His chariot. Like a lion claiming his rightful share from a band of jackals, He drove back all the opposing kings and slowly made His exit, followed by His associates. Jarāsandha and the other kings, unable to bear their defeat and dishonor, loudly condemned themselves, declaring that this defamation was like a petty animal’s stealing away what rightfully belongs to the lion.

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
वैदर्भ्या: स तु सन्देशं निशम्य यदुनन्दन: ।
प्रगृह्य पाणिना पाणिं प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥

Text

śrī-śuka uvāca
vaidarbhyāḥ sa tu sandeśaṁ
niśamya yadu-nandanaḥ
pragṛhya pāṇinā pāṇiṁ
prahasann idam abravīt

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; vaidarbhyāḥ — of the princess of Vidarbha; saḥ — He; tu — and; sandeśam — the confidential message; niśamya — hearing; yadu-nandanaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Yadu; pragṛhya — taking; pāṇinā — by His hand; pāṇim — the hand (of the brāhmaṇa messenger); prahasan — smiling; idam — this; abravīt — said.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus hearing the confidential message of Princess Vaidarbhī, Lord Yadunandana took the brāhmaṇa’s hand and, smiling, spoke to him as follows.

Devanagari

श्रीभगवानुवाच
तथाहमपि तच्चित्तो निद्रां च न लभे निशि ।
वेदाहं रुक्‍मिणा द्वेषान्ममोद्वाहो निवारित: ॥ २ ॥

Text

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
tathāham api tac-citto
nidrāṁ ca na labhe niśi
vedāham rukmiṇā dveṣān
mamodvāho nivāritaḥ

Synonyms

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; tathā — in the same way; aham — I; api — also; tat — fixed on her; cittaḥ — My mind; nidrām — sleep; ca — and; na labhe — I cannot get; niśi — at night; veda — know; aham — I; rukmiṇā — by Rukmī; dveṣāt — out of enmity; mama — My; udvāhaḥ — marriage; nivāritaḥ — forbidden.

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: Just as Rukmiṇī’s mind is fixed on Me, My mind is fixed on her. I can’t even sleep at night. I know that Rukmī, out of envy, has forbidden our marriage.

Devanagari

तामानयिष्य उन्मथ्य राजन्यापसदान् मृधे ।
मत्परामनवद्याङ्गीमेधसोऽग्निशिखामिव ॥ ३ ॥

Text

tām ānayiṣya unmathya
rājanyāpasadān mṛdhe
mat-parām anavadyāṅgīm
edhaso ’gni-śikhām iva

Synonyms

tām — she; ānayiṣye — I will bring here; unmathya — churning up; rājanya — of the royal order; apasadān — unfit members; mṛdhe — in battle; mat — to Me; parām — who is solely dedicated; anavadya — unquestionable; aṅgīm — the beauty of whose body; edhasaḥ — from kindling wood; agni — of fire; śikhām — the flames; iva — as.

Translation

She has dedicated herself exclusively to Me, and her beauty is flawless. I will bring her here after thrashing those worthless kings in battle, just as one brings a blazing flame out of firewood.

Purport

When latent fire is aroused in wood, the fire bursts forth, consuming the wood in the act of manifestation. Similarly, Lord Kṛṣṇa boldly predicted that Rukmiṇī would come forth to take His hand and that in the process the wicked kings would be burned by the fire of Kṛṣṇa’s determination.

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
उद्वाहर्क्षं च विज्ञाय रुक्‍मिण्या मधुसूदन: ।
रथ: संयुज्यतामाशु दारुकेत्याह सारथिम् ॥ ४ ॥

Text

śrī-śuka uvāca
udvāharkṣaṁ ca vijñāya
rukmiṇyā madhusūdanaḥ
rathaḥ saṁyujyatām āśu
dārukety āha sārathim

Synonyms

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; udvāha — of the wedding; ṛkṣam — the lunar asterism (the measurement that fixes the exact auspicious time); ca — and; vijñāya — knowing; rukmiṇyāḥ — of Rukmiṇī; madhusūdanaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; rathaḥ — the chariot; saṁyujyatām — should be readied; āśu — immediately; dāruka — O Dāruka; iti — thus; āha — He said; sārathim — to His driver.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Lord Madhusūdana also understood the exact lunar time for Rukmiṇī’s wedding. Thus He told His driver, “Dāruka, ready My chariot immediately.”

Devanagari

स चाश्वै: शैब्यसुग्रीवमेघपुष्पबलाहकै: ।
युक्तं रथमुपानीय तस्थौ प्राञ्जलिरग्रत: ॥ ५ ॥

Text

sa cāśvaiḥ śaibya-sugrīva-
meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ
yuktaṁ ratham upānīya
tasthau prāñjalir agrataḥ

Synonyms

saḥ — he, Dāruka; ca — and; aśvaiḥ — with the horses; śaibya-sugrīva-meghapuṣpa-balāhakaiḥ — named Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa and Balāhaka; yuktam — yoked; ratham — the chariot; upānīya — bringing; tasthau — stood; prāñjaliḥ — with palms joined in reverence; agrataḥ — in front.

Translation

Dāruka brought the Lord’s chariot, yoked with the horses named Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa and Balāhaka. He then stood before Lord Kṛṣṇa with joined palms.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the following text of the Padma Purāṇa describing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s chariot horses:

śaibyas tu śuka-patrābhaḥ
sugrīvo hema-piṅgalaḥ
meghapuṣpas tu meghābhaḥ
pāṇḍuro hi balāhakaḥ

“Śaibya was green like a parrot’s wings, Sugrīva yellow-gold, Meghapuṣpa the color of a cloud, and Balāhaka whitish.”

Devanagari

आरुह्य स्यन्दनं शौरिर्द्विजमारोप्य तूर्णगै: ।
आनर्तादेकरात्रेण विदर्भानगमद्धयै: ॥ ६ ॥

Text

āruhya syandanaṁ śaurir
dvijam āropya tūrṇa-gaiḥ
ānartād eka-rātreṇa
vidarbhān agamad dhayaiḥ

Synonyms

āruhya — mounting; syandanam — His chariot; śauriḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dvijam — the brāhmaṇa; āropya — placing (on the chariot); tūrṇa-gaiḥ — (who were) swift; ānartāt — from the district of Ānarta; eka — single; rātreṇa — in a night; vidarbhān — to the Vidarbha kingdom; agamat — went; hayaiḥ — with His horses.

Translation

Lord Śauri mounted His chariot and had the brāhmaṇa do likewise. Then the Lord’s swift horses took them from the Ānarta district to Vidarbha in a single night.

Devanagari

राजा स कुण्डिनपति: पुत्रस्‍नेहवशानुग: ।
शिशुपालाय स्वां कन्यां दास्यन् कर्माण्यकारयत् ॥ ७ ॥

Text

rājā sa kuṇḍina-patiḥ
putra-sneha-vaśānugaḥ
śiśupālāya svāṁ kanyāṁ
dāsyan karmāṇy akārayat

Synonyms

rājā — the king; saḥ — he, Bhīṣmaka; kuṇḍina-patiḥ — master of Kuṇḍina; putra — for his son; sneha — of affection; vaśa — the control; anugaḥ — obeying; śiśupālāya — to Śiśupāla; svām — his; kanyām — daughter; dāsyan — being about to give; karmāṇi — the required duties; akārayat — he had done.

Translation

King Bhīṣmaka, the master of Kuṇḍina, having succumbed to the sway of affection for his son, was about to give his daughter to Śiśupāla. The King saw to all the required preparations.

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out in this connection that King Bhīṣmaka had no particular liking for Śiśupāla but rather acted out of attachment for his son Rukmī.

Devanagari

पुरं सम्मृष्टसंसिक्तमार्गरथ्याचतुष्पथम् ।
चित्रध्वजपताकाभिस्तोरणै: समलङ्कृतम् ॥ ८ ॥
स्रग्गन्धमाल्याभरणैर्विरजोऽम्बरभूषितै: ।
जुष्टं स्‍त्रीपुरुषै: श्रीमद्गृहैरगुरुधूपितै: ॥ ९ ॥

Text

puraṁ sammṛṣṭa-saṁsikta-
mārga-rathyā-catuṣpatham
citra-dhvaja-patākābhis
toraṇaiḥ samalaṅkṛtam
srag-gandha-mālyābharaṇair
virajo-’mbara-bhūṣitaiḥ
juṣṭaṁ strī-puruṣaiḥ śrīmad-
gṛhair aguru-dhūpitaiḥ

Synonyms

puram — the city; sammṛṣṭa — thoroughly cleaned; saṁsikta — and sprinkled abundantly with water; mārga — the main avenues; rathyā — commercial roads; catuḥ-patham — and intersections; citra — variegated; dhvaja — on flagpoles; patākābhiḥ — with banners; toraṇaiḥ — and archways; samalaṅkṛtam — decorated; srak — with jeweled necklaces; gandha — fragrant substances such as sandalwood paste; mālya — flower garlands; ābharaṇaiḥ — and other ornaments; virajaḥ — spotless; ambara — in clothing; bhūṣitaiḥ — who were arrayed; juṣṭam — containing; strī — women; puruṣaiḥ — and men; śrī-mat — opulent; gṛhaiḥ — homes; aguru-dhūpitaiḥ — aromatic with aguru incense.

Translation

The king had the main avenues, commercial roads and intersections thoroughly cleaned and then sprinkled with water, and he also had the city decorated with triumphant archways and multicolored banners on poles. The men and women of the city, arrayed in spotless raiment and anointed with fragrant sandalwood paste, wore precious necklaces, flower garlands and jeweled ornaments, and their opulent homes were filled with the aroma of aguru.

Purport

When earthen roads are sprinkled with water, the dust settles down and the road becomes smooth and firm. King Bhīṣmaka thoroughly prepared for the great wedding, setting the scene for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s triumphant abduction of beautiful Rukmiṇī-devī.

Devanagari

पितृन् देवान् समभ्यर्च्य विप्रांश्च विधिवन्नृप ।
भोजयित्वा यथान्यायं वाचयामास मङ्गलम् ॥ १० ॥

Text

pitṝn devān samabhyarcya
viprāṁś ca vidhi-van nṛpa
bhojayitvā yathā-nyāyaṁ
vācayām āsa maṅgalam

Synonyms

pitṝn — the forefathers; devān — the demigods; samabhyarcya — correctly worshiping; viprān — the brāhmaṇas; ca — and; vidhi-vat — according to prescribed rituals; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); bhojayitvā — feeding them; yathā — as; nyāyam — is just; vācayām āsa — he had chanted; maṅgalam — auspicious mantras.

Translation

O King, in accordance with prescribed rituals, Mahārāja Bhīṣmaka worshiped the forefathers, demigods and brāhmaṇas, feeding them all properly. Then He had the traditional mantras chanted for the well-being of the bride.

Devanagari

सुस्‍नातां सुदतीं कन्यां कृतकौतुकमङ्गलाम् ।
आहतांशुकयुग्मेन भूषितां भूषणोत्तमै: ॥ ११ ॥

Text

su-snātāṁ su-datīṁ kanyāṁ
kṛta-kautuka-maṅgalām
āhatāṁśuka-yugmena
bhūṣitāṁ bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ

Synonyms

su-snātām — properly bathed; su-datīm — with spotless teeth; kanyām — the bride; kṛta — having performed; kautuka-maṅgalām — the ceremony of putting on the auspicious marriage necklace; āhata — unused; aṁśuka — of garments; yugmena — with a pair; bhūṣitām — adorned; bhūṣaṇa — with ornaments; uttamaiḥ — most excellent.

Translation

The bride cleaned her teeth and bathed, after which she put on the auspicious wedding necklace. Then she was dressed in brand-new upper and lower garments and adorned with most excellent jeweled ornaments.

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, only spotless clothing fresh off the loom should be worn during auspicious ceremonies.

Devanagari

चक्रु: सामर्ग्यजुर्मन्त्रैर्वध्वा रक्षां द्विजोत्तमा: ।
पुरोहितोऽथर्वविद्वै जुहाव ग्रहशान्तये ॥ १२ ॥

Text

cakruḥ sāma-rg-yajur-mantrair
vadhvā rakṣāṁ dvijottamāḥ
purohito ’tharva-vid vai
juhāva graha-śāntaye

Synonyms

cakruḥ — effected; sāma-ṛg-yajuḥ — of the Sāma, Ṛg and Yajur Vedas; mantraiḥ — with chants; vadhvāḥ — of the bride; rakṣām — the protection; dvija-uttamaḥ — first-class brāhmaṇas; purohitaḥ — the priest; atharva-vit — who was expert in the mantras of the Atharva Veda; vai — indeed; juhāva — poured oblations of ghee; graha — the controlling planets; śāntaye — to pacify.

Translation

The best of brāhmaṇas chanted mantras of the Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur Vedas for the bride’s protection, and the priest learned in the Atharva Veda offered oblations to pacify the controlling planets.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the Atharva Veda often deals with the pacification of unfavorable planets.

Devanagari

हिरण्यरूप्यवासांसि तिलांश्च गुडमिश्रितान् ।
प्रादाद् धेनूश्च विप्रेभ्यो राजा विधिविदां वर: ॥ १३ ॥

Text

hiraṇya-rūpya vāsāṁsi
tilāṁś ca guḍa-miśritān
prādād dhenūś ca viprebhyo
rājā vidhi-vidāṁ varaḥ

Synonyms

hiraṇya — gold; rūpya — silver; vāsāṁsi — and clothing; tilān — sesame seeds; ca — and; guḍa — with raw sugar; miśritān — mixed; prādāt — gave; dhenūḥ — cows; ca — also; viprebhyaḥ — to the brāhmaṇas; rājā — the king Bhīṣmaka; vidhi — regulative principles; vidām — of those who know; varaḥ — the best.

Translation

Outstanding in his knowledge of regulative principles, the King rewarded the brāhmaṇas with gold, silver, clothing, cows and sesame seeds mixed with raw sugar.

Devanagari

एवं चेदिपती राजा दमघोष: सुताय वै ।
कारयामास मन्त्रज्ञै: सर्वमभ्युदयोचितम् ॥ १४ ॥

Text

evaṁ cedi-patī rājā
damaghoṣaḥ sutāya vai
kārayām āsa mantra-jñaiḥ
sarvam abhyudayocitam

Synonyms

evam — in the same way; cedi-patiḥ — the lord of Cedi; rājā damaghoṣaḥ — King Damaghoṣa; sutāya — for his son (Śiśupāla); vai — indeed; kārayām āsa — had done; mantra-jñaiḥ — by expert knowers of mantras; sarvam — everything; abhyudaya — to his prosperity; ucitam — conducive.

Translation

Rājā Damaghoṣa, lord of Cedi, had also engaged brāhmaṇas expert in chanting mantras to perform all rituals necessary to assure his son’s prosperity.

Devanagari

मदच्युद्भ‍िर्गजानीकै: स्यन्दनैर्हेममालिभि: ।
पत्त्यश्वसङ्कुलै: सैन्यै: परीत: कुण्डिनं ययौ ॥ १५ ॥

Text

mada-cyudbhir gajānīkaiḥ
syandanair hema-mālibhiḥ
patty-aśva-saṅkulaiḥ sainyaiḥ
parītaḥ kuṇdīnaṁ yayau

Synonyms

mada — liquid secreted from the forehead; cyudbhiḥ — exuding; gaja — of elephants; anīkaiḥ — with hordes; syandanaiḥ — with chariots; hema — golden; mālibhiḥ — decorated with garlands; patti — with foot soldiers; aśva — and horses; saṅkulaiḥ — crowded; sainyaiḥ — by armies; parītaḥ — accompanied; kuṇḍinam — to Kuṇḍina, Bhīṣmaka’s capital; yayau — he went.

Translation

King Damaghoṣa traveled to Kuṇḍina accompanied by armies of elephants exuding mada, chariots hung with golden chains, and numerous cavalry and infantry soldiers.

Devanagari

तं वै विदर्भाधिपति: समभ्येत्याभिपूज्य च ।
निवेशयामास मुदा कल्पितान्यनिवेशने ॥ १६ ॥

Text

taṁ vai vidarbhādhipatiḥ
samabhyetyābhipūjya ca
niveśayām āsa mudā
kalpitānya-niveśane

Synonyms

tam — him, King Damaghoṣa; vai — indeed; vidarbha-adhipatiḥ — the master of Vidarbha, Bhīṣmaka; samabhyetya — going forward to meet; abhipūjya — honoring; ca — and; niveśayām āsa — settled him; mudā — with pleasure; kalpita — constructed; anya — special; niveśane — at a place of residence.

Translation

Bhīṣmaka, the lord of Vidarbha, came out of the city and met King Damaghoṣa, offering him tokens of respect. Bhīṣmaka then settled Damaghoṣa in a residence especially constructed for the occasion.

Devanagari

तत्र शाल्वो जरासन्धो दन्तवक्रो विदूरथ: ।
आजग्मुश्चैद्यपक्षीया: पौण्ड्रकाद्या: सहस्रश: ॥ १७ ॥

Text

tatra śālvo jarāsandho
dantavakro vidūrathaḥ
ājagmuś caidya-pakṣīyāḥ
pauṇḍrakādyāḥ sahasraśaḥ

Synonyms

tatra — there; śālvaḥ jarāsandhaḥ dantavakraḥ vidūrathaḥ — Śālva, Jarāsandha, Dantavakra and Vidūratha; ājagmuḥ — came; caidya — of Śiśupāla; pakṣīyāḥ — taking the side; pauṇḍraka — Pauṇḍraka; ādyāḥ — and others; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands.

Translation

Śiśupāla’s supporters — Śālva, Jarāsandha, Dantavakra and Vidūratha — all came, along with Pauṇḍraka and thousands of other kings.

Purport

Those familiar with the history of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s life will immediately recognize the names given in this text. The kings mentioned here maintained a deep animosity toward Śrī Kṛṣṇa and opposed Him in one way or another. But they were all to be frustrated and defeated on the occasion of Śiśupāla’s would-be wedding.

Devanagari

कृष्णरामद्विषो यत्ता: कन्यां चैद्याय साधितुम् । यद्यागत्य हरेत् कृष्णो रामाद्यैर्यदुभिर्वृत: ॥ १८ ॥ योत्स्याम: संहतास्तेन इति निश्चितमानसा: । आजग्मुर्भूभुज: सर्वे समग्रबलवाहना: ॥ १९ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇa-rāma-dviṣo yattāḥ
kanyāṁ caidyāya sādhitum
yady āgatya haret kṛṣno
rāmādyair yadubhir vṛtaḥ
yotsyāmaḥ saṁhatās tena
iti niścita-mānasāḥ
ājagmur bhū-bhujaḥ sarve
samagra-bala-vāhanāḥ

Synonyms

kṛṣṇa-rāma-dviṣaḥ — those hateful toward Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; yattāḥ — prepared; kanyām — the bride; caidyāya — for Śiśupāla; sādhitum — in order to secure; yadi — if; āgatya — coming; haret — should steal; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; rāma — by Balarāma; ādyaiḥ — and other; yadubhiḥ — Yadus; vṛtaḥ — accompanied; yotsyāmaḥ — we will fight; saṁhatāḥ — joining all together; tena — with Him; iti — thus; niścita-mānasāḥ — having decided; ājagmuḥ — came; bhū-bhujaḥ — the kings; sarve — all; samagra — complete; bala — with military forces; vāhanāḥ — and conveyances.

Translation

To secure the bride for Śiśupāla, the kings who envied Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma came to the following decision among themselves: “If Kṛṣṇa comes here with Balarāma and the other Yadus to steal the bride, we shall band together and fight Him.” Thus those envious kings went to the wedding with their entire armies and a full complement of military conveyances.

Purport

The word saṁhatāḥ, which normally means “bound tightly together,” may also mean “thoroughly struck down” or “killed.” Thus although Kṛṣṇa’s enemies thought they were unified and strong — saṁhatāḥ in the former sense — they could not successfully oppose the Personality of Godhead, and consequently they would be struck down and killed — saṁhatāḥ in the latter sense.

Devanagari

श्रुत्वैतद् भगवान् रामो विपक्षीयनृपोद्यमम् । कृष्णं चैकं गतं हर्तुं कन्यां कलहशङ्कित: ॥ २० ॥ बलेन महता सार्धं भ्रातृस्‍नेहपरिप्लुत: । त्वरित: कुण्डिनं प्रागाद् गजाश्वरथपत्तिभि: ॥ २१ ॥

Text

śrutvaitad bhagavān rāmo
vipakṣīya nṛpodyamam
kṛṣṇaṁ caikaṁ gataṁ hartuṁ
kanyāṁ kalaha-śaṅkitaḥ
balena mahatā sārdhaṁ
bhrātṛ-sneha-pariplutaḥ
tvaritaḥ kuṇḍinaṁ prāgād
gajāśva-ratha-pattibhiḥ

Synonyms

śrutvā — hearing; etat — this; bhagavān rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; vipakṣīya — inimical; nṛpa — of the kings; udyamam — the preparations; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; ekam — alone; gatam — gone; hartum — to take away; kanyām — the bride; kalaha — a fight; śaṅkitaḥ — fearing; balena — a force; mahatā — mighty; sārdham — together with; bhrātṛ — for His brother; sneha — in affection; pariplutaḥ — immersed; tvaritaḥ — swiftly; kuṇḍinam — to Kuṇḍina; prāgāt — went; gaja — with elephants; aśva — horses; ratha — chariots; pattibhiḥ — and infantry.

Translation

When Lord Balarāma heard about these preparations of the inimical kings and how Lord Kṛṣṇa had set off alone to steal the bride, He feared that a fight would ensue. Immersed in affection for His brother, He hurried to Kuṇḍina with a mighty army consisting of infantry and of soldiers riding on elephants, horses and chariots.

Devanagari

भीष्मकन्या वरारोहा काङ्‍क्षन्त्यागमनं हरे: । प्रत्यापत्तिमपश्यन्ती द्विजस्याचिन्तयत्तदा ॥ २२ ॥

Text

bhīṣma-kanyā varārohā
kāṅkṣanty āgamanaṁ hareḥ
pratyāpattim apaśyantī
dvijasyācintayat tadā

Synonyms

bhīṣma-kanyā — the daughter of Bhīṣmaka; vara-ārohā — having lovely hips; kāṅkṣantī — waiting for; āgamanam — the arrival; hareḥ — of Kṛṣṇa; pratyāpattim — the return; apaśyantī — not seeing; dvijasya — of the brāhmaṇa; acintayat — thought; tadā — then.

Translation

The lovely daughter of Bhīṣmaka anxiously awaited the arrival of Kṛṣṇa, but when she did not see the brāhmaṇa return she thought as follows.

Devanagari

अहो त्रियामान्तरित उद्वाहो मेऽल्पराधस: । नागच्छत्यरविन्दाक्षो नाहं वेद्‍म्यत्र कारणम् । सोऽपि नावर्ततेऽद्यापि मत्सन्देशहरो द्विज: ॥ २३ ॥

Text

aho tri-yāmāntarita
udvāho me ’lpa-rādhasaḥ
nāgacchaty aravindākṣo
nāhaṁ vedmy atra kāraṇam
so ’pi nāvartate ’dyāpi
mat-sandeśa-haro dvijaḥ

Synonyms

aho — alas; tri-yāma — three yāmas (nine hours), i.e., the night; antaritaḥ — having ended; udvāhaḥ — the marriage; me — of me; alpa — insufficient; rādhasaḥ — whose good fortune; na āgacchati — does not come; aravinda-akṣaḥ — lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa; na — do not; aham — I; vedmi — know; atra — for this; kāraṇam — the reason; saḥ — he; api — also; na āvartate — does not return; adya api — even now; mat — my; sandeśa — of the message; haraḥ — the carrier; dvijaḥ — the brāhmaṇa.

Translation

[Princess Rukmiṇī thought:] Alas, my wedding is to take place when the night ends! How unlucky I am! Lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa does not come. I don’t know why. And even the brāhmaṇa messenger has not yet returned.

Purport

It is apparent from this verse, as confirmed by Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, that the present scene takes place before sunrise.

Devanagari

अपि मय्यनवद्यात्मा द‍ृष्ट्वा किञ्चिज्जुगुप्सितम् । मत्पाणिग्रहणे नूनं नायाति हि कृतोद्यम: ॥ २४ ॥

Text

api mayy anavadyātmā
dṛṣṭvā kiñcij jugupsitam
mat-pāṇi-grahaṇe nūnaṁ
nāyāti hi kṛtodyamaḥ

Synonyms

api — perhaps; mayi — in me; anavadya — faultless; ātmā — He whose body and mind; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; kiñcit — something; jugupsitam — contemptible; mat — my; pāṇi — hand; grahaṇe — for the taking; nūnam — indeed; na āyāti — has not come; hi — certainly; kṛta-udyamaḥ — even though originally intending to do so.

Translation

Perhaps the faultless Lord, even while preparing to come here, saw something contemptible in me and therefore has not come to take my hand.

Purport

Princess Rukmiṇī boldly invited Śrī Kṛṣṇa to kidnap her. When Rukmiṇī did not see Him come, she naturally feared that He had rejected her proposal, perhaps finding some unacceptable quality in her. As expressed here, the Lord Himself is anavadya, faultless, and if He saw some fault in Rukmiṇī she would be an unworthy bride for Him. It was natural for the young princess to feel such anxiety. Furthermore, if Śrī Kṛṣṇa had actually made this decision, it would be natural for the brāhmaṇa to fear Rukmiṇī’s reaction were he to bring her the news, and that would explain why he had not come.

Devanagari

दुर्भगाया न मे धाता नानुकूलो महेश्वर: । देवी वा विमुखी गौरी रुद्राणी गिरिजा सती ॥ २५ ॥

Text

durbhagāyā na me dhātā
nānukūlo maheśvaraḥ
devī vā vimukhī gaurī
rudrāṇī girijā satī

Synonyms

durbhagāyāḥ — who is unfortunate; na — not; me — with me; dhātā — the creator (Lord Brahmā); na — not; anukūlaḥ — favorably disposed; mahā-īśvaraḥ — the great Lord Śiva; devī — the goddess (his consort); — or; vimukhī — turned against; gaurī — Gaurī; rudrāṇī — the wife of Rudra; giri- — the adopted daughter of the Himālayan mountain range; satī — Satī, who, in her previous life as the daughter of Dakṣa, chose to give up her body.

Translation

I am extremely unfortunate, for the creator is not favorably disposed toward me, nor is the great Lord Śiva. Or perhaps Śiva’s wife, Devī, who is known as Gaurī, Rudrāṇī, Girijā and Satī, has turned against me.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Rukmiṇī might have thought, “Even if Kṛṣṇa wanted to come, He might have been stopped on the path by the creator, Brahmā, who is not favorably inclined toward me. But why should he be unfavorable? Perhaps it is Maheśvara, Lord Śiva, whom on some occasion I did not properly worship and who thus became angry with me. But he is Maheśvara, the great controller, so why would he be angry with such an insignificant and foolish girl as me?

“Perhaps it is Śiva’s wife, Gaurīdevī, 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 Rudrāṇī, the wife of Rudra, and her very name means ‘one who makes everyone cry.’ So perhaps she and Śiva 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 Devī is Girijā, an adopted daughter, so why should she be soft-hearted? In her incarnation as Satī she gave up her body, so perhaps she now wants me to give up my body also.”

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

Devanagari

एवं चिन्तयती बाला गोविन्दहृतमानसा । न्यमीलयत कालज्ञा नेत्रे चाश्रुकलाकुले ॥ २६ ॥

Text

evaṁ cintayatī bālā
govinda-hṛta-mānasā
nyamīlayata kāla-jñā
netre cāśru-kalākule

Synonyms

evam — in this manner; cintayatī — thinking; bālā — the young girl; govinda — by Kṛṣṇa; hṛta — stolen; mānasā — whose mind; nyamīlayata — she closed; kāla — the time; jñā — knowing; netre — her eyes; ca — and; aśru-kalā — with tears; ākule — brimming.

Translation

As she thought in this way, the young maiden, whose mind had been stolen by Kṛṣṇa, closed her tear-filled eyes, remembering that there was still time.

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains the word kāla-jñā as follows: “[Rukmiṇī thought,] ‘It is not even the right time yet for Govinda to come,’ and thus she felt a bit consoled.”

Devanagari

एवं वध्वा: प्रतीक्षन्त्या गोविन्दागमनं नृप । वाम ऊरुर्भुजो नेत्रमस्फुरन् प्रियभाषिण: ॥ २७ ॥

Text

evaṁ vadhvāḥ pratīkṣantyā
govindāgamanaṁ nṛpa
vāma ūrur bhujo netram
asphuran priya-bhāṣiṇaḥ

Synonyms

evam — thus; vadhvāḥ — the bride; pratīkṣantyāḥ — as she awaited; govinda-āgamanam — the arrival of Kṛṣṇa; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); vāmaḥ — left; ūruḥ — her thigh; bhujaḥ — arm; netram — and eye; asphuran — twitched; priya — something desirable; bhāṣiṇaḥ — be speaking.

Translation

O King, as the bride thus awaited the arrival of Govinda, she felt a twitch in her left thigh, arm and eye. This was a sign that something desirable would happen.

Devanagari

अथ कृष्णविनिर्दिष्ट: स एव द्विजसत्तम: । अन्त:पुरचरीं देवीं राजपुत्रीं ददर्श ह ॥ २८ ॥

Text

atha kṛṣṇa-vinirdiṣṭaḥ
sa eva dvija-sattamaḥ
antaḥpura-carīṁ devīṁ
rāja-putrīm dadarśa ha

Synonyms

atha — then; kṛṣṇa-vinirdiṣṭaḥ — ordered by Lord Kṛṣṇa; saḥ — that; eva — very; dvija — of learned brāhmaṇas; sat-tamaḥ — the most pure; antaḥ-pura — within the inner palace; carīm — staying; devīm — the goddess, Rukmiṇī; rāja — of the king; putrīm — the daughter; dadarśa ha — saw.

Translation

Just then the purest of learned brāhmaṇas, following Kṛṣṇa’s order, came to see the divine Princess Rukmiṇī within the inner chambers of the palace.

Purport

According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Śrī Kṛṣṇa had reached the gardens outside the city, and out of concern for Rukmiṇī He had instructed the brāhmaṇa to tell her of His arrival.

Devanagari

सा तं प्रहृष्टवदनमव्यग्रात्मगतिं सती । आलक्ष्य लक्षणाभिज्ञा समपृच्छच्छुचिस्मिता ॥ २९ ॥

Text

sā taṁ prahṛṣṭa-vadanam
avyagrātma-gatiṁ satī
ālakṣya lakṣaṇābhijñā
samapṛcchac chuci-smitā

Synonyms

sa — she; tam — him; prahṛṣṭa — filled with joy; vadanam — whose face; avyagra — unagitated; ātma — of whose body; gatim — the movement; satī — the saintly young woman; ālakṣya — noting; lakṣaṇa — of symptoms; abhijñā — an expert knower; samapṛcchat — inquired; śuci — pure; smitā — with a smile.

Translation

Noting the brāhmaṇa’s joyful face and serene movements, saintly Rukmiṇī, who could expertly interpret such symptoms, inquired from him with a pure smile.

Devanagari

तस्या आवेदयत् प्राप्तं शशंस यदुनन्दनम् । उक्तं च सत्यवचनमात्मोपनयनं प्रति ॥ ३० ॥

Text

tasyā āvedayat prāptaṁ
śaśaṁsa yadu-nandanam
uktaṁ ca satya-vacanam
ātmopanayanaṁ prati

Synonyms

tasyāḥ — to her; āvedayat — he announced; prāptam — as having arrived; śaśaṁsa — he related; yadu-nandanam — Kṛṣṇa, the child of the Yadus; uktam — what He had said; ca — and; satya — of assurance; vacanam — words; ātma — with her; upanayanam — His marriage; prati — concerning.

Translation

The brāhmaṇa announced to her the arrival of Lord Yadunandana and relayed the Lord’s promise to marry her.

Devanagari

तमागतं समाज्ञाय वैदर्भी हृष्टमानसा । न पश्यन्ती ब्राह्मणाय प्रियमन्यन्ननाम सा ॥ ३१ ॥

Text

tam āgataṁ samājñāya
vaidarbhī hṛṣṭa-mānasā
na paśyantī brāhmaṇāya
priyam anyan nanāma sā

Synonyms

tam — Him, Kṛṣṇa; āgatam — arrived; samājñāya — fully realizing; vaidarbhī — Rukmiṇī; hṛṣṭa — gladdened; mānasā — her mind; na paśyantī — not seeing; brāhmaṇāya — to the brāhmaṇa; priyam — dear; anyat — anything else; nanāma — bowed down; — she.

Translation

Princess Vaidarbhī was overjoyed to learn of Kṛṣṇa’s arrival. Not finding anything at hand suitable to offer the brāhmaṇa, she simply bowed down to him.

Devanagari

प्राप्तौ श्रुत्वा स्वदुहितुरुद्वाहप्रेक्षणोत्सुकौ । अभ्ययात्तूर्यघोषेण रामकृष्णौ समर्हणै: ॥ ३२ ॥

Text

prāptau śrutvā sva-duhitur
udvāha-prekṣaṇotsukau
abhyayāt tūrya-ghoṣeṇa
rāma-kṛṣṇau samarhaṇaiḥ

Synonyms

prāptau — arrived; śrutvā — hearing; sva — his; duhituḥ — daughter’s; udvāha — marriage; prekṣaṇa — to witness; utsukau — eager; abhyayāt — he went forward; tūrya — of musical instruments; ghoṣeṇa. — with the resounding; rāma-kṛṣṇau — to Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; samarhaṇaiḥ — with abundant offerings.

Translation

The King, upon hearing that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had come and were eager to witness his daughter’s wedding, went forth with abundant offerings to greet Them as music resounded.

Devanagari

मधुपर्कमुपानीय वासांसि विरजांसि स: । उपायनान्यभीष्टानि विधिवत् समपूजयत् ॥ ३३ ॥

Text

madhu-parkam upānīya
vāsāṁsi virajāṁsi saḥ
upāyanāny abhīṣṭāni
vidhi-vat samapūjayat

Synonyms

madhu-parkam — the traditional mixture of milk and honey; upānīya — bearing; vāsāṁsi — garments; virajāṁsi — spotless; saḥ — he; upāyanāni — presentations; abhīṣṭāni — desirable; vidhi-vat — according to scriptural prescriptions; samapūjayat — performed worshiped.

Translation

Presenting Them with madhu-parka, new clothing and other desirable gifts, he worshiped Them according to standard rituals.

Devanagari

तयोर्निवेशनं श्रीमदुपाकल्प्य महामति: । ससैन्ययो: सानुगयोरातिथ्यं विदधे यथा ॥ ३४ ॥

Text

tayor niveśanaṁ śrīmad
upākalpya mahā-matiḥ
sa-sainyayoḥ sānugayor
ātithyaṁ vidadhe yathā

Synonyms

tayoḥ — for Them; niveśanam — place to stay; śrī-mat — opulent; upākalpya — arranging; mahā-matiḥ — generous; sa — together with; sainyayoḥ — Their soldiers; sa — together with; anugayoḥ — Their personal associates; ātithyam — hospitality; vidadhe — he afforded; yathā — properly.

Translation

Generous King Bhīṣmaka arranged opulent accommodations for the two Lords, and also for Their army and entourage. In this way he afforded Them proper hospitality.

Devanagari

एवं राज्ञां समेतानां यथावीर्यं
यथावय: । यथाबलं यथावित्तं सर्वै: कामै: समर्हयत् ॥ ३५ ॥

Text

evaṁ rājñāṁ sametānāṁ
yathā-vīryaṁ yathā-vayaḥ
yathā-balaṁ yathā-vittaṁ
sarvaiḥ kāmaiḥ samarhayat

Synonyms

evam — thus; rājñām — for the kings; sametānām — who had assembled; yathā — according; vīryam — to their power; yathā — according; vayaḥ — to their age; yathā — according; balam — to their strength; yathā — according; vittam — to their wealth; sarvaiḥ — with all; kāmaiḥ — desirable things; samarhayat — he honored them.

Translation

Thus it was that Bhīṣmaka gave all desirable things to the kings who had assembled for the occasion, honoring them as befitted their political power, age, physical prowess and wealth.

Devanagari

कृष्णमागतमाकर्ण्य
विदर्भपुरवासिन: । आगत्य नेत्राञ्जलिभि: पपुस्तन्मुखपङ्कजम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Text

kṛṣṇam āgatam ākarṇya
vidarbha-pura-vāsinaḥ
āgatya netrāñjalibhiḥ
papus tan-mukha-paṅkajam

Synonyms

kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; āgatam — come; ākarṇya — hearing; vidarbha-pura — of the capital city of Vidarbha; vāsinaḥ — the residents; āgatya — coming; netra — of their eyes; añjalibhiḥ — with the cupped palms; papuḥ — they drank; tat — His; mukha — face; paṅkajam — lotus.

Translation

When the residents of Vidarbha-pura heard that Lord Kṛṣṇa had come, they all went to see Him. With the cupped palms of their eyes they drank the honey of His lotus face.

Devanagari

अस्यैव भार्या भवितुं रुक्‍मिण्यर्हति
नापरा । असावप्यनवद्यात्मा भैष्म्या: समुचित: पति: ॥ ३७ ॥

Text

asyaiva bhāryā bhavituṁ
rukmiṇy arhati nāparā
asāv apy anavadyātmā
bhaiṣmyāḥ samucitaḥ patiḥ

Synonyms

asya — for Him; eva — alone; bhāryā — wife; bhavitum — to be; rukmiṇī — Rukmiṇī; arhati — deserves; na aparā — none other; asau — He; api — as well; anavadya — faultless; ātmā — whose bodily form; bhaiṣmyāḥ — for the daughter of Bhīṣmaka; samucitaḥ — most suitable; patiḥ — husband.

Translation

[The people of the city said:] Rukmiṇī, and no one else, deserves to become His wife, and He also, possessing such flawless beauty, is the only suitable husband for Princess Bhaiṣmī.

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, this text combines statements made by different citizens. Some pointed out that Rukmiṇī was a suitable wife for Kṛṣṇa, others said that no one else was suitable. Similarly, some stated that Kṛṣṇa was most suitable for Rukmiṇī, and others stated that no one else would be a suitable husband for her.

Devanagari

किञ्चित्सुचरितं यन्नस्तेन
तुष्टस्‍त्रिलोककृत् । अनुगृह्णातु गृह्णातु वैदर्भ्या: पाणिमच्युत: ॥
३८ ॥

Text

kiñcit su-caritaṁ yan nas
tena tuṣṭas tri-loka-kṛt
anugṛhṇātu gṛhṇātu
vaidarbhyāḥ pāṇim acyutaḥ

Synonyms

kiñcit — at all; su-caritam — pious work; yat — whatever; naḥ — our; tena — with that; tuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; tri-loka — of the three worlds; kṛt — the creator; anugṛhṇātu — may please show mercy; gṛhṇātu — may take; vaidarbhyāḥ — of Rukmiṇī; pāṇim — the hand; acyutaḥ — Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

May Acyuta, the creator of the three worlds, be satisfied with whatever pious work we may have done and show His mercy by taking the hand of Vaidarbhī.

Purport

The devoted citizens of Vidarbha lovingly offered their entire stock of pious credit to Princess Rukmiṇī. They were very eager to see her marry Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Devanagari

एवं प्रेमकलाबद्धा वदन्ति स्म
पुरौकस: । कन्या चान्त:पुरात् प्रागाद् भटैर्गुप्ताम्बिकालयम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Text

evaṁ prema-kalā-baddhā
vadanti sma puraukasaḥ
kanyā cāntaḥ-purāt prāgād
bhaṭair guptāmbikālayam

Synonyms

evam — thus; prema — of pure love; kalā — by the increase; baddhāḥ — bound; vadanti sma — they spoke; pura-okasaḥ — the residents of the city; kanyā — the bride; ca — and; antaḥ-purāt — from the inner palace; prāgāt — went out; bhaṭaiḥ — by guards; guptā — protected; ambikā-ālayam — to the temple of Goddess Ambikā.

Translation

Bound by their swelling love, the city’s residents spoke in this way. Then the bride, protected by guards, left the inner palace to visit the temple of Ambikā.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the Medinī dictionary’s definition of the word kalā as follows: kalā mūle pravṛddhau syāc chilādāv aṁśa-mātrake. “The word kalā means ‘a root,’ ‘increase,’ ‘a stone’ or ‘a mere part.’”

Devanagari

पद्‍भ्यां विनिर्ययौ द्रष्टुं भवान्या: पादपल्ल‍वम् ।
सा चानुध्यायती सम्यङ्‍मुकुन्दचरणाम्बुजम् ॥ ४० ॥
यतवाङ्‍मातृभि: सार्धं सखीभि: परिवारिता ।
गुप्ता राजभटै: शूरै: सन्नद्धैरुद्यतायुधै: ।
मृदङ्गशङ्खपणवास्तूर्यभेर्यश्च जघ्निरे ॥ ४१ ॥

Text

padbhyāṁ viniryayau draṣṭuṁ
bhavānyāḥ pāda-pallavam
sā cānudhyāyatī samyaṅ
mukunda-caraṇāmbujam
yata-vāṅ mātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṁ
sakhībhiḥ parivāritā
guptā rāja-bhaṭaiḥ śūraiḥ
sannaddhair udyatāyudhaiḥ
mṛḍaṅga-śaṅkha-paṇavās
tūrya-bheryaś ca jaghnire

Synonyms

padbhyām — on foot; viniryayau — went out; draṣṭum — in order to see; bhavānyāḥ — of mother Bhavānī; pāda-pallavam — the lotus-petal feet; — she; ca — and; anudhyāyatī — meditating; samyak — totally; mukunda — of Kṛṣṇa; caraṇa-ambujam — on the lotus feet; yata-vāk — maintaining silence; mātṛbhiḥ — by her mothers; sārdham — accompanied; sakhībhiḥ — by her female companions; parivāritā — surrounded; guptā — guarded; rāja — of the King; bhaṭaiḥ — by soldiers; śūraiḥ — valiant; sannaddhaiḥ — armed and ready; udyata — upraised; āyudhaiḥ — with weapons; mṛdaṅga-śaṅkha-paṇavāḥ — clay drums, conchshells and side drums; tūrya — wind instruments; bheryaḥ — horns; ca — and; jaghnire — played.

Translation

Rukmiṇī silently went out on foot to see the lotus feet of the deity Bhavānī. Accompanied by her mothers and girlfriends and protected by the King’s valiant soldiers, who held their upraised weapons at the ready, she simply absorbed her mind in the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. And all the while mṛdaṅgas, conchshells, paṇavas, horns and other instruments resounded.

Devanagari

नानोपहारबलिभिर्वारमुख्या: सहस्रश: ।
स्रग्गन्धवस्‍त्राभरणैर्द्विजपत्न्‍य: स्वलङ्कृता: ॥ ४२ ॥
गायन्त्यश्च स्तुवन्तश्च गायका वाद्यवादका: ।
परिवार्य वधूं जग्मु: सूतमागधवन्दिन: ॥ ४३ ॥

Text

nānopahāra balibhir
vāramukhyāḥ sahasraśaḥ
srag-gandha-vastrābharaṇair
dvija-patnyaḥ sv-alaṅkṛtāḥ
gāyantyaś ca stuvantaś ca
gāyakā vādya-vādakāḥ
parivārya vadhūṁ jagmuḥ
sūta-māgadha-vandinaḥ

Synonyms

nānā — various; upahāra — with paraphernalia of worship; balibhiḥ — and presents; vāra-mukhyāḥ — prominent courtesans; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands; srak — with flower garlands; gandha — fragrances; vastra — clothing; ābharaṇaiḥ — and jewelry; dvija — of brāhmaṇas; patnyaḥ — the wives; sv-alaṅkṛtāḥ — well ornamented; gāyantyaḥ — singing; ca — and; stuvantaḥ — offering prayers; ca — and; gāyakāḥ — singers; vādya-vādakāḥ — instrumental musicians; parivārya — accompanying; vadhūm — the bride; jagmuḥ — went; sūta — bards; māgadha — chroniclers; vandinaḥ — and heralds.

Translation

Behind the bride followed thousands of prominent courtesans bearing various offerings and presents, along with well-adorned brāhmaṇas’ wives singing and reciting prayers and bearing gifts of garlands, scents, clothing and jewelry. There were also professional singers, musicians, bards, chroniclers and heralds.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that from her own quarters up to the temple of Bhavānī, Rukmiṇī went by palanquin and thus was easily protected. Only for the last twelve to fifteen feet, from the palace to the temple area, did she go on foot, with royal bodyguards stationed outside the temple on all sides.

Devanagari

आसाद्य देवीसदनं धौतपादकराम्बुजा ।
उपस्पृश्य शुचि: शान्ता प्रविवेशाम्बिकान्तिकम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Text

āsādya devī-sadanaṁ
dhauta-pāda-karāmbujā
upaspṛśya śuciḥ śāntā
praviveśāmbikāntikam

Synonyms

āsādya — reaching; devī — of the goddess; sadanam — the residence; dhauta — washing; pāda — her feet; kara — and hands; ambujā — lotuslike; upaspṛśya — sipping water for purification; śuciḥ — sanctified; śāntā — peaceful; praviveśa — she entered; ambikā-antikam — the presence of Ambikā.

Translation

Upon reaching the goddess’s temple, Rukmiṇī first washed her lotus feet and hands and then sipped water for purification. Thus sanctified and peaceful, she came into the presence of mother Ambikā.

Devanagari

तां वै प्रवयसो बालां विधिज्ञा विप्रयोषित: ।
भवानीं वन्दयांचक्रुर्भवपत्नीं भवान्विताम् ॥ ४५ ॥

Text

tāṁ vai pravayaso bālāṁ
vidhi-jñā vipra-yoṣitaḥ
bhavānīṁ vandayāṁ cakrur
bhava-patnīṁ bhavānvitām

Synonyms

tām — her; vai — indeed; pravayasaḥ — elderly; bālām — the young girl; vidhi — of ritual injunctions; jñāḥ — expert knowers; vipra — of brāhmaṇas; yoṣitaḥ — the wives; bhavānīm — to Goddess Bhavānī; vandayām cakruḥ — they led in offering respects; bhava-patnīm — the wife of Bhava (Lord Siva); bhava-anvitām — accompanied by Lord Bhava.

Translation

The older wives of brāhmaṇas, expert in the knowledge of rituals, led young Rukmiṇī in offering respects to Bhavānī, who appeared with her consort, Lord Bhava.

Purport

According to the ācāryas, here the term bhavānvitām indicates that in the Ambikā temple visited by Rukmiṇī, the presiding deity was the goddess, whose husband appeared in an accompanying role. Thus the ritual was properly performed by women.

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that the term vidhi-jñāḥ may be understood to mean that since the learned wives of brāhmaṇas knew of Rukmiṇī’s desire to marry Kṛṣṇa, the verb vandayāṁ cakruḥ thus indicates that they prompted her to pray for what she really wanted. In this way, like the goddess Bhavānī, Rukmiṇī could be united with her eternal male companion.

Devanagari

नमस्ये त्वाम्बिकेऽभीक्ष्णं स्वसन्तानयुतां शिवाम् ।
भूयात् पतिर्मे भगवान् कृष्णस्तदनुमोदताम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Text

namasye tvāmbike ’bhīkṣṇaṁ
sva-santāna-yutāṁ śivām
bhūyāt patir me bhagavān
kṛṣṇas tad anumodatām

Synonyms

namasye — I offer my obeisances; tvā — to you; ambike — O Ambikā; abhīkṣṇam — constantly; sva — your; santāna — children; yutām — along with; śivām — the wife of Lord Śiva; bhūyāt — may He become; patiḥ — husband; me — my; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; tat — that; anumodatām — please allow.

Translation

[Princess Rukmiṇī prayed:] O mother Ambikā, wife of Lord Siva, I repeatedly offer my obeisances unto you, together with your children. May Lord Kṛṣṇa become my husband. Please grant this!

Devanagari

अद्भ‍िर्गन्धाक्षतैर्धूपैर्वास:स्रङ्‍माल्यभूषणै: ।
नानोपहारबलिभि: प्रदीपावलिभि: पृथक् ॥ ४७ ॥
विप्रस्‍त्रिय: पतिमतीस्तथा तै: समपूजयत् ।
लवणापूपताम्बूलकण्ठसूत्रफलेक्षुभि: ॥ ४८ ॥

Text

adbhir gandhākṣatair dhūpair
vāsaḥ-sraṅ-mālya bhūṣaṇaiḥ
nānopahāra-balibhiḥ
pradīpāvalibhiḥ pṛthak
vipra-striyaḥ patimatīs
tathā taiḥ samapūjayat
lavaṇāpūpa-tāmbūla-
kaṇṭha-sūtra-phalekṣubhiḥ

Synonyms

adbhiḥ — with water; gandha — fragrant substances; akṣataiḥ — and whole grains; dhūpaiḥ — with incense; vāsaḥ — with clothing; srak — flower garlands; mālya — jeweled necklaces; bhūṣaṇaiḥ — and ornaments; nānā — with various; upahāra — offerings; balibhiḥ — and gifts; pradīpa — of lamps; āvalibhiḥ — with rows; pṛthak — separately; vipra-striyaḥ — the brāhmaṇa ladies; pati — husbands; matīḥ — having; tathā — also; taiḥ — with these items; samapūjayat — performed worship; lavaṇa — with savory preparations; āpūpa — cakes; tāmbūla — prepared betel nut; kaṇṭha-sūtra — sacred threads; phala — fruits; ikṣubhiḥ — and sugar cane.

Translation

Rukmiṇī worshiped the goddess with water, scents, whole grains, incense, clothing, garlands, necklaces, jewelry and other prescribed offerings and gifts, and also with arrays of lamps. The married brāhmaṇa women each performed worship simultaneously with the same items, also offering savories and cakes, prepared betel nut, sacred threads, fruit and sugarcane juice.

Devanagari

तस्यै स्‍त्रियस्ता: प्रददु: शेषां युयुजुराशिष: ।
ताभ्यो देव्यै नमश्चक्रे शेषां च जगृहे वधू: ॥ ४९ ॥

Text

tasyai striyas tāḥ pradaduḥ
śeṣāṁ yuyujur āśiṣaḥ
tābhyo devyai namaś cakre
śeṣāṁ ca jagṛhe vadhūḥ

Synonyms

tasyai — to her, Rukmiṇī; striyaḥ — women; tāḥ — they; pradaduḥ — gave; śeṣām — the remnants; yuyujuḥ — they bestowed; āśiṣaḥ — blessings; tābhyaḥ — to them; devyai — and to the deity; namaḥ cakre — bowed down; śeṣām — the remnants; ca — and; jagṛhe — took; vadhūḥ — the bride.

Translation

The ladies gave the bride the remnants of the offerings and then blessed her. She in turn bowed down to them and the deity and accepted the remnants as prasādam.

Devanagari

मुनिव्रतमथ त्यक्त्वा निश्चक्रामाम्बिकागृहात् ।
प्रगृह्य पाणिना भृत्यां रत्नमुद्रोपशोभिना ॥ ५० ॥

Text

muni-vratam atha tyaktvā
niścakrāmāmbikā-gṛhāt
pragṛhya pāṇinā bhṛtyāṁ
ratna-mudropaśobhinā

Synonyms

muni — of silence; vratam — her vow; atha — then; tyaktvā — giving up; niścakrāma — she exited; ambikā-gṛhāt — from the temple of Ambikā; pragṛhya — holding on; pāṇinā — with her hand; bhṛtyām — to a maidservant; ratna — jeweled; mudrā — by a ring; upaśobhinā — beautified.

Translation

The princess then gave up her vow of silence and left the Ambikā temple, holding on to a maidservant with her hand, which was adorned with a jeweled ring.

Devanagari

तां देवमायामिव धीरमोहिनीं
सुमध्यमां कुण्डलमण्डिताननाम् ।
श्यामां नितम्बार्पितरत्नमेखलां
व्यञ्जत्स्तनीं कुन्तलशङ्कितेक्षणाम् ।
शुचिस्मितां बिम्बफलाधरद्युति-
शोणायमानद्विजकुन्दकुड्‍मलाम् ॥ ५१ ॥
पदा चलन्तीं कलहंसगामिनीं
सिञ्जत्कलानूपुरधामशोभिना ।
विलोक्य वीरा मुमुहु: समागता
यशस्विनस्तत्कृतहृच्छयार्दिता: ॥ ५२ ॥
यां वीक्ष्य ते नृपतयस्तदुदारहास-
व्रीदावलोकहृतचेतस उज्झितास्‍त्रा: ।
पेतु: क्षितौ गजरथाश्वगता विमूढा
यात्राच्छलेन हरयेऽर्पयतीं स्वशोभाम् ॥ ५३ ॥
सैवं शनैश्चलयती चलपद्मकोशौ
प्राप्तिं तदा भगवत: प्रसमीक्षमाणा ।
उत्सार्य वामकरजैरलकानपाङ्गै:
प्राप्तान् ह्रियैक्षत नृपान् दद‍ृशेऽच्युतं च ॥ ५४ ॥
तां राजकन्यां रथमारुरुक्षतीं
जहार कृष्णो द्विषतां समीक्षताम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Text

tāṁ deva-māyām iva dhīra-mohinīṁ
su-madhyamāṁ kuṇḍala-maṇḍitānanām
śyāmāṁ nitambārpita-ratna-mekhalāṁ
vyañjat-stanīṁ kuntala-śaṅkitekṣaṇām
śuci-smitāṁ bimba-phalādhara-dyuti-
śoṇāyamāna-dvija-kunda-kuḍmalām
padā calantīṁ kala-haṁsa-gāminīṁ
siñjat-kalā-nūpura-dhāma-śobhinā
vilokya vīrā mumuhuḥ samāgatā
yaśasvinas tat-kṛta-hṛc-chayārditāḥ
yāṁ vīkṣya te nṛpatayas tad udāra-hāsa-
vrīdāvaloka-hṛta-cetasa ujjhitāstrāḥ
petuḥ kṣitau gaja-rathāśva-gatā vimūḍhā
yātrā-cchalena haraye ’rpayatīṁ sva-śobhām
saivaṁ śanaiś calayatī cala-padma-kośau
prāptiṁ tadā bhagavataḥ prasamīkṣamāṇā
utsārya vāma-karajair alakān apaṅgaiḥ
prāptān hriyaikṣata nṛpān dadṛśe ’cyutaṁ ca
tāṁ rāja-kanyāṁ ratham ārurakṣatīṁ
jahāra kṛṣṇo dviṣatāṁ samīkṣatām

Synonyms

tām — her; deva — of the Supreme Lord; māyām — the illusory potency; iva — as if; dhīra — even those who are sober; mohinīm — who bewilders; su-madhyamām — whose waist was well-formed; kuṇḍala — with earrings; maṇḍita — decorated; ānanām — whose face; śyāmām — uncontaminated beauty; nitamba — on whose hips; arpita — placed; ratna — jewel-studded; mekhalām — a belt; vyañjat — budding; stanīm — whose breasts; kuntala — of the locks of her hair; śaṅkita — frightened; īkṣaṇām — whose eyes; śuci — pure; smitām — with a smile; bimba-phala — like a bimba fruit; adhara — of whose lips; dyuti — by the glow; śoṇāyamāna — becoming reddened; dvija — whose teeth; kunda — jasmine; kuḍmalām — like buds; padā — with her feet; calantīm — walking; kala-haṁsa — like that of a royal swan; gāminīm — whose gait; siñjat — tinkling; kalā — skillfully fashioned; nūpura — of whose ankle bells; dhāma — by the effulgence; śobhinā — beautified; vilokya — seeing; vīrāḥ — the heroes; mumuhuḥ — became bewildered; samāgatāḥ — assembled; yaśasvinaḥ — respectable; tat — by this; kṛta — generated; hṛt-śaya — by the lust; arditāḥ — distressed; yām — whom; vīkṣya — upon seeing; te — these; nṛ-patayaḥ — kings; tat — her; udāra — broad; hāsa — by the smiles; vrīḍā — of shyness; avaloka — and the glances; hṛta — stolen; cetasaḥ — whose minds; ujjhita — dropping; astrāḥ — their weapons; petuḥ — they fell; kṣitau — to the ground; gaja — on elephants; ratha — chariots; aśva — and horses; gatāḥ — sitting; vimūḍhāḥ — fainting; yātrā — of the procession; chalena — on the pretext; haraye — to Lord Hari, Kṛṣṇa; arpayatīm — who was offering; sva — her own; śobhām — beauty; — she; evam — thus; śanaiḥ — slowly; calayatī — making walk; cala — moving; padma — of lotus flowers; kośau — the two whorls (that is, her feet); prāptim — the arrival; tadā — then; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Lord; prasamīkṣamāṇā — eagerly awaiting; utsārya — pushing away; vāma — left; kara-jaiḥ — with the nails of her hand; alakān — her hair; apāṅgaiḥ — with sidelong glances; prāptān — those present; hriyā — with shyness; aikṣata — she looked; nṛpān — at the kings; dadṛśe — she saw; acyutam — Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; tām — her; rāja-kanyām — the King’s daughter; ratham — His chariot; ārurukṣatīm — who was ready to mount; jahāra — seized; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dviṣatām — His enemies; samīkṣatām — as they looked on.

Translation

Rukmiṇī appeared as enchanting as the Lord’s illusory potency, who enchants even the sober and grave. Thus the kings gazed upon her virgin beauty, her shapely waist, and her lovely face adorned with earrings. Her hips were graced with a jewel-studded belt, her breasts were just budding, and her eyes seemed apprehensive of her encroaching locks of hair. She smiled sweetly, her jasmine-bud teeth reflecting the glow of her bimba-red lips. As she walked with the motions of a royal swan, the effulgence of her tinkling ankle bells beautified her feet. Seeing her, the assembled heroes were totally bewildered. Lust tore at their hearts. Indeed, when the kings saw her broad smile and shy glance, they became stupefied, dropped their weapons and fell unconscious to the ground from their elephants, chariots and horses. On the pretext of the procession, Rukmiṇī displayed her beauty for Kṛṣṇa alone. Slowly she advanced the two moving lotus-whorls of her feet, awaiting the arrival of the Supreme Lord. With the fingernails of her left hand she pushed some strands of hair away from her face and shyly looked from the corners of her eyes at the kings standing before her. At that moment she saw Kṛṣṇa. Then, while His enemies looked on, the Lord seized the princess, who was eager to mount His chariot.

Purport

According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, Rukmiṇī was anxious that her locks of hair might impede her vision, since she was most eager to see her beloved Kṛṣṇa. The nondevotees, or demons, are bewildered at seeing the opulences of the Lord and think that His potency is meant for their gross sense gratification. But Rukmiṇī, an expansion of Kṛṣṇa’s internal pleasure potency, was meant for the Lord alone.

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the following verse to describe the kind of woman known as śyāmā:

śīta-kāle bhaved usṇo
uṣṇa-kāle tu śītalā
stanau su-kaṭhinau yasyāḥ
sā śyāmā parikīrtitā

“A woman is called śyāmā when her breasts are very firm and when someone in her presence feels warm in the winter and cool in the summer.”

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī further points out that since the beautiful form of Rukmiṇī is a manifestation of the Lord’s internal energy, the nondevotees cannot perceive her. Thus the heroic kings assembled in Vidarbha were agitated with lust upon seeing the Lord’s illusory potency, an expansion of Rukmiṇī. In other words, no one can lust after the Lord’s eternal consort, since as soon as one’s mind is contaminated with lust, the covering of Māyā separates one from the pristine beauty of the spiritual world and its inhabitants.

Finally, Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī felt shy as she looked from the corners of her eyes at the other kings, for she did not want to meet the glances of those inferior men.

Devanagari

रथं समारोप्य सुपर्णलक्षणं
राजन्यचक्रं परिभूय माधव: ।
ततो ययौ रामपुरोगम: शनै:
श‍ृगालमध्यादिव भागहृद्धरि: ॥ ५६ ॥

Text

rathaṁ samāropya suparṇa-lakṣaṇaṁ
rājanya-cakraṁ paribhūya mādhavaḥ
tato yayau rāma-purogamaḥ śanaiḥ
śṛgāla-madhyād iva bhāga-hṛd dhariḥ

Synonyms

ratham — onto His chariot; samāropya — lifting her; suparṇa — Garuḍa; lakṣaṇam — whose mark; rājanya — of kings; cakram — the circle; paribhūya — defeating; mādhavaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; tataḥ — from there; yayau — went; rāma — by Rāma; puraḥ-gamaḥ — preceded; śanaiḥ — slowly; śṛgāla — of jackals; madhyāt — from the midst; iva — as; bhāga — his portion; hṛt — removing; hariḥ — a lion.

Translation

Lifting the princess onto His chariot, whose flag bore the emblem of Garuḍa, Lord Mādhava drove back the circle of kings. With Balarāma in the lead, He slowly exited, like a lion removing his prey from the midst of jackals.

Devanagari

तं मानिन: स्वाभिभवं यश:क्षयं
परे जरासन्धमुखा न सेहिरे ।
अहो धिगस्मान् यश आत्तधन्वनां
गोपैर्हृतं केशरिणां मृगैरिव ॥ ५७ ॥

Text

taṁ māninaḥ svābhibhavaṁ yaśaḥ-kṣayaṁ
pare jarāsandha-mukhā na sehire
aho dhig asmān yaśa ātta-dhanvanāṁ
gopair hṛtaṁ keśariṇāṁ mṛgair iva

Synonyms

tam — that; māninaḥ — conceited; sva — their; abhibhavam — defeat; yaśaḥ — their honor; kṣayam — ruining; pare — the enemies; jarāsandha-mukhāḥ — headed by Jarāsandha; na sehire — could not tolerate; aho — ah; dhik — condemnation; asmān — upon us; yaśaḥ — the honor; ātta-dhanvanām — of the archers; gopaiḥ — by cowherds; hṛtam — taken away; keśariṇām — of lions; mṛgaiḥ — by small animals; iva — as if.

Translation

The kings inimical to the Lord, headed by Jarāsandha, could not tolerate this humiliating defeat. They exclaimed, “Oh, damn us! Though we are mighty archers, mere cowherds have stolen our honor, just as puny animals might steal the honor of lions!”

Purport

From the last two verses of this chapter it is clear that the perverted intelligence of demons makes them perceive things in a way exactly opposite to reality. It is clearly stated that Kṛṣṇa stole Rukmiṇī like a lion taking his prey from the midst of jackals. The demons, however, saw themselves as lions and Lord Kṛṣṇa as an inferior creature. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, life becomes most dangerous.

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Fifty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Kṛṣṇa Kidnaps Rukmiṇī.”