Canto Ten - Chapter 52

Śrī Śuka said: Thus blessed by Kṛṣṇa, dear King, that descendant of Ikṣvāku circumambulated Him, bowed down, and came out of the mouth of the cave.

Seeing that the people, animals, creepers, and trees were all diminutive, he understood that the age of Kali had arrived and set out toward the north.

Steadfast, endowed with faith in austerity, free from attachment, and released from doubt, he fixed his mind upon Kṛṣṇa and entered Gandhamādana Mountain.

Reaching Badarikāśrama, the abode of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, he peacefully endured every duality and worshiped Hari through austerity.

The Supreme Lord then returned to the city besieged by the Yavanas. After destroying the barbarian army, He had its wealth carried to Dvārakā.

While the treasure was being transported by oxen and men under Acyuta's direction, Jarāsandha arrived at the head of twenty-three armies.

Seeing the furious onrush of the enemy force, O King, the two descendants of Madhu assumed the conduct of ordinary men and swiftly fled.

Leaving behind the vast treasure, the two fearless Lords pretended to be afraid. They traveled many yojanas on Their lotuslike feet.

When the mighty king of Magadha saw Them fleeing, he laughed and pursued Them with his chariot divisions, unaware of the immeasurable power of the two Lords.

After running a great distance and appearing exhausted, They climbed a lofty mountain called Pravarṣaṇa, where the lord of the clouds continually pours down rain.

Learning that They were hidden on the mountain but unable to discover Their whereabouts, O King, Jarāsandha piled fuel around it and set it ablaze on every side.

Then the two Lords suddenly leapt from the burning mountain slope, eleven yojanas high, and landed on the ground below.

Unseen by the enemy and his followers, O King, the two foremost Yadus returned to Their own city, which was encircled by the sea.

Falsely believing that Balarāma and Keśava had burned to death, the king of Magadha withdrew his immense force and returned to Magadha.

The illustrious Raivata, lord of Ānarta, gave his daughter Revatī to Balarāma, as Brahmā had instructed long before.

The Supreme Lord Govinda, O best of the Kurus, married the daughter of Bhīṣmaka, the princess of Vidarbha, who was a direct expansion of Śrī herself, after she had chosen Him as her husband.

With irresistible force He overpowered Śālva and the other kings allied with Caidya, taking her before the eyes of the whole world just as Garuḍa carried away the nectar.

The King said: I have heard that the Supreme Lord married Rukmiṇī, Bhīṣmaka's lovely-faced daughter, by the rākṣasa form of marriage.

My lord, I wish to hear how Kṛṣṇa of immeasurable splendor defeated Magadha, Śālva, and the other kings and carried away the maiden.

O brāhmaṇa, Kṛṣṇa's sacred narrations are sweet as honey, remove the world's impurities, and are ever new. What discerning hearer could ever be satisfied by hearing them?

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: There was a great king named Bhīṣmaka, the ruler of Vidarbha. He had five sons and one beautiful-faced daughter.

Rukmī was the eldest, followed by Rukmaratha, Rukmabāhu, Rukmakeśa, and Rukmamālī. Their virtuous sister was Rukmiṇī.

From visitors to her home she repeatedly heard accounts of Mukunda's beauty, prowess, virtues, and glory, and she considered Him a fitting husband.

Kṛṣṇa likewise resolved to marry her, for she was a suitable bride and the abode of intelligence, auspicious qualities, generosity, beauty, noble character, and every virtue.

Although her relatives wished to give their sister to Kṛṣṇa, O King, Rukmī, who hated Kṛṣṇa, stopped them and chose Caidya instead.

Learning this, the dark-eyed princess of Vidarbha became deeply distressed. After reflection, she quickly sent a trustworthy brāhmaṇa to Kṛṣṇa.

He reached Dvārakā and, admitted by the gatekeepers, saw the primeval Person seated upon a golden throne.

The Lord devoted to the brāhmaṇas saw him, descended from His own seat, seated him there, and honored him just as the gods worship the Lord Himself.

After the brāhmaṇa had eaten and rested, the refuge of the virtuous approached him. Calmly massaging his feet with His hand, the Lord asked him:

O best and most eminent of brāhmaṇas, is the dharma approved by your elders proceeding without excessive difficulty, and is your mind always content?

When a brāhmaṇa remains content with whatever comes to him and does not fall away from his own dharma, that contentment fulfills all his desires.

Even if a dissatisfied man attains the worlds and becomes lord of the gods, he finds no peace; but a contented man, though possessing nothing, sleeps with every limb free of distress.

Again and again I bow My head to those brāhmaṇas and saints who are satisfied with what comes of itself, who are the greatest friends of all beings, free from pride, peaceful, and serene.

O brāhmaṇa, are all of you well under your king? A ruler under whose protection the citizens live happily in his realm is dear to Me.

You have crossed difficult terrain and come here with some purpose. If it is not secret, tell Us everything. What service may We perform for you?

Thus fully questioned by the Supreme Lord, who had playfully assumed a body, the brāhmaṇa related everything to Him.

Śrī Rukmiṇī said: O beauty of all the worlds, hearing of Your virtues, which enter through the openings of the ears and remove the bodily distress of those who hear, and of Your form, whose sight fulfills every purpose of those who possess eyes, my unashamed mind has entered into You, O Acyuta.

O Mukunda, what noble and discerning maiden of good family, when the proper time has come, would not choose as her husband You, who are her equal in lineage, character, beauty, learning, youth, wealth, and splendor? O lion among men, You delight the minds of all humanity.

Therefore, dear Lord, I have chosen You as my husband and offered myself to You. O all-powerful one, please arrange that I become Your wife. O lotus-eyed Lord, do not let Caidya approach and seize the hero's portion, like a jackal stealing the offering meant for a lion.

If by works of public benefit, sacrifices, charity, observances, vows, and worship of the gods, brāhmaṇas, and gurus I have sufficiently worshiped the Supreme Lord, then may Gadāgraja come and take my hand, and not Damaghoṣa's son or any other man.

O unconquered Lord, my wedding is to take place tomorrow. Come secretly to Vidarbha, accompanied by Your army commanders. Crush the forces of Caidya and the king of Magadha, and carry me away by the rākṣasa rite, with Your valor as the bride-price.

You may wonder, 'How can I carry you away from the inner chambers without killing your relatives?' I shall tell You the means. On the day before the wedding there is a grand procession to our family deity, during which the new bride goes outside to approach Girijā.

Great souls, even Umā's lord, long to bathe in the dust of Your lotus feet so that their own darkness may be dispelled. O lotus-eyed Lord, if I cannot obtain Your mercy, I shall give up my life, growing thin through vows, even if I must continue doing so through a hundred births.

The brāhmaṇa said: O Lord of the Yadus, these are the confidential messages I have brought. Please consider what should be done here, and then act accordingly.