After fleeing a great distance and growing exhausted, Balarāma and Krishna climbed a towering mountain called Pravarṣaṇa, famed for its perpetual rains. Their pursuer, the king, searched for their tracks but found none upon the mountain. Suspecting that the brothers were hiding somewhere on its slopes, he ordered his men to set the mountain ablaze on all sides, using burning materials to fuel the fire. Amidst the encroaching flames, Balarāma and Krishna acted swiftly. With a mighty leap, they descended from the blazing, ten-yojana-high peak down to the ground below, escaping the inferno. Their enemy and his followers, unable to see them, remained unaware as the best of the Yadus returned safely to their city, which was protected by the ocean’s embrace. Mistakenly believing that Balarāma and Keśava had perished in the fire, the king of Magadha withdrew his vast army and returned to his own kingdom. Meanwhile, in accordance with Brahmā’s guidance, the distinguished king Raivata of Ānarta gave his daughter Raivatī in marriage to Baladeva, just as had been previously declared. Govinda, the Supreme Lord, also won the hand of Vaidarbhī, the daughter of Bhīṣmaka and mother of Śrī, at her own svayaṃvara. Before the eyes of all, Krishna overpowered the assembled kings—Śālva and the allies of Cedi—by force, and claimed her as his bride, as Garuḍa would seize nectar. At this point, King Parīkṣit inquired: “It is heard that the Lord married Rukmiṇī, the beautiful-faced daughter of Bhīṣmaka, by the rākṣasa rite. O Lord, I wish to hear how Krishna, of immeasurable brilliance, after conquering Jarāsandha, Śālva, and others, brought the maiden as his bride. Who could ever tire of hearing the sacred stories of Krishna—sweet as honey, purifying the world, ever fresh and new, even to those well-versed in them?” Śrī Bādarāyaṇa replied: There was a great king named Bhīṣmaka, lord of Vidarbha, who had five sons and one daughter of exceptional beauty. The eldest son was Rukmi, followed by Rukmaratha, Rukmabāhu, Rukmakeśa, and Rukmamālī. Their virtuous sister was Rukmiṇī. Rukmiṇī, having heard from visitors to her home the praises of Mukunda’s beauty, valor, virtues, and glory, considered him the most worthy husband. Krishna, in turn, recognized her intelligence, noble character, beauty, and virtues, and resolved in his heart to accept her as his wife. Although Rukmiṇī’s relatives wished to give her to Krishna, her brother Rukmi, who harbored enmity toward Krishna, prevented it and instead considered Shishupāla as her husband. When Rukmiṇī learned of her brother’s intentions, she became deeply distressed. After careful thought, she quickly sent a trustworthy Brahmin as her messenger to Krishna. The Brahmin journeyed to Dvārakā, and, admitted by the doorkeepers, beheld the Supreme Person seated upon a golden throne. Seeing the Brahmin, the Lord of devotees rose from his own seat, welcomed him, and honored him as the gods honor themselves. When the Brahmin had eaten and rested, Krishna, the refuge of the righteous, approached him, touched his feet, and inquired with care about his well-being. “O best of Brahmins,” Krishna asked, “is your dharma, esteemed by the elders, proceeding without great difficulty? Is your mind always content? Whenever a Brahmin, content with whatever comes, remains steadfast in his own duty, he becomes the fulfiller of all desires. Even the lord of the gods, if discontent, wanders among worlds; but one who is content, though possessing nothing, sleeps free from affliction. I bow my head to those Brahmins who are content, virtuous, humble, peaceful, and the best friends to all beings. Is all well with you? The king whose subjects live happily under his protection is dear to me. Since you have come here, crossing many hardships as you wished, tell me everything, especially if there is anything confidential—what should I do for you?” Thus respectfully questioned by the Lord, the Brahmin narrated everything to Krishna. He conveyed Rukmiṇī’s heartfelt message: “O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your virtues, which remove the distress of those who listen, my mind has entered into You, O infallible one, through the channels of my ears. Beholding Your form, the fulfillment of all desires for those who see, my heart is captivated. O Mukunda, what noble maiden of good family, possessing discernment, would not choose You as her husband—You, who are peerless in lineage, character, beauty, knowledge, age, wealth, and glory, and who delight all hearts, O lion among men? Therefore, O Lord, I have chosen You as my husband; accept me as Your wife, for I have offered myself to You. Let not the king of Cedi, like a jackal seizing the offering meant for the lion, touch the share of the hero, O lotus-eyed one. “If the Supreme Lord, elder brother of Gada, is truly satisfied with my worship—through charity, sacrifice, vows, rituals, and service to gods, Brahmins, and elders—then let Him come and take my hand, and not the son of Damaghoṣa or any other. Tomorrow, O unconquered one, when You come to Vidarbha to marry, concealed and surrounded by chiefs of Your army, overpower the forces of Cedi and Magadha, and win me by valor, according to the custom of the Rākṣasas. “If You wonder how I, kept within the inner chambers and guarded by relatives, can be married by You, I will tell You the means: On the previous day there is a great procession to the family goddess, during which the new bride goes outside to worship Girijā. The great souls desire to bathe in the dust of whose lotus feet, just as the Lord of Umā does to destroy his own darkness. O lotus-eyed one, if I do not obtain Your favor, let me give up this life, emaciated by vows, over hundreds of births.” The Brahmin concluded, “Thus I have brought these secret messages from the daughter of the Yadu dynasty. Consider what should be done, and act accordingly.” Śuka continued: Hearing the message from the princess of Vidarbha, Krishna took the Brahmin by the hand, smiled, and spoke: “I too am unable to sleep at night, my mind absorbed in her. I know that Rukmiṇī’s marriage to me was prevented by her brother out of enmity. I will bring her here, seizing her from the assembly of kings in battle—she who is devoted to me, flawless in form, like the flame of sacred fire.” Knowing the auspicious time for Rukmiṇī’s wedding, Madhusūdana said to his charioteer, “Dāruka, quickly yoke the chariot.” Dāruka at once brought forth the chariot, yoked with the splendid horses Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka, and stood before his Lord with joined palms, ready for the sacred task ahead.