The devoted Brahmin, having journeyed a great distance, finally arrived at the splendid city of Dvārakā. Passing through its guarded gates, he was ushered in by the doorkeepers and came into the presence of the Supreme Person, Krishna, who sat resplendent upon a golden throne. The Lord of the devotees, seeing the Brahmin enter, immediately rose from his seat out of deep respect, welcomed him warmly, and honored him as the gods would honor one of their own. After ensuring the Brahmin was well fed and had rested from his travels, Krishna—the refuge of all righteous souls—approached him with gentle care. The Lord touched the Brahmin’s feet in reverence and inquired with heartfelt concern, “O best of Brahmins, is your dharma, so highly regarded by the elders, proceeding without undue difficulty? Is your mind always content?” Krishna continued, “Whenever a Brahmin, content with whatever comes his way, remains steadfast in his own duty, he becomes the fulfiller of all desires. Even the lord of the gods, if discontent, wanders endlessly among the worlds, but one who is content—though possessing nothing—sleeps peacefully, free from all affliction. I bow my head in reverence to those Brahmins who are content with what they receive, virtuous, friends to all beings, humble, and peaceful.” He then asked, “O Brahman, is all well with you? For the king whose subjects live happily under his protection is dear to me. Since you have come here, enduring many hardships as you wished, please tell me everything—especially if there is anything confidential. What can I do for you?” Thus respectfully questioned by Krishna, who had assumed a human form for his divine pastimes, the Brahmin began to recount everything in detail. He delivered a secret message from Rukmiṇī, the princess of Vidarbha. In her words, she addressed Krishna: “O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your virtues—which remove the distress of all who listen—my mind has shamelessly entered into You, O infallible one, through the channels of my ears. Beholding Your form, which fulfills all desires for those who see it, my heart is utterly 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, who delight the minds of all people, O lion among men? Therefore, O Lord, I have chosen You as my husband. Please 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 a lion, touch the share of the hero, O lotus-eyed one. “If the Supreme Lord, the master of all, the 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 force, whose bride-price is valor, according to the custom of the Rākṣasas. “If You wonder how I, who am kept within the inner chambers and guarded by relatives, can be married by You, I will tell You the means: On the day before the wedding, 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 Your 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 here, and then act accordingly.” Śuka then narrated: Hearing the message from the princess of Vidarbha, Krishna, the son of the Yadus, 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, Krishna, called Madhusūdana, instructed his charioteer, “Dāruka, quickly yoke the chariot.” Dāruka brought forth the chariot, yoked with the swift horses Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka, and stood before Krishna with joined palms. Krishna mounted the chariot, placed the Brahmin beside him, and with those swift horses, traveled from Ānarta to Vidarbha in a single night. Meanwhile, the king of Kuṇḍina, out of deep affection for his son, began the wedding preparations to give his daughter to Śiśupāla. The city was thoroughly cleaned and sprinkled; its roads, streets, and crossroads were festooned with colorful flags, banners, and arches. The city bustled with men and women dressed in spotless garments, adorned with garlands, fragrant flowers, and ornaments, and the splendid houses were perfumed with aguru incense. The king performed all the required rites: he worshipped the ancestors, gods, and Brahmins, fed them according to tradition, and had auspicious hymns recited. The beautiful maiden, Rukmiṇī, freshly bathed and adorned for the auspicious ceremony, wore fine garments and the most exquisite ornaments. The foremost Brahmins performed protective rites for the bride, chanting from the Sama, Rig, and Yajur Vedas, while the chief priest, versed in the Atharva Veda, offered oblations to pacify the planetary influences. The king, expert in proper rites, gave gold, silver, garments, sesame mixed with jaggery, and cows to the Brahmins. At the same time, King Damaghoṣa, lord of Cedi, made all arrangements for his son’s prosperity, employing experts in mantras. With intoxicated elephants, golden chariots, and armies crowded with infantry and horses, he proceeded to Kundina. The king of Vidarbha greeted Damaghoṣa, honored him, and joyfully settled him in prepared accommodations. There, powerful kings such as Shalva, Jarasandha, Dantavaktra, Viduratha, and thousands of allies from Chedi and Paundra gathered. Enemies of Krishna and Rama, determined to secure the maiden for the Chedi prince, assembled, resolved to fight should Krishna and the Yadus come to claim her. All these kings, with their full armies and vehicles, prepared themselves for battle, their minds fixed on opposing Krishna. When Lord Rama heard of the gathering of these hostile kings, he became concerned about the impending conflict and learned that Krishna had gone alone to take the maiden. Filled with deep affection for his brother, Rama quickly set out for Kundina with a great force of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry. Meanwhile, the princess of Bhishmaka, noble in form and longing for Hari’s arrival, saw no sign of Krishna’s coming. Anxiously, she pondered the words of the Brahmin, her heart filled with hope and uncertainty.