Rukmiṇī, her heart full of devotion, addressed Krishna, the slayer of Madhu, with the utmost sincerity. “O Madhusudana,” she said, “I do not doubt the truth of Your words. Indeed, it is natural for a maiden’s affection to rest with her mother, and only at times does it turn elsewhere. Even among married women of wavering character, the mind often flits to new objects of desire. A wise man, knowing this, should not place his trust in such a faithless woman; for if he does, he loses on both sides.” Hearing her unwavering devotion, the Blessed Lord smiled and spoke gently to her, “O chaste princess, I have only tested you with these words to understand your heart’s true desire. Everything I have spoken of, everything you have asked, is indeed as I have said. But know this, beautiful one: whatever desires you may have, if you remain devoted solely to Me, auspicious lady, your wishes will always be fulfilled, for you are My exclusive devotee. Your love and fidelity to your husband have been proven beyond doubt. Even when agitated by My words, your mind never strayed from Me. “There are those who, even while worshipping Me in married life with vows and austerity, remain attached to worldly desires. Deluded by My maya, they think of Me as the Lord of liberation, yet cling to their attachments. And those who, after attaining Me—the very source of all wealth and liberation—still long for material prosperity or a husband, are most unfortunate. So strong is their attachment that even hell seems pleasant to them if only they are among their own kind. “But you, O mistress of the house, by good fortune have always acted in accordance with My will. Such conduct is rare and liberating, even for women whose hearts are difficult to satisfy and who often resort to cunning. Among all households, I see no wife as devoted as you, O proud one. At your own wedding, you paid no heed to the assembled kings, but secretly sent the brahmin who had heard of My glories to seek Me out. “When your brother was disfigured in battle and killed at the gambling arena during the wedding festival, you endured that unbearable sorrow in silence, fearing separation from Me, and spoke not a word. Thus, you have conquered even us. When you sent a secret message to obtain Me, and when you feared I might abandon this unworthy body, you remained steadfast in your devotion. For your unwavering love, we respond in kind.” Śuka then described how the Lord of the universe, by such affectionate words, delighted Rukmiṇī, enjoying her company while playfully imitating the ways of mortals. In this same way, the all-pervading Lord Hari, teacher of the world, resided in each of His wives’ homes, upholding the duties of a householder as if He were one Himself. In time, each of Krishna’s wives bore ten sons, each equal to their father in strength, along with a ninth son, all endowed with Krishna’s qualities. Though Acyuta never left home, He was present in each of their houses, and the royal princesses considered Him their dearest, even though they could not truly fathom His divine nature. With faces like blooming lotuses, long arms and eyes, loving glances, and sweet words, the Lord enchanted the women—so much so that even their own charms could not sway His mind before His majesty. The sixteen thousand wives tried, with all the arts of love and the arrows of Cupid, to captivate Him, but even their beauty and wiles could not disturb His senses. Yet, having attained the Lord of Lakshmi as their husband—a path unknowable even to Brahma and the gods—these women joyfully served Him with unceasing affection, eager for His smile, glance, touch, and embrace. Hundreds of maidservants attended the Lord, performing every service: welcoming Him, offering seats, washing His feet, providing betel, arranging for His rest, fanning Him, bringing fragrant garlands, arranging His hair, preparing His bed, bathing Him, and making other offerings. Of Krishna’s wives, the eight foremost queens each had ten sons. Śuka began with Rukmiṇī’s sons: Pradyumna, Charudeṣṇa, Sudeṣṇa, Charudeha the mighty, Suchāru, Charugupta, Bhadracāru, Charucandra, Vichāru, and Charu—all equal to their father in prowess. Satyabhama’s sons were Bhānu, Subhānu, Svarbhānu, Prabhānu, Bhānumān, Chandra Bhānu, Bṛhadbhānu, Ratibhānu, Śrībhānu, and Pratibhānu. Jāmbavatī’s sons, led by Sāmba, included Sumitra, Purujit, Shatajita, Sahasrajit, Vijaya, Citraketu, Vasumān, Draviḍa, and Kratu. Nāgnajit’s sons were Vīra Chandra, Ashvasena, Citragu, Vegavān, Vṛṣa, Āma, Shaṅku, Vasu, Śrīmān, and Kuntir. Kālindī’s sons were Śruta, Kavi, Vṛṣa, Vīra, Subāhu, Bhadra, Ekala, Śānti, Darśa, Pūrṇamāsa, and Somaka. Mādrī’s sons were Praghoṣa, Gātravān, Siṃha, Bala, Prabala, Ūrdhvaga, Mahāśakti, Saha, Oja, and Aparājita. Mitravinda’s sons were Vṛka, Harṣa, Anila, Gṛdhra, Vardhana, Annāda, Mahāśa, Pāvana, Vahni, and Kṣudhi. Bhadrā’s sons were Saṅgrāmajit, Bṛhatsena, Śūra, Praharaṇa, Arijit, Jaya, Subhadra, Vāmāyu, and Satyaka. Rohiṇī’s sons included Dīptimān, Tāmra, Taptā, and others. From Pradyumna and Rukmavatī, the mighty daughter of Rukmi in Bhojakaṭa, was born Aniruddha. Krishna’s sons and grandsons numbered in the tens of millions, O King, and the mothers of these children were sixteen thousand. King Parikṣit then inquired, “How did Rukmi, though once insulted by Krishna and ever seeking a chance to kill Him, come to give his daughter in marriage to Krishna’s son? Tell me, O wise one, about the wedding between these rivals.” Śuka replied, “O King, yogis perceive all things—past, future, present, even that which is distant or hidden. At the svayamvara, Rukmi’s daughter, endowed with beauty and many virtues, chose Pradyumna—Cupid incarnate—who, defeating all the assembled kings, carried her away in his chariot during the battle. Though Rukmi remembered his enmity and the insult he had suffered from Krishna, he gave his daughter to the son of his sister, pleasing his sister Rukmiṇī. The powerful son of Kṛtavarman married Rukmiṇī’s daughter, a maiden of renowned beauty. Rukmi also gave his granddaughter, Rocana, to Aniruddha, Krishna’s grandson, despite their ongoing feud, wishing to please his sister. Though he knew the union was improper, he was bound by affection. At that auspicious event, Rukmiṇī, Balarama (Rāma), Krishna, Samba, Pradyumna, and others traveled to the city of Bhojakaṭa. When the wedding was complete, the kings, led by the ruler of Kalinga, proud and arrogant, challenged Rukmi to defeat Balarama in a game of dice.