The wives of Krishna were once asked, “O consorts of the Lord, please tell us: how did Krishna, the Supreme Himself, take you as His wives, adopting the ways of the world by His own divine power?” Each queen, her heart full of devotion, spoke in turn, recounting the wondrous ways in which the Lord had chosen her. Rukmini, foremost among the queens, recalled, “When mighty warriors, their bows drawn, sought to offer me to the king of Cedi, Krishna appeared. The dust from His feet adorned the heads of those kings’ soldiers, yet He swept me away as a lion seizes its rightful share from a herd of goats. May I ever worship the feet of that Lord, the very abode of Śrī.” Satyabhama spoke next: “To remove the curse cast upon me by my co-wife, He vanquished the king of the earth and brought the precious jewel. He frightened my father and others, and though I had been given to another, He claimed me as His own.” Jambavati remembered, “Knowing Him as the creator of all bodies and my destined Lord—the very husband of Sita—He fought my father for twenty-one days. When my father recognized His true nature, he offered me to Krishna, and, placing the jewel at His feet, I became His servant.” Kalindi said, “Longing for the touch of His feet, I performed austerities by the Yamuna. Krishna, knowing my desire, came to me as a friend, took my hand, and made me the sweeper of His house.” Mitravinda recounted, “At my svayamvara, Krishna defeated the assembled kings and carried me away as an elephant claims his mate from the herd. He scattered my brothers and brought me to His city, the abode of fortune. May I always serve His feet.” Satya spoke of her trial: “To test the strength and valor of the kings, my father set before them seven fierce, sharp-horned bulls. Krishna, the destroyer of pride, subdued them as a child tames young calves. He won me, along with my maidservants and an army, defeating the kings who challenged Him on the road. May I always be His servant.” Bhadra recalled, “My father, inviting my maternal uncle, gave me to Krishna, the dark one, whose mind was ever fixed on Him, along with an army and companions. May I be touched by His feet in every birth, for such contact leads the soul to the highest good.” Lakshmana spoke with gentle joy, “Hearing again and again from Narada the stories of Krishna’s birth and deeds, my mind was drawn to Mukunda, the lotus-handed Lord, forsaking even the guardians of the world. Knowing my heart, my father, the affectionate Brihatsena, arranged for my marriage. As in Draupadi’s svayamvara, a fish was set up as the target, hidden above and seen only as a reflection in the water below.” “Kings from all lands, masters of every weapon, gathered in thousands with their teachers to my father’s city. Honored according to their strength and age, those who sought my hand took up mighty bows. Some could not even string the bow; others, drawing it to their chest, fell, struck by its force. Heroes like the kings of Magadha, Ambashtha, Cedi, as well as Bhima, Duryodhana, and Karna, managed to string the bow but could not discern the true challenge.” “Arjuna, seeing the fish’s image in the water, aimed carefully and released his arrow, which merely touched the target. When all the kings had withdrawn, their pride broken, Krishna took up the bow and strung it effortlessly. Aiming with perfect concentration, He saw the fish’s reflection but once, then cut down the target with His arrow, while the sun stood in the Abhijit constellation.” “I entered the arena, anklets tinkling, holding a radiant golden garland, dressed in new silk, a bashful smile on my lips, my hair adorned with flowers. Lifting my face, earrings flashing, cheeks glowing, I gazed at the kings with gentle, smiling glances, and with a heart devoted to Murari, I placed my garland upon His shoulder.” “At that moment, the air resounded with drums, conches, trumpets, and other instruments; dancers danced, singers sang. When I chose the Lord, the master of Maya, the chiefs of men, burning with desire, could not bear it and began to compete with each other.” “Krishna placed me on His chariot, yoked with four excellent horses, took up His Sharnga bow, donned His armor, and stood in battle with four arms. Daruka drove the golden chariot as the kings watched, just as the lion king carries off his prey before the other beasts. Some kings pursued us, armed and ready, but Krishna’s volleys of arrows severed their arms, legs, and necks; some fell in battle, others fled.” “The Lord of the Yadus then entered His splendid city, adorned with sun-shaded banners and painted gateways, celebrated in heaven and on earth, like a ship reaching its home port. My father honored all friends and kin with precious gifts, garments, ornaments, beds, seats, and more. With maidservants, wealth, soldiers, chariots, and horses, he presented valuable weapons with full devotion. We, the maidservants of Krishna’s household, became so through true austerity and detachment, serving Him who is ever self-satisfied.” The queens then spoke with one voice: “After slaying Bhauma and his followers in battle, Krishna freed us—princesses conquered by him—and, remembering His lotus feet, the fulfiller of all desires, He accepted us in marriage, granting us liberation from worldly bondage. We do not desire sovereignty, lordship, rulership, or even the supreme position of Brahma, nor the endless abode of Hari. We wish only to bear on our heads the dust of His glorious feet, fragrant with the scent of His consort’s breast-unguent, He who wields the mace. The cowherd women of Vraja, the Pulinda women, the grasses and herbs, the cows, and the cowherd boys—all long for the touch of His feet as He tends the cows.” As these words were spoken, Śuka narrates, Kunti, Subhadra, Draupadi, Madhavi, the royal wives, and the gopis heard of the deep affection Krishna, the Supreme Soul, bore for them. Amazed, their eyes brimmed with tears of wonder and devotion. While the women spoke among themselves, and the men conversed together, a great host of sages arrived, eager to see Krishna and Balarama. Among them were Vyasa, Narada, Cyavana, Devala, Asita, Visvamitra, Shatananda, Bharadvaja, and Gautama. Rama came with his disciples, as did the venerable Vasishtha, Galava, Bhrigu, Pulastya, Kashyapa, Atri, Markandeya, and Brihaspati. Thus, the assembly of the wise and the devoted gathered in the presence of the Lord, each heart filled with awe and reverence for Krishna’s divine love and marvelous deeds.