Bhagavata Purana

विहाय वित्तं प्रचुरमभीतौ भीरुभीतवत्। पद्भ्यां पलाशाभ्यां चेलतुर्बहुयोजनम्

Abandoning abundant wealth, fearless though appearing afraid like cowards, they traveled many yojanas on foot with lotus-like feet.

पलायमानौ तौ दृष्ट्वा मागधः प्रहसन्बली। अन्वधावद्रथानीकैरीशयोरप्रमाणवित्

Seeing the two fleeing, the mighty king of Magadha laughed and pursued them with his chariot divisions, unaware of their true power.

प्रद्रुत्य दूरं संश्रान्तौ तुङ्गमारुहतां गिरिम्। प्रवर्षणाख्यं भगवान्नित्यदा यत्र वर्षति

After running a great distance and becoming exhausted, they climbed a high mountain called Pravarṣaṇa, where it always rains.

गिरौ निलीनावाज्ञाय नाधिगम्य पदं नृप। ददाह गिरिमेधोभिः समन्तादग्निमुत्सृजन्

Not finding their tracks on the mountain, the king, thinking them hidden, set fire to the mountain on all sides with burning materials.

तत उत्पत्य तरसा दह्यमानतटादुभौ। दशैकयोजनात्तुङ्गान्निपेततुरधो भुवि

Then, leaping swiftly from the burning slope, both descended from the ten-yojana-high peak to the ground below.

अलक्ष्यमाणौ रिपुणा सानुगेन यदूत्तमौ। स्वपुरं पुनरायातौ समुद्र परिखां नृप

Unseen by the enemy and his followers, the best of the Yadus returned again to their city, which was protected by the ocean, O King.

सोऽपि दग्धाविति मृषा मन्वानो बलकेशवौ। बलमाकृष्य सुमहन्मगधान्मागधो ययौ

Believing falsely that Balarāma and Keśava had been burned, the king of Magadha withdrew his vast army and returned to Magadha.

आनर्ताधिपतिः श्रीमान्रैवतो रैवतीं सुताम्। ब्रह्मणा चोदितः प्रादाद्बलायेति पुरोदितम्

The illustrious king of Ānarta, Raivata, prompted by Brahmā, gave his daughter Raivatī to Baladeva, as previously declared.

भगवानपि गोविन्द उपयेमे कुरूद्वह। वैदर्भीं भीष्मकसुतां श्रियो मात्रां स्वयंवरे

Govinda, the Lord, also married Vaidarbhī, the daughter of Bhīṣmaka and mother of Śrī, at her own svayaṃvara, O best of the Kurus.

प्रमथ्य तरसा राज्ञः शाल्वादींश्चैद्यपक्षगान्। पश्यतां सर्वलोकानां तार्क्ष्यपुत्रः सुधामिव

Having overpowered the kings—Śālva and the allies of Cedi—by force, before the eyes of all people, he took her as Garuḍa took the nectar.

श्रीराजोवाच। भगवान्भीष्मकसुतां रुक्मिणीं रुचिराननाम्। राक्षसेन विधानेन उपयेम इति श्रुतम्

The king said: It is heard that the Lord married Rukmiṇī, the beautiful-faced daughter of Bhīṣmaka, by the rākṣasa rite.

भगवन्श्रोतुमिच्छामि कृष्णस्यामिततेजसः। यथा मागधशाल्वादीन्जित्वा कन्यामुपाहरत्

O Lord, I wish to hear how Krishna, of immeasurable brilliance, after conquering Jarasandha, Shalva, and others, brought the maiden as his bride.

ब्रह्मन्कृष्णकथाः पुण्या माध्वीर्लोकमलापहाः। को नु तृप्येत शृण्वानः श्रुतज्ञो नित्यनूतनाः

O Brahman, who indeed could ever be satiated by hearing the sacred stories of Krishna—sweet as honey, purifying the world of its impurities, ever fresh, and always new, even for those well-versed in them?

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच। राजासीद्भीष्मको नाम विदर्भाधिपतिर्महान्। तस्य पञ्चाभवन्पुत्राः कन्यैका च वरानना

Śrī Bādarāyaṇa said: There was a great king named Bhīṣmaka, lord of Vidarbha; he had five sons and one daughter of exceptional beauty.

रुक्म्यग्रजो रुक्मरथो रुक्मबाहुरनन्तरः। रुक्मकेशो रुक्ममाली रुक्मिण्येषा स्वसा सती

The eldest was Rukmi, followed by Rukmaratha, then Rukmabāhu, Rukmakeśa, and Rukmamālī; and their virtuous sister was Rukmiṇī.

सोपश्रुत्य मुकुन्दस्य रूपवीर्यगुणश्रियः। गृहागतैर्गीयमानास्तं मेने सदृशं पतिम्

Hearing, from those who came to her house, the praises of Mukunda’s beauty, valor, virtues, and glory, she considered him a worthy husband.

तां बुद्धिलक्षणौदार्य रूपशीलगुणाश्रयाम्। कृष्णश्च सदृशीं भार्यां समुद्वोढुं मनो दधे

Krishna, recognizing her intelligence, noble character, beauty, and virtues, resolved in his mind to accept her as a suitable wife.

बन्धूनामिच्छतां दातुं कृष्णाय भगिनीं नृप। ततो निवार्य कृष्णद्विड्रुक्मी चैद्यममन्यत

Though her relatives wished to give the princess to Krishna, her brother Rukmi, who hated Krishna, prevented it and considered Shishupala instead.

तदवेत्यासितापाङ्गी वैदर्भी दुर्मना भृशम्। विचिन्त्याप्तं द्विजं कञ्चित्कृष्णाय प्राहिणोद्द्रुतम्

Learning of this, the dark-eyed princess of Vidarbha became deeply distressed and, after careful thought, quickly sent a trusted Brahmin to Krishna.

द्वारकां स समभ्येत्य प्रतीहारैः प्रवेशितः। अपश्यदाद्यं पुरुषमासीनं काञ्चनासने

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

दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्तमवरुह्य निजासनात्। उपवेश्यार्हयां चक्रे यथात्मानं दिवौकसः

Seeing the Brahmin, the Lord of the devotees rose from his own seat, seated him, and honored him as the gods would honor themselves.

तं भुक्तवन्तं विश्रान्तमुपगम्य सतां गतिः। पाणिनाभिमृशन्पादावव्यग्रस्तमपृच्छत

When the Brahmin had eaten and rested, Krishna, the refuge of the righteous, approached, touched his feet with his hand, and inquired with care.

कच्चिद्द्विजवरश्रेष्ठ धर्मस्ते वृद्धसम्मतः। वर्तते नातिकृच्छ्रेण सन्तुष्टमनसः सदा

O best of Brahmins, is your dharma, esteemed by the elders, proceeding without great difficulty, and is your mind always content?

सन्तुष्टो यर्हि वर्तेत ब्राह्मणो येन केनचित्। अहीयमानः स्वद्धर्मात्स ह्यस्याखिलकामधुक्

Whenever a Brahmin, content with whatever comes, remains steadfast in his own duty, he becomes the fulfiller of all desires.

असन्तुष्टोऽसकृल्लोकानाप्नोत्यपि सुरेश्वरः। अकिञ्चनोऽपि सन्तुष्टः शेते सर्वाङ्गविज्वरः

Even the lord of the gods, if discontent, repeatedly wanders among worlds; but one who is content, though possessing nothing, sleeps free from all affliction.

विप्रान्स्वलाभसन्तुष्टान्साधून्भूतसुहृत्तमान्। निरहङ्कारिणः शान्तान्नमस्ये शिरसा सकृत्

I bow my head but once to those Brahmins who are content with what they receive, virtuous, the best friends to all beings, humble, and peaceful.

कच्चिद्वः कुशलं ब्रह्मन्राजतो यस्य हि प्रजाः। सुखं वसन्ति विषये पाल्यमानाः स मे प्रियः

O Brahman, is all well with you? For the king, whose subjects live happily under his protection, is dear to me.

यतस्त्वमागतो दुर्गं निस्तीर्येह यदिच्छया। सर्वं नो ब्रूह्यगुह्यं चेत्किं कार्यं करवाम ते

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?

एवं सम्पृष्टसम्प्रश्नो ब्राह्मणः परमेष्ठिना। लीलागृहीतदेहेन तस्मै सर्वमवर्णयत्

Thus respectfully questioned by the Supreme Lord, who had assumed a form for his pastimes, the Brahmin narrated everything to him.