Bhagavata Purana

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.

श्रीरुक्मिण्युवाच। श्रुत्वा गुणान्भुवनसुन्दर शृण्वतां ते। निर्विश्य कर्णविवरैर्हरतोऽङ्गतापम्। रूपं दृशां दृशिमतामखिलार्थलाभं। त्वय्यच्युताविशति चित्तमपत्रपं मे

Rukmiṇī said: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your virtues, which remove the distress of those who listen, my mind, shamelessly, has entered into You, O infallible one, through the channels of my ears, and beholding Your form, which is the fulfillment of all desires for those who see, my heart is captivated.

का त्वा मुकुन्द महती कुलशीलरूप। विद्यावयोद्रविणधामभिरात्मतुल्यम्। धीरा पतिं कुलवती न वृणीत कन्या। काले नृसिंह नरलोकमनोऽभिरामम्

O Mukunda, what noble maiden of good family, possessing discernment, would not choose You as her husband—You, who are equal to Yourself alone in lineage, character, beauty, knowledge, age, wealth, and glory, and who delight the minds of all people, O lion among men?

तन्मे भवान्खलु वृतः पतिरङ्ग जायाम्। आत्मार्पितश्च भवतोऽत्र विभो विधेहि। मा वीरभागमभिमर्शतु चैद्य आराद्। गोमायुवन्मृगपतेर्बलिमम्बुजाक्ष

Therefore, O Lord, You have indeed been chosen by me 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 the lion, touch the share of the hero, O lotus-eyed one.

पूर्तेष्टदत्तनियमव्रतदेवविप्र। गुर्वर्चनादिभिरलं भगवान्परेशः। आराधितो यदि गदाग्रज एत्य पाणिं। गृह्णातु मे न दमघोषसुतादयोऽन्ये

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.

श्वो भाविनि त्वमजितोद्वहने विदर्भान्। गुप्तः समेत्य पृतनापतिभिः परीतः। निर्मथ्य चैद्यमगधेन्द्र बलं प्रसह्य। मां राक्षसेन विधिनोद्वह वीर्यशुल्काम्

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 forcibly win me, whose bride-price is valor, according to the custom of the Rākṣasas.

अन्तःपुरान्तरचरीमनिहत्य बन्धून्। त्वामुद्वहे कथमिति प्रवदाम्युपायम्। पूर्वेद्युरस्ति महती कुलदेवयात्रा। यस्यां बहिर्नववधूर्गिरिजामुपेयात्

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 previous day there is a great procession to the family goddess, during which the new bride goes outside to worship Girijā.

यस्याङ्घ्रिपङ्कजरजःस्नपनं महान्तो। वाञ्छन्त्युमापतिरिवात्मतमोऽपहत्यै। यर्ह्यम्बुजाक्ष न लभेय भवत्प्रसादं। जह्यामसून्व्रतकृशान्शतजन्मभिः स्यात्

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.

ब्राह्मण उवाच। इत्येते गुह्यसन्देशा यदुदेव मया हृताः। विमृश्य कर्तुं यच्चात्र क्रियतां तदनन्तरम्

The brāhmaṇa said: Thus I have brought these secret messages from the daughter of the Yadu dynasty. Consider what should be done here, and then act accordingly.

अथ त्रिपञ्चाशत्तमोऽध्यायः 10.53 श्रीशुक उवाच। वैदर्भ्याः स तु सन्देशं निशम्य यदुनन्दनः। प्रगृह्य पाणिना पाणिं प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत्

Śuka said: Hearing the message from the princess of Vidarbha, the son of the Yadus took the brāhmaṇa by the hand, smiled, and spoke as follows.

श्रीभगवानुवाच। तथाहमपि तच्चित्तो निद्रां च न लभे निशि। वेदाहम्रुक्मिणा द्वेषान्ममोद्वाहो निवारितः

The Blessed Lord said: 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.

तामानयिष्य उन्मथ्य राजन्यापसदान्मृधे। मत्परामनवद्याङ्गी मेधसोऽग्निशिखामिव

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.

श्रीशुक उवाच। उद्वाहर्क्षं च विज्ञाय रुक्मिण्या मधुसूदनः। रथः संयुज्यतामाशु दारुकेत्याह सारथिम्

Śuka said: Knowing the auspicious time for Rukmiṇī's wedding, Madhusūdana said to his charioteer, 'Dāruka, quickly yoke the chariot.'

स चाश्वैः शैब्यसुग्रीव मेघपुष्पबलाहकैः। युक्तं रथमुपानीय तस्थौ प्राञ्जलिरग्रतः

He brought the chariot, yoked with horses named Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa, and Balāhaka, and stood before him with joined palms.

आरुह्य स्यन्दनं शौरिर्द्विजमारोप्य तूर्णगैः। आनर्तादेकरात्रेण विदर्भानगमद्धयैः

Mounting the chariot, Śauri placed the brāhmaṇa on it, and with swift horses, reached Vidarbha from Ānarta in a single night.

राजा स कुण्डिनपतिः पुत्रस्नेहवशानुगः। शिशुपालाय स्वां कन्यां दास्यन्कर्माण्यकारयत्

The king of Kuṇḍina, out of deep affection for his son, began the wedding preparations to give his daughter to Śiśupāla.

पुरं सम्मृष्टसंसिक्त मार्गरथ्याचतुष्पथम्। चित्रध्वजपताकाभिस्तोरणैः समलङ्कृतम्

The city was thoroughly cleaned and sprinkled, its roads, streets, and crossroads adorned with colorful flags, banners, and arches.

स्रग्गन्धमाल्याभरणैर्विरजोऽम्बरभूषितैः। जुष्टं स्त्रीपुरुषैः श्रीमद् गृहैरगुरुधूपितैः

It was filled with men and women dressed in spotless garments, adorned with garlands, fragrant flowers, and ornaments, and with splendid houses perfumed with aguru incense.