Bhagavata Purana

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.

पितॄन्देवान्समभ्यर्च्य विप्रांश्च विधिवन्नृप। भोजयित्वा यथान्यायं वाचयामास मङ्गलम्

The king duly worshipped the ancestors, gods, and brāhmaṇas, fed them according to custom, and had auspicious rites recited.

सुस्नातां सुदतीं कन्यां कृतकौतुकमङ्गलाम्। आहतांशुकयुग्मेन भूषितां भूषणोत्तमैः

The beautiful maiden, freshly bathed, adorned for the auspicious ceremony, was dressed in fine garments and decorated with the finest ornaments.

चक्रुः सामर्ग्यजुर्मन्त्रैर्वध्वा रक्षां द्विजोत्तमाः। पुरोहितोऽथर्वविद्वै जुहाव ग्रहशान्तये

The foremost Brahmins performed protective rites for the bride with chants from the Sama, Rig, and Yajur Vedas; the chief priest, versed in Atharva Veda, offered oblations to pacify the planetary influences.

हिरण्यरूप्य वासांसि तिलांश्च गुडमिश्रितान्। प्रादाद्धेनूश्च विप्रेभ्यो राजा विधिविदां वरः

The king, best among those who follow proper rites, gave gold, silver, garments, sesame mixed with jaggery, and cows to the Brahmins.

एवं चेदिपती राजा दमघोषः सुताय वै। कारयामास मन्त्रज्ञैः सर्वमभ्युदयोचितम्

Thus, King Damaghosha, lord of Cedi, arranged everything appropriate for prosperity for his son, employing experts in mantras.

मदच्युद्भिर्गजानीकैः स्यन्दनैर्हेममालिभिः। पत्त्यश्वसङ्कुलैः सैन्यैः परीतः कुण्डिनं ययौ

With intoxicated elephants, chariots adorned with gold, and armies crowded with infantry and horses, he proceeded to Kundina.

तं वै विदर्भाधिपतिः समभ्येत्याभिपूज्य च। निवेशयामास मुदा कल्पितान्यनिवेशने

The king of Vidarbha approached him, honored him, and joyfully settled him in prepared accommodations.

तत्र शाल्वो जरासन्धो दन्तवक्त्रो विदूरथः। आजग्मुश्चैद्यपक्षीयाः पौण्ड्रकाद्याः सहस्रशः

There, Shalva, Jarasandha, Dantavaktra, Viduratha, and thousands of allies from Chedi and Paundra arrived.

कृष्णरामद्विषो यत्ताः कन्यां चैद्याय साधितुम्। यद्यागत्य हरेत्कृष्णो रामाद्यैर्यदुभिर्वृतः

Enemies of Krishna and Rama, determined to secure the maiden for the Chedi prince, gathered, resolved to fight if Krishna, accompanied by the Yadus, came to take her.

योत्स्यामः संहतास्तेन इति निश्चितमानसाः। आजग्मुर्भूभुजः सर्वे समग्रबलवाहनाः

All the kings, with their full armies and vehicles, came together, their minds fixed on battling him.

श्रुत्वैतद्भगवान्रामो विपक्षीय नृपोद्यमम्। कृष्णं चैकं गतं हर्तुं कन्यां कलहशङ्कितः

Hearing of this effort by the opposing kings, Lord Rama, fearing conflict, learned Krishna had gone alone to take the maiden.

बलेन महता सार्धं भ्रातृस्नेहपरिप्लुतः। त्वरितः कुण्डिनं प्रागाद्गजाश्वरथपत्तिभिः

Filled with affection for his brother, he quickly set out for Kundina with a great force of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry.

भीष्मकन्या वरारोहा काङ्क्षन्त्यागमनं हरेः। प्रत्यापत्तिमपश्यन्ती द्विजस्याचिन्तयत्तदा

The princess of Bhishmaka, of noble form, longing for Hari's arrival, saw no sign of his coming and pondered the words of the Brahmin.