Bhagavata Purana

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.

अहो त्रियामान्तरित उद्वाहो मेऽल्पराधसः। नागच्छत्यरविन्दाक्षो नाहं वेद्म्यत्र कारणम्। सोऽपि नावर्ततेऽद्यापि मत्सन्देशहरो द्विजः

Alas, three nights have passed since my wedding, though I am blameless; the lotus-eyed one does not come, and I do not know the reason. The Brahmin who carried my message has not returned even today.

अपि मय्यनवद्यात्मा दृष्ट्वा किञ्चिज्जुगुप्सितम्। मत्पाणिग्रहणे नूनं नायाति हि कृतोद्यमः

Perhaps, seeing some fault in me, the faultless one now hesitates to take my hand in marriage, though he had resolved to do so.

दुर्भगाया न मे धाता नानुकूलो महेश्वरः। देवी वा विमुखी गौरी रुद्राणी गिरिजा सती

My fate is unfortunate; the creator is not favorable to me, nor is the great lord Shiva, nor the goddess Gauri, Rudrani, Girija, or Sati.

एवं चिन्तयती बाला गोविन्दहृतमानसा। न्यमीलयत कालज्ञा नेत्रे चाश्रुकलाकुले

Thus, the young maiden, her mind captivated by Govinda, reflecting on time, closed her tear-filled eyes.

एवं वध्वाः प्रतीक्षन्त्या गोविन्दागमनं नृप। वाम ऊरुर्भुजो नेत्रमस्फुरन्प्रियभाषिणः

As the bride awaited Govinda's arrival, O king, her left thigh, arm, and eye, beloved for their auspicious speech, began to tremble.

अथ कृष्णविनिर्दिष्टः स एव द्विजसत्तमः। अन्तःपुरचरीं देवीं राजपुत्रीं ददर्श ह

Then, as instructed by Krishna, that very foremost Brahmin saw the princess, moving within the inner chambers.

सा तं प्रहृष्टवदनमव्यग्रात्मगतिं सती। आलक्ष्य लक्षणाभिज्ञा समपृच्छच्छुचिस्मिता

She, seeing him with a delighted face and undisturbed mind, being skilled in recognizing signs, questioned him, her smile pure.

तस्या आवेदयत्प्राप्तं शशंस यदुनन्दनम्। उक्तं च सत्यवचनमात्मोपनयनं प्रति

He informed her that the son of the Yadu dynasty had arrived, and conveyed the truthful words spoken regarding the self-marriage.

तमागतं समाज्ञाय वैदर्भी हृष्टमानसा। न पश्यन्ती ब्राह्मणाय प्रियमन्यन्ननाम सा

Knowing he had come, the Vidarbha princess, her heart joyful, did not look at the Brahmin, for he was dear to her in another way.

प्राप्तौ श्रुत्वा स्वदुहितुरुद्वाहप्रेक्षणोत्सुकौ। अभ्ययात्तूर्यघोषेण रामकृष्णौ समर्हणैः

Hearing of their arrival and eager to witness his daughter's wedding, Rama and Krishna came with musical instruments sounding, bringing proper honors.

मधुपर्कमुपानीय वासांसि विरजांसि सः। उपायनान्यभीष्टानि विधिवत्समपूजयत्

He brought honey and milk, pure garments, and desired gifts, and worshipped them according to proper rites.

तयोर्निवेशनं श्रीमदुपाकल्प्य महामतिः। ससैन्ययोः सानुगयोरातिथ्यं विदधे यथा

The wise one prepared a splendid residence for the two, with their armies and attendants, and offered hospitality as appropriate.

एवं राज्ञां समेतानां यथावीर्यं यथावयः। यथाबलं यथावित्तं सर्वैः कामैः समर्हयत्

Thus, to the assembled kings, according to their valor, age, strength, and wealth, he honored them with all desired offerings.

कृष्णमागतमाकर्ण्य विदर्भपुरवासिनः। आगत्य नेत्राञ्जलिभिः पपुस्तन्मुखपङ्कजम्

Hearing that Krishna had arrived, the residents of Vidarbha city came and drank in the lotus face of Krishna with hands joined at their eyes.

अस्यैव भार्या भवितुं रुक्मिण्यर्हति नापरा। असावप्यनवद्यात्मा भैष्म्याः समुचितः पतिः

Only Rukmini is fit to be his wife, not another; he too, flawless in nature, is the proper husband for Bhishma's daughter.

किञ्चित्सुचरितं यन्नस्तेन तुष्टस्त्रिलोककृत्। अनुगृह्णातु गृह्णातु वैदर्भ्याः पाणिमच्युतः

Whatever little good we have done, by that the creator of the three worlds is pleased; may Achyuta accept, accept the hand of the Vidarbha princess.

एवं प्रेमकलाबद्धा वदन्ति स्म पुरौकसः। कन्या चान्तःपुरात्प्रागाद्भटैर्गुप्ताम्बिकालयम्

Thus, bound by the thread of love, the townspeople spoke; and the maiden went from the inner chambers to the temple of Ambika, guarded by soldiers.

पद्भ्यां विनिर्ययौ द्रष्टुं भवान्याः पादपल्लवम्। सा चानुध्यायती सम्यङ्मुकुन्दचरणाम्बुजम्

She went out on foot to see the tender feet of Bhavani, and as she walked, she fully contemplated the lotus feet of Mukunda.

यतवाङ्मातृभिः सार्धं सखीभिः परिवारिता। गुप्ता राजभटैः शूरैः सन्नद्धैरुद्यतायुधैः। मृडङ्गशङ्खपणवास्तूर्यभेर्यश्च जघ्निरे

Surrounded by her mothers and friends, guarded by brave royal soldiers clad in armor and bearing raised weapons, drums, conches, cymbals, trumpets, and kettle-drums sounded.

नानोपहार बलिभिर्वारमुख्याः सहस्रशः। स्रग्गन्धवस्त्राभरणैर्द्विजपत्न्यः स्वलङ्कृताः

Thousands of noble women, richly adorned, brought various offerings, garlands, perfumes, garments, and ornaments for the priests.

गायन्त्यश्च स्तुवन्तश्च गायका वाद्यवादकाः। परिवार्य वधूं जग्मुः सूतमागधवन्दिनः

Singers and musicians, singing and praising, surrounded the bride, along with bards, genealogists, and heralds.

आसाद्य देवीसदनं धौतपादकराम्बुजा। उपस्पृश्य शुचिः शान्ता प्रविवेशाम्बिकान्तिकम्

Arriving at the goddess's abode, having washed her feet and hands, purified and peaceful, she entered the presence of Ambika.

तां वै प्रवयसो बालां विधिज्ञा विप्रयोषितः। भवानीं वन्दयांचक्रुर्भवपत्नीं भवान्विताम्

The elderly and knowledgeable wives of the Brahmins, accompanied by Bhavani, worshipped her, the wife of Bhava, endowed with prosperity.

नमस्ये त्वाम्बिकेऽभीक्ष्णं स्वसन्तानयुतां शिवाम्। भूयात्पतिर्मे भगवान्कृष्णस्तदनुमोदताम्

I bow to you, O Ambika, again and again, auspicious, accompanied by your own children; may my husband be the blessed Krishna, may you be pleased with this.

अद्भिर्गन्धाक्षतैर्धूपैर्वासःस्रङ्माल्य भूषणैः। नानोपहारबलिभिः प्रदीपावलिभिः पृथक्

With fragrant substances, unbroken rice, incense, garments, garlands, ornaments, various offerings and food, and rows of lamps set apart,

विप्रस्त्रियः पतिमतीस्तथा तैः समपूजयत्। लवणापूपताम्बूल कण्ठसूत्रफलेक्षुभिः

The brahmin women, together with their husbands, worshipped her with salt, cakes, betel leaves, necklaces, fruits, and sugarcane.

तस्यै स्त्रियस्ताः प्रददुः शेषां युयुजुराशिषः। ताभ्यो देव्यै नमश्चक्रे शेषां च जगृहे वधूः

Those women gave her the remnants, and offered their blessings; to them, the bride bowed, and accepted the rest.