पयःफेननिभे शुभ्रे पर्यङ्के कशिपूत्तमे। उपतस्थे सुखासीनं जगतामीश्वरं पतिम्
On a most excellent couch, white as milk foam, she attended her husband, the Lord of the worlds, as he sat comfortably.
वालव्यजनमादाय रत्नदण्डं सखीकरात्। तेन वीजयती देवी उपासांचक्र ईश्वरम्
Taking a yak-tail fan with a jeweled handle from the hand of her companion, the goddess fanned the Lord, performing worship.
सोपाच्युतं क्वणयती मणिनूपुराभ्यां। रेजेऽङ्गुलीयवलयव्यजनाग्रहस्ता। वस्त्रान्तगूढकुचकुङ्कुमशोणहार। भासा नितम्बधृतया च परार्ध्यकाञ्च्या
With anklets of jewels softly ringing as she stepped, her hands adorned with rings, bangles, and the fan, her necklace reddened by the saffron of her hidden breasts beneath her garment, and her hips encircled by a priceless girdle, she shone beside Acyuta.
तां रूपिणीं श्रीयमनन्यगतिं निरीक्ष्य। या लीलया धृततनोरनुरूपरूपा। प्रीतः स्मयन्नलककुण्डलनिष्ककण्ठ। वक्त्रोल्लसत्स्मितसुधां हरिराबभाषे
Seeing her, the embodiment of beauty and fortune, having no other refuge, who by her play had assumed a form matching his own, Hari, pleased, smiling with his curling locks, earrings, and shining necklace, and with nectar-like smiles on his lips, spoke to her.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। राजपुत्रीप्सिता भूपैर्लोकपालविभूतिभिः। महानुभावैः श्रीमद्भी रूपौदार्यबलोर्जितैः
The Blessed Lord said: O princess, you were desired by kings—guardians of the world—endowed with great power, wealth, beauty, generosity, and strength.
तान्प्राप्तानर्थिनो हित्वा चैद्यादीन्स्मरदुर्मदान्। दत्ता भ्रात्रा स्वपित्रा च कस्मान्नो ववृषेऽसमान्
Rejecting those suitors who sought your hand, and scorning proud kings like Shishupala and others, you were given by your brother and father—why did you not choose someone equal to yourself?
राजभ्यो बिभ्यतः सुभ्रु समुद्रं शरणं गतान्। बलवद्भिः कृतद्वेषान्प्रायस्त्यक्तनृपासनान्
O beautiful-browed one, out of fear of the kings, you sought refuge in the ocean, having made enemies of the powerful and abandoned royal seats.
अस्पष्टवर्त्मनाम्पुंसामलोकपथमीयुषाम्। आस्थिताः पदवीं सुभ्रु प्रायः सीदन्ति योषितः
O lovely-browed one, women who follow men whose path is unclear, who have left the way of the world, generally come to grief.
निष्किञ्चना वयं शश्वन्निष्किञ्चनजनप्रियाः। तस्मात्प्रायेण न ह्याढ्या मां भजन्ति सुमध्यमे
We are always destitute, and dear to those who are destitute; therefore, O slender-waisted one, wealthy women generally do not choose me.
ययोरात्मसमं वित्तं जन्मैश्वर्याकृतिर्भवः। तयोर्विवाहो मैत्री च नोत्तमाधमयोः क्वचित्
Marriage and friendship are proper between those whose wealth, birth, power, beauty, and status are equal; never between the highest and the lowest.
वैदर्भ्येतदविज्ञाय त्वया दीर्घसमीक्षया। वृता वयं गुणैर्हीना भिक्षुभिः श्लाघिता मुधा
O princess of Vidarbha, not understanding this, you have chosen me—one lacking in qualities—praised in vain by wandering mendicants.
अथात्मनोऽनुरूपं वै भजस्व क्षत्रियर्षभम्। येन त्वमाशिषः सत्या इहामुत्र च लप्स्यसे
Therefore, unite yourself with a Kshatriya hero who matches you, by whom you will obtain true blessings in this world and the next.
चैद्यशाल्वजरासन्ध दन्तवक्त्रादयो नृपाः। मम द्विषन्ति वामोरु रुक्मी चापि तवाग्रजः
Shishupala, Shalva, Jarasandha, Dantavakra, and other kings, O slender-thighed one, are hostile to me, and even your elder brother Rukmi is among them.
तेषां वीर्यमदान्धानां दृप्तानां स्मयनुत्तये। आनितासि मया भद्रे तेजोपहरता सताम्
O good lady, you were brought here by me to humble the pride of those kings, blinded by the intoxication of their strength, and to diminish their arrogance, for the sake of the virtuous.
उदासीना वयं नूनं न स्त्र्यपत्यार्थकामुकाः। आत्मलब्ध्यास्महे पूर्णा गेहयोर्ज्योतिरक्रियाः
Truly, I am indifferent, not seeking wife, children, or pleasure; I am fulfilled in myself, and my household is but a lightless ritual.
श्रीशुक उवाच। एतावदुक्त्वा भगवानात्मानं वल्लभामिव। मन्यमानामविश्लेषात्तद्दर्पघ्न उपारमत्
Śuka said: Having spoken thus, the Lord ceased, seeing her as his beloved, inseparable from himself, and thus ended her pride.
इति त्रिलोकेशपतेस्तदात्मनः प्रियस्य देव्यश्रुतपूर्वमप्रियम्। आश्रुत्य भीता हृदि जातवेपथुश्चिन्तां दुरन्तां रुदती जगाम ह
Thus, when the Lord of the three worlds spoke such harsh words—never before heard from her beloved—his queen, terrified, trembling at heart, fell into deep, unending sorrow, weeping.
पदा सुजातेन नखारुणश्रिया भुवं लिखन्त्यश्रुभिरञ्जनासितैः। आसिञ्चती कुङ्कुमरूषितौ स्तनौ तस्थावधोमुख्यतिदुःखरुद्धवाक्
With her well-formed foot, adorned by the red glow of her nails, she traced the ground, her tears darkened by collyrium; her breasts, smeared with saffron, were bathed, and she stood, head bowed, her voice choked by intense grief.
तस्याः सुदुःखभयशोकविनष्टबुद्धेर्। हस्ताच्छ्लथद्वलयतो व्यजनं पपात। देहश्च विक्लवधियः सहसैव मुह्यन्। रम्भेव वायुविहतो प्रविकीर्य केशान्
Her mind destroyed by unbearable grief, fear, and sorrow, her bracelet slipped from her limp hand, the fan fell; her body, mind bewildered, suddenly fainted, like a plantain tree struck by the wind, her hair scattered.
तद्दृष्ट्वा भगवान्कृष्णः प्रियायाः प्रेमबन्धनम्। हास्यप्रौढिमजानन्त्याः करुणः सोऽन्वकम्पत
Seeing this, Krishna, bound by his beloved's love, and unaware of her deep affection, was moved to compassion.
पर्यङ्कादवरुह्याशु तामुत्थाप्य चतुर्भुजः। केशान्समुह्य तद्वक्त्रं प्रामृजत्पद्मपाणिना
Quickly descending from the couch, the four-armed Lord raised her up, gathered her hair, and wiped her face with his lotus hand.
प्रमृज्याश्रुकले नेत्रे स्तनौ चोपहतौ शुचा। आश्लिष्य बाहुना राजननन्यविषयां सतीम्
Wiping the tears from her eyes, and her breasts wet with sorrow, he embraced her with his arm, O King, she who was devoted to none but him.
सान्त्वयामास सान्त्वज्ञः कृपया कृपणां प्रभुः। हास्यप्रौढिभ्रमच्चित्तामतदर्हां सतां गतिः
He, who knows how to console, comforted the distressed woman with compassion; though her mind was bewildered by pride and jest, she was undeserving of such sorrow—the Lord, the refuge of the virtuous, soothed her.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। मा मा वैदर्भ्यसूयेथा जाने त्वां मत्परायणाम्। त्वद्वचः श्रोतुकामेन क्ष्वेल्याचरितमङ्गने
The Blessed Lord said: Do not be angry, O princess of Vidarbha; I know you are devoted to me. Wishing to hear your words, I acted playfully, O fair one.
मुखं च प्रेमसंरम्भ स्फुरिताधरमीक्षितुम्। कटाक्षेपारुणापाङ्गं सुन्दरभ्रुकुटीतटम्
Desiring to see your face, with lips trembling in loving excitement, your sidelong glances reddened, and the beautiful curve of your frowning brows.
अयं हि परमो लाभो गृहेषु गृहमेधिनाम्। यन्नर्मैरीयते यामः प्रियया भीरु भामिनि
For householders, O timid and lovely one, the highest gain in family life is to spend time in playful conversation with their beloved.
श्रीशुक उवाच। सैवं भगवता राजन्वैदर्भी परिसान्त्विता। ज्ञात्वा तत्परिहासोक्तिं प्रियत्यागभयं जहौ
Śuka said: Thus consoled by the Lord, O King, Rukmiṇī understood his words were spoken in jest, and she let go of her fear of being abandoned by her beloved.
बभाष ऋषभं पुंसां वीक्षन्ती भगवन्मुखम्। सव्रीडहासरुचिर स्निग्धापाङ्गेन भारत
Looking at the Lord’s face, she spoke to the best of men, her glance gentle and affectionate, her smile charming with modesty, O descendant of Bharata.
श्रीरुक्मिण्युवाच। नन्वेवमेतदरविन्दविलोचनाह यद्वै भवान्भगवतोऽसदृशी विभूम्नः। क्व स्वे महिम्न्यभिरतो भगवांस्त्र्यधीशः क्वाहं गुणप्रकृतिरज्ञगृहीतपादा
Rukmiṇī said: Indeed, O lotus-eyed one, what you have said is true. How could I, of insignificant qualities and ignorant, be a fitting match for you, the Lord, master of all opulence, who delights in your own greatness?
सत्यं भयादिव गुणेभ्य उरुक्रमान्तः। शेते समुद्र उपलम्भनमात्र आत्मा। नित्यं कदिन्द्रियगणैः कृतविग्रहस्त्वं। त्वत्सेवकैर्नृपपदं विधुतं तमोऽन्धम्
Truly, O mighty-armed, you dwell within all virtues, yet remain untouched by them, just as the ocean lies beneath the waves. Ever free from the senses, you assume forms for your devotees, dispelling the dense darkness of ignorance from the hearts of kings.