Bhagavata Purana

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.

त्वत्पादपद्ममकरन्दजुषां मुनीनां। वर्त्मास्फुटं नृपशुभिर्ननु दुर्विभाव्यम्। यस्मादलौकिकमिवेहितमीश्वरस्य। भूमंस्तवेहितमथो अनु ये भवन्तम्

The path to your lotus feet, enjoyed by sages, is indeed difficult for men and beasts to comprehend, O Lord, because your actions are beyond worldly understanding; only those who follow you, O great one, can grasp your ways.

निष्किञ्चनो ननु भवान्न यतोऽस्ति किञ्चिद्। यस्मै बलिं बलिभुजोऽपि हरन्त्यजाद्याः। न त्वा विदन्त्यसुतृपोऽन्तकमाढ्यतान्धाः। प्रेष्ठो भवान्बलिभुजामपि तेऽपि तुभ्यम्

You are truly without possessions, for nothing exists apart from you; even the powerful offer tribute to you. Those blinded by insatiable desire and wealth do not know you, O beloved, yet even the mighty are dear to you, and you are dear to them.

त्वं वै समस्तपुरुषार्थमयः फलात्मा। यद्वाञ्छया सुमतयो विसृजन्ति कृत्स्नम्। तेषां विभो समुचितो भवतः समाजः। पुंसः स्त्रियाश्च रतयोः सुखदुःखिनोर्न

You are the embodiment of all human goals and their fruits; wise men, desiring you, renounce everything. O Lord, your association is fitting for them, not for those absorbed in the pleasures and pains of men and women.

त्वं न्यस्तदण्डमुनिभिर्गदितानुभाव। आत्मात्मदश्च जगतामिति मे वृतोऽसि। हित्वा भवद्भ्रुव उदीरितकालवेग। ध्वस्ताशिषोऽब्जभवनाकपतीन्कुतोऽन्ये

You, whose greatness is praised by sages who have laid aside anger, are the soul and giver of souls to the worlds—so I have heard. When your eyebrow signals the force of time, even Brahmā and Śiva lose their blessings; what then of others?

जाड्यं वचस्तव गदाग्रज यस्तु भूपान्। विद्राव्य शार्ङ्गनिनदेन जहर्थ मां त्वम्। सिंहो यथा स्वबलिमीश पशून्स्वभागं। तेभ्यो भयाद्यदुदधिं शरणं प्रपन्नः

O elder brother of Gadā, your words may seem dull, but you drove away kings with the twang of your bow and took me, just as a lion seizes his share among animals; out of fear of them, I sought refuge in the ocean.

यद्वाञ्छया नृपशिखामणयोऽङ्गवैन्य। जायन्तनाहुषगयादय ऐक्यपत्यम्। राज्यं विसृज्य विविशुर्वनमम्बुजाक्ष। सीदन्ति तेऽनुपदवीं त इहास्थिताः किम्

Desiring you, O lotus-eyed one, the foremost of kings—such as Ambarīṣa, Nahuṣa, and Gaya—abandoned their kingdoms and entered the forest; yet those who remain here, why do they not follow your path?

कान्यं श्रयेत तव पादसरोजगन्धम्। आघ्राय सन्मुखरितं जनतापवर्गम्। लक्ष्म्यालयं त्वविगणय्य गुणालयस्य। मर्त्या सदोरुभयमर्थविवीतदृष्टिः

Who, after smelling the fragrance of your lotus feet, spoken of by the virtuous and granting liberation to people, would seek any other shelter? Mortal men, with their vision blinded by material pursuits, disregard the abode of Lakṣmī, the treasury of virtues.