Chapter 52: Rukmiṇī's Message to Lord Kṛṣṇa

 

10.52.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

itthaḿ so 'nagrahīto 'nga

kṛṣṇenekṣvāku nandanaḥ

taḿ parikramya sannamya

niścakrāma guhā-mukhāt

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ittham — in this manner; saḥ — he; anugrahītaḥ — shown mercy; ańga — my dear (Parīkṣit Mahārāja); kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; ikṣvāku-nandanaḥ — Mucukunda, the beloved descendant of Ikṣvāku; tam — Him; parikramya — circumambulating; sannamya — bowing down; niścakrāma — he went out; guhā — of the cave; mukhāt — from the mouth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, thus graced by Lord Kṛṣṇa, Mucukunda circumambulated Him and bowed down to Him. Then Mucukunda, the beloved descendant of Ikṣvāku, exited through the mouth of the cave.

 

10.52.2

saḿvīkṣya kṣullakān martyān

paśūn vīrud-vanaspatīn

matvā kali-yugaḿ prāptaḿ

jagāma diśam uttarām

 

saḿvīkṣya — noticing; kṣullakān — tiny; martyān — the human beings; paśūn — animals; vīrut — plants; vanaspatīn — and trees; matvā — considering; kali-yugam — the age of Kali; prāptam — having arrived; jagāma — he went; diśam — to the direction; uttarām — northern.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing that the size of all the human beings, animals, trees and plants was severely reduced, and thus realizing that the age of Kali was at hand, Mucukunda left for the north.

 

10.52.3

tapaḥ-śraddhā-yuto dhīro

niḥsańgo mukta-saḿśayaḥ

samādhāya manaḥ kṛṣṇe

prāviśad gandhamādanam

 

tapaḥ — in austerities; śraddhā — faith; yutaḥ — having; dhīraḥ — serious; niḥsańgaḥ — detached from material association; mukta — freed; saḿśayaḥ — of doubts; samādhāya — fixing in trance; manaḥ — his mind; kṛṣṇe — upon Lord Kṛṣṇa; prāviśat — he entered upon; gandhamādanam — the mountain known as Gandhamādana.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sober King, beyond material association and free of doubt, was convinced of the value of austerity. Absorbing his mind in Lord Kṛṣṇa, he came to Gandhamādana Mountain.

 

10.52.4

badary-āśramam āsādya

nara-nārāyaṇālayam

sarva-dvandva-sahaḥ śāntas

tapasārādhayad dharim

 

badarī-āśramam — the hermitage Badarikāśrama; āsādya — reaching; nara-nārāyaṇa — of the Supreme Lord's dual incarnation as Nara and Nārāyaṇa; ālayam — the residence; sarva — all; dvandva — dualities; sahaḥ — tolerating; śāntaḥ — peaceful; tapasā — with severe austerities; ārādhayat — he worshiped; harim — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

There he arrived at Badarikāśrama, the abode of Lord Nara-Nārāyaṇa, where, remaining tolerant of all dualities, he peacefully worshiped the Supreme Lord Hari by performing severe austerities.

 

10.52.5

bhagavān punar āvrajya

purīḿ yavana-veṣṭitām

hatvā mleccha-balaḿ ninye

tadīyaḿ dvārakāḿ dhanam

 

bhagavān — the Lord; punaḥ — once again; āvrajya — returning; purīm — to His city; yavana — by the Yavanas; veṣṭitām — surrounded; hatvā — killing; mleccha — of barbarians; balam — the army; ninye — He brought; tadīyam — their; dvārakām — to Dvārakā; dhanam — wealth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Lord returned to Mathurā, which was still surrounded by Yavanas. Then He destroyed the army of barbarians and began taking their valuables to Dvārakā.

 

10.52.6

nīyamāne dhane gobhir

nṛbhiś cācyuta-coditaiḥ

ājagāma jarāsandhas

trayo-viḿśaty-anīka-paḥ

 

nīyamāne — as it was being taken; dhane — the wealth; gobhiḥ — by oxen; nṛbhiḥ — by men; ca — and; acyuta — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; coditaiḥ — engaged; ājugāma — came there; jarāsandhaḥ — Jarāsandha; trayaḥ — three; viḿśati — plus twenty; anīka — of armies; paḥ — the leader.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As the wealth was being carried by oxen and men under Lord Kṛṣṇa's direction, Jarāsandha appeared at the head of twenty-three armies.

 

10.52.7

vilokya vega-rabhasaḿ

ripu-sainyasya mādhavau

manuṣya-ceṣṭām āpannau

rājan dudruvatur drutam

 

vilokya — seeing; vega — of the waves; rabhasam — the fierceness; ripu — enemy; sainyasya — of the armies; mādhavau — the two Mādhavas (Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma); manuṣya — humanlike; ceṣṭām — behavior; āpannau — assuming; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); dudruvatuḥ — ran away; drutam — quickly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, seeing the fierce waves of the enemy's army, the two Mādhavas, imitating human behavior, ran swiftly away.

 

10.52.8

vihāya vittaḿ pracuram

abhītau bhīru-bhīta-vat

padbhyāḿ palāśābhyāḿ

celatur bahu-yojanam

 

vihāya — abandoning; vittam — the riches; pracuram — abundant; abhītau — actually unafraid; bhīru — like cowards; bhīta-vat — as if frightened; padbhyām — with Their feet; padma — of lotuses; palāśābhyām — like petals; celatuḥ — They went; bahu-yojanam — for many yojanas (one yojana is slightly more than eight miles).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Abandoning the abundant riches, fearless but feigning fear, They went many yojanas on Their lotuslike feet.

 

10.52.9

palāyamānau tau dṛṣṭvā

māgadhaḥ prahasan balī

anvadhāvad rathānīkair

īśayor apramāṇa-vit

 

palāyamānau — who were fleeing; tau — Those two; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; māgadhaḥ — Jarāsandha; prahasan — laughing loudly; balī — powerful; anvadhāvat — he ran after; ratha — with charioteers; anīkaiḥ — and soldiers; īśayoḥ — of the Lords; apramāṇa-vit — unaware of the scope.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When he saw Them fleeing, powerful Jarāsandha laughed loudly and then pursued Them with charioteers and foot soldiers. He could not understand the exalted position of the two Lords.

 

10.52.10

pradrutya dūraḿ saḿśrāntau

tuńgam āruhatāḿ girim

pravarṣaṇākhyaḿ bhagavān

nityadā yatra varṣati

 

pradrutya — having run with full speed; dūram — a long distance; saḿśrāntau — exhausted; tuńgam — very high; āruhatām — They climbed; girim — the mountain; pravarṣaṇa-ākhyam — known as Pravarṣaṇa; bhagavān — Lord Indra; nityadā — always; yatra — where; varṣati — he rains.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Apparently exhausted after fleeing a long distance, the two Lords climbed a high mountain named Pravarṣaṇa, upon which Lord Indra showers incessant rain.

 

10.52.11

girau nilīnāv ājñāya

nādhigamya padaḿ nṛpa

dadāha girim edhobhiḥ

samantād agnim utsṛjan

 

girau — on the mountain; nilīnau — hiding; ājñāya — being aware; na adhigamya — not finding; padam — Their location; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit); dadāha — he set ablaze; girim — the mountain; edhobhiḥ — with firewood; samantāt — on all sides; agnim — fire; utsṛjan — generating.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although he knew They were hiding on the mountain, Jarāsandha could find no trace of Them. Therefore, O King, he placed firewood on all sides and set the mountain ablaze.

 

10.52.12

tata utpatya tarasā

dahyamāna-taṭād ubhau

daśaika-yojanāt tuńgān

nipetatur adho bhuvi

 

tataḥ — from it (the mountain); utpatya — jumping; tarasā — with haste; dahyamāna — which were burning; taṭāt — whose sides; ubhau — the two of Them; daśa-eka — eleven; yojanāt — yojanas; tuńgāt — high; nipetatuḥ — They fell; adhaḥ — down; bhuvi — to the ground.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The two of Them then suddenly jumped from the burning mountain, which was eleven yojanas high, and fell to the ground.

 

10.52.13

alakṣyamāṇau ripuṇā

sānugena yadūttamau

sva-puraḿ punar āyātau

samudra-parikhāḿ nṛpa

 

alakṣyamāṇau — not being seen; ripuṇā — by Their enemy; sa — together; anugena — with his followers; yadu — of the Yadus; uttamau — the two most excellent; sva-puram — to Their own city (Dvārakā); punaḥ — again; āyātau — They went; samudra — the ocean; parikhām — having as its protective moat; nṛpa — O King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Unseen by Their opponent or his followers, O King, those two most exalted Yadus returned to Their city of Dvārakā, which had the ocean as a protective moat.

 

10.52.14

so 'pi dagdhāv iti mṛṣā

manvāno bala-keśavau

balam ākṛṣya su-mahan

magadhān māgadho yayau

 

saḥ — he; api — further; dagdhau — both burned in the fire; iti — thus; mṛṣā — falsely; manvānaḥ — thinking; bala-keśavau — Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; balam — his force; ākṛṣya — pulling back; su-mahat — huge; magadhān — to the kingdom of the Magadhas; māgadhaḥ — the King of the Magadhas; yayau — went.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Jarāsandha, moreover, mistakenly thought that Balarāma and Keśava had burned to death in the fire. Thus he withdrew his vast military force and returned to the Magadha kingdom.

 

10.52.15

ānartādhipatiḥ śrīmān

raivato raivatīḿ sutām

brahmaṇā coditaḥ prādād

balāyeti puroditam

 

ānarta — of the Ānarta province; adhipatiḥ — the overlord; śrīmān — opulent; raivataḥ — Raivata; raivatīm — named Raivatī; sutām — his daughter; brahmaṇā — by Lord Brahmā; coditaḥ — ordered; prādāt — gave; balāya — to Balarāma; iti — thus; purā — previously; uditam — mentioned.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As ordered by Lord Brahmā, Raivata, the opulent ruler of Ānarta, gave Lord Balarāma his daughter Raivatī in marriage. This has already been discussed.

 

10.52.16-17

bhagavān api govinda

upayeme kurūdvaha

vaidarbhīḿ bhīṣmaka-sutāḿ

śriyo mātrāḿ svayaḿ-vare

 

pramathya tarasā rājñaḥ

śālvādīḿś caidya-pakṣa-gān

paśyatāḿ sarva-lokānāḿ

tārkṣya-putraḥ sudhām iva

 

bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; api — indeed; govindaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; upayeme — married; kuru-udvaha — O hero among the Kurus (Parīkṣit); vaidarbhīm — Rukmiṇī; bhīṣmaka-sutām — the daughter of King Bhīṣmaka; śriyaḥ — of the goddess of fortune; mātrām — the plenary portion; svayam-vare — by her own choice;

 

pramathya — subduing; tarasā — by force; rājñaḥ — kings; śālva-ādīn — Śālva and others; caidya — of Śiśupāla; pakṣa-gān — the supporters; paśyatām — as they looked on; sarva — all; lokānām — the people; tārkṣya-putraḥ — the son of Tārkṣya (Garuḍa); sudhām — the nectar of heaven; iva — as.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O hero among the Kurus, the Supreme Lord Himself, Govinda, married Bhīṣmaka's daughter, Vaidarbhī, who was a direct expansion of the goddess of fortune. The Lord did this by her desire, and in the process He beat down Śālva and other kings who took Śiśupāla's side. Indeed, as everyone watched, Śrī Kṛṣṇa took Rukmiṇī just as Garuḍa boldly stole nectar from the demigods.

 

10.52.18

śrī-rājovāca

bhagavān bhīṣmaka-sutāḿ

rukmiṇīḿ rucirānanām

rākṣasena vidhānena

upayema iti śrutam

 

śrī-rājā uvāca — the King (Parīkṣit Mahārāja) said; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; bhīṣmaka-sutām — the daughter of Bhīṣmaka; rukmiṇīm — Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī; rucira — charming; ānanām — whose face; rākṣasena — called Rākṣasa; vidhānena — by the method (namely, by kidnapping); upayeme — He married; iti — thus; śrutam — heard.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Parīkṣit said: The Supreme Lord married Rukmiṇī, the beautiful-faced daughter of Bhīṣmaka, in the Rākṣasa style — or so I have heard.

 

10.52.19

bhagavan śrotum icchāmi

kṛṣṇasyāmita-tejasaḥ

yathā māgadha-śālvādīn

jitvā kanyām upāharat

 

bhagavan — O lord (Śukadeva Gosvāmī); śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; kṛṣṇasya — about Kṛṣṇa; amita — immeasurable; tejasaḥ — whose potency; yathā — how; māgadha-śālva-ādīn — such kings as Jarāsandha and Śālva; jitvā — defeating; kanyām — the bride; upāharat — He took away.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My lord, I wish to hear how the immeasurably powerful Lord Kṛṣṇa took away His bride while defeating such kings as Māgadha and Sālva.

 

10.52.20

brahman kṛṣṇa-kathāḥ puṇyā

mādhvīr loka-malāpahāḥ

ko nu tṛpyeta śṛṇvānaḥ

śruta-jño nitya-nūtanāḥ

 

brahman — O brāhmaṇa; kṛṣṇa-kathāḥ — topics of Kṛṣṇa; puṇyāḥ — pious; mādhvīḥ — sweet; loka — of the world; mala — the contamination; apahāḥ — which remove; kaḥ — who; nu — at all; tṛpyeta — would become satiated; śṛṇvānaḥ — hearing; śruta — what is heard; jñaḥ — who can understand; nitya — always; nūtanāḥ — novel.

 

TRANSLATION

 

What experienced listener, O brāhmaṇa, could ever grow satiated while listening to the pious, charming and ever-fresh topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which cleanse away the world's contamination?

 

10.52.21

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

rājāsīd bhīṣmako nāma

vidarbhādhipatir mahān

tasya pancābhavan putrāḥ

kanyaikā ca varānanā

 

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ — Śrī Bādarāyaṇi (Śukadeva, the son of Badarāyaṇa Veda-vyāsa); uvāca — said; rājā — a king; āsīt — there was; bhīṣmakaḥ nāma — named Bhīṣmaka; vidarbha-adhipatiḥ — ruler of the kingdom Vidarbha; mahān — great; tasya — his; pañca — five; abhavan — there were; putrāḥ — sons; kanyā — daughter; ekā — one; ca — and; vara — exceptionally beautiful; ānanā — whose face.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: There was a king named Bhīṣmaka, the powerful ruler of Vidarbha. He had five sons and one daughter of lovely countenance.

 

10.52.22

rukmy agrajo rukmaratho

rukmabāhur anantaraḥ

rukmakeśo rukmamālī

rukmiṇy eṣā svasā satī

 

rukmī — Rukmī; agra-jaḥ — the first-born; rukma-rathaḥ rukmabāhuḥ — Rukmaratha and Rukmabāhu; anantaraḥ — following him; rukma-keśaḥ rukma-mālī — Rukmakeśa and Rukmamālī; rukmiṇī — Rukmiṇī; eṣā — she; svasā — sister; satī — of saintly character.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Rukmī was the first-born son, followed by Rukmaratha, Rukmabāhu, Rukmakeśa and Rukmamālī. Their sister was the exalted Rukmiṇī.

 

10.52.23

sopaśrutya mukundasya

rūpa-vīrya-guṇa-śriyaḥ

gṛhāgatair gīyamānās

taḿ mene sadṛśaḿ patim

 

sā — she; upaśrutya — hearing; mukundasya — Kṛṣṇa's; rūpa — about the beauty; vīrya — prowess; guṇa — character; śriyaḥ — and opulences; gṛha — to her family's residence; āgataiḥ — by those who came; gīyamānāḥ — being sung; tam — Him; mene — she thought; sadṛśam — suitable; patim — husband.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hearing of the beauty, prowess, transcendental character and opulence of Mukunda from visitors to the palace who sang His praises, Rukmiṇī decided that He would be the perfect husband for her.

 

10.52.24

tāḿ buddhi-lakṣaṇaudārya-

rūpa-śīla-guṇāśrayām

kṛṣṇaś ca sadṛśīḿ bhāryāḿ

samudvoḍhuḿ mano dadhe

 

tām — her; buddhi — of intelligence; lakṣaṇa — auspicious bodily markings; audārya — magnanimity; rūpa — beauty; śīla — proper behavior; guṇa — and other personal qualities; āśrayām — repository; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; sadṛśīm — suitable; bhāryām — wife; samudvoḍhum — to marry; manaḥ — His mind; dadhe — made up.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Kṛṣṇa knew that Rukmiṇī possessed intelligence, auspicious bodily markings, beauty, proper behavior and all other good qualities. Concluding that she would be an ideal wife for Him, He made up His mind to marry her.

 

10.52.25

bandhūnām icchatāḿ dātuḿ

kṛṣṇāya bhaginīḿ nṛpa

tato nivārya kṛṣṇa-dviḍ

rukmī caidyam amanyata

 

bandhūnām — her family members; icchatām — even as they were desiring; dātum — to give; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; bhaginīm — their sister; nṛpa — O King; tataḥ — from this; nivārya — preventing them; kṛṣṇa-dviṭ — hateful of Kṛṣṇa; rukmī — Rukmī; caidyam — Caidya (Śiśupāla); amanyata — considered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because Rukmī envied the Lord, O King, he forbade his family members to give his sister to Kṛṣṇa, although they wanted to. Instead, Rukmī decided to give Rukmiṇī to Śiśupāla.

 

10.52.26

tad avetyāsitāpāńgī

vaidarbhī durmanā bhṛśam

vicintyāptaḿ dvijaḿ kañcit

kṛṣṇāya prāhiṇod drutam

 

tat — that; avetya — knowing; asita — dark; apāńgī — the corners of whose eyes; vaidarbhī — the princess of Vidarbha; durmanā — unhappy; bhṛśam — very much; vicintya — thinking; āptam — reliable; dvijam — brāhmaṇa; kañcit — a certain; kṛṣṇāya — to Kṛṣṇa; prāhiṇot — sent; drutam — with haste.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Dark-eyed Vaidarbhī was aware of this plan, and it deeply upset her. Analyzing the situation, she quickly sent a trustworthy brāhmaṇa to Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.52.27

dvārakāḿ sa samabhyetya

pratīhāraiḥ praveśitaḥ

apaśyad ādyaḿ puruṣam

āsīnaḿ kāñcanāsane

 

dvārakām — at Dvārakā; saḥ — he (the brāhmaṇa); samabhyetya — arriving; pratīhāraiḥ — by the gatekeepers; praveśitaḥ — brought inside; apaśyat — he saw; ādyam — the original; puruṣam — Supreme Person; āsīnam — seated; kāñcana — golden; āsane — on a throne.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Upon reaching Dvārakā, the brāhmaṇa was brought inside by the gatekeepers and saw the primeval Personality of Godhead sitting on a golden throne.

 

10.52.28

dṛṣṭvā brahmaṇya-devas tam

avaruhya nijāsanāt

upaveśyārhayāḿ cakre

yathātmānaḿ divaukasaḥ

 

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; brahmaṇya — who is considerate to the brāhmaṇas; devaḥ — the Lord; tam — him; avaruhya — getting down; nija — His own; āsanāt — from the throne; upaveśya — seating him; arhayām cakre — He performed worship; yathā — as; ātmānam — to Himself; diva-okasaḥ — the residents of heaven.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing the brāhmaṇa, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Lord of the brāhmaṇas, came down from His throne and seated him. Then the Lord worshiped him just as He Himself is worshiped by the demigods.

 

10.52.29

taḿ bhuktavantaḿ viśrāntam

upagamya satāḿ gatiḥ

pāṇinābhimṛśan pādāv

avyagras tam apṛcchata

 

tam — him; bhuktavantam — having eaten; viśrāntam — rested; upagamya — approaching; satām — of saintly devotees; gatiḥ — the goal; pāṇinā — with His hands; abhimṛśan — massaging; pādau — his feet; avyagraḥ — without agitation; tam — of him; apṛcchata — He inquired.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After the brāhmaṇa had eaten and rested, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the goal of saintly devotees, came forward, and while massaging the brāhmaṇa's feet with His own hands, He patiently questioned him as follows.

 

10.52.30

kaccid dvija-vara-śreṣṭha

dharmas te vṛddha-sammataḥ

vartate nāti-kṛcchreṇa

santuṣṭa-manasaḥ sadā

 

kaccit — whether; dvija — of the brāhmaṇas; vara — first-class; śreṣṭha — O best; dharmaḥ — religious principles; te — your; vṛddha — by senior authorities; sammataḥ — sanctioned; vartate — are proceeding; na — not; ati — too much; kṛcchreṇa — with difficulty; santuṣṭa — fully satisfied; manasaḥ — whose mind; sadā — always.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[The Supreme Lord said:] O best of exalted brāhmaṇas, are your religious practices, sanctioned by senior authorities, proceeding without great difficulty? Is your mind always fully satisfied?

 

10.52.31

santuṣṭo yarhi varteta

brāhmaṇo yena kenacit

ahīyamānaḥ svad dharmāt

sa hy asyākhila-kāma-dhuk

 

santuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; yarhi — when; varteta — carries on; brāhmaṇaḥ — a brāhmaṇa; yena kenacit — with whatever; ahīyamānaḥ — not falling short; svāt — of his own; dharmāt — religious duty; saḥ — those religious principles; hi — indeed; asya — for him; akhila — of everything; kāma-dhuk — the mystic cow, milked for fulfillment of any desire.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When a brāhmaṇa is satisfied with whatever comes his way and does not fall away from his religious duties, those very religious principles become his desire cow, fulfilling all his wishes.

 

10.52.32

asantuṣṭo 'sakṛl lokān

āpnoty api sureśvaraḥ

akiñcano 'pi santuṣṭaḥ

śete sarvāńga-vijvaraḥ

 

asantuṣṭaḥ — dissatisfied; asakṛt — repeatedly; lokān — various planets; āpnoti — he attains; api — even though; sura — of the demigods; īśvaraḥ — the master; akiñcanaḥ — possessing nothing; api — even; santuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; śete — he rests; sarva — all; ańga — his limbs; vijvaraḥ — free of distress.

 

TRANSLATION

 

An unsatisfied brāhmaṇa wanders restlessly from one planet to another, even if he becomes King of heaven. But a satisfied brāhmaṇa, though he may possess nothing, rests peacefully, all his limbs free of distress.

 

10.52.33

viprān sva-lābha-santuṣṭān

sādhūn bhūta-suhṛttamān

nirahańkāriṇaḥ śāntān

namasye śirasāsakṛt

 

viprān — to the learned brāhmaṇas; sva — their own; lābha — by the gain; santuṣṭān — satisfied; sādhūn — saintly; bhūta — of all living beings; suhṛt-tamān — the best well-wishing friends; nirahańkāriṇaḥ — devoid of false ego; śāntān — peaceful; namasye — I bow down; śirasā — with My head; asakṛt — again and again.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I repeatedly bow My head in respect to those brāhmaṇas who are satisfied with their lot. Saintly, prideless and peaceful, they are the best well-wishers of all living beings.

 

10.52.34

kaccid vaḥ kuśalaḿ brahman

rājato yasya hi prajāḥ

sukhaḿ vasanti viṣaye

pālyamānāḥ sa me priyaḥ

 

kaccit — whether; vaḥ — your; kuśalam — well-being; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; rājataḥ — from the King; yasya — whose; hi — indeed; prajāḥ — subjects; sukham — happily; vasanti — reside; viṣaye — in the state; pālyamānāḥ — being protected; saḥ — he; me — to Me; priyaḥ — dear.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O brāhmaṇa, is your King attending to your welfare? Indeed, that king in whose country the citizens are happy and protected is very dear to Me.

 

10.52.35

yatas tvam āgato durgaḿ

nistīryeha yad-icchayā

sarvaḿ no brūhy aguhyaḿ cet

kiḿ kāryaḿ karavāma te

 

yataḥ — from which place; tvam — you; āgataḥ — have come; durgam — the impassable sea; nistīrya — crossing; iha — here; yat — with what; icchayā — desire; sarvam — everything; naḥ — to Us; brūhi — please tell; aguhyam — not secret; cet — if; kim — what; kāryam — work; karavāma — may We do; te — for you.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Whence have you come, crossing the impassable sea, and for what purpose? Explain all this to Us if it is not a secret, and tell Us what We may do for you.

 

10.52.36

evaḿ sampṛṣṭa-sampraśno

brāhmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinā

līlā-gṛhīta-dehena

tasmai sarvam avarṇayat

 

evam — thus; sampṛṣṭa — asked; sampraśnaḥ — questions; brāhmaṇaḥ — the brāhmaṇa; parameṣṭhinā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; līla — as His pastime; gṛhīta — who assumes; dehena — His bodies; tasmai — to Him; sarvam — everything; avarṇayat — he related.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus questioned by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who incarnates to perform His pastimes, the brāhmaṇa told Him everything.

 

10.52.37

śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca

śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāḿ te

nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato 'ńga-tāpam

rūpaḿ dṛśāḿ dṛśimatām akhilārtha-lābhaḿ

tvayy acyutāviśati cittam apatrapaḿ me

 

śrī-rukmiṇī uvāca — Śrī Rukmiṇī said; śrutvā — hearing; guṇān — the qualities; bhuvana — of all the worlds; sundara — O beauty; śṛṇvatām — for those who hear; te — Your; nirviśya — having entered; karṇa — of the ears; vivaraiḥ — by the orifices; harataḥ — removing; ańga — of their bodies; tāpam — the pain; rūpam — the beauty; dṛśām — of the sense of sight; dṛśi-matām — of those who have eyes; akhila — total; artha — of the fulfillment of desires; lābham — the obtaining; tvayi — in You; acyuta — O infallible Kṛṣṇa; āviśati — is entering; cittam — mind; apatrapam — shameless; me — my.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Rukmiṇī said [in her letter, as read by the brāhmaṇa]: O beauty of the worlds, having heard of Your qualities, which enter the ears of those who hear and remove their bodily distress, and having also heard of Your beauty, which fulfills all the visual desires of those who see, I have fixed my shameless mind upon You, O Kṛṣṇa.

 

10.52.38

kā tvā mukunda mahatī kula-śīla-rūpa-

vidyā-vayo-draviṇa-dhāmabhir ātma-tulyam

dhīrā patiḿ kulavatī na vṛṇīta kanyā

kāle nṛ-siḿha nara-loka-mano-'bhirāmam

 

kā — who; tvā — You; mukunda — O Kṛṣṇa; mahatī — aristocratic; kula — in terms of family background; śīla — character; rūpa — beauty; vidyā — knowledge; vayaḥ — youth; draviṇa — property; dhāmabhiḥ — and influence; ātma — to Yourself only; tulyam — equal; dhīrā — who is sober; patim — as her husband; kula-vatī — of a good family; na vṛṇīta — would not choose; kanyā — marriageable young lady; kāle — at such a time; nṛ — among men; siḿha — O lion; nara-loka — of human society; manaḥ — to the minds; abhirāmam — who give pleasure.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Mukunda, You are equal only to Yourself in lineage, character, beauty, knowledge, youthfulness, wealth and influence. O lion among men, You delight the minds of all mankind. What aristocratic, sober-minded and marriageable girl of a good family would not choose You as her husband when the proper time has come?

 

10.52.39

tan me bhavān khalu vṛtaḥ patir ańga jāyām

ātmārpitaś ca bhavato 'tra vibho vidhehi

mā vīra-bhāgam abhimarśatu caidya ārād

gomāyu-van mṛga-pater balim ambujākṣa

 

tat — therefore; me — by me; bhavān — Your good self; khalu — indeed; vṛtaḥ — chosen; patiḥ — as husband; ańga — dear Lord; jāyām — as wife; ātmā — myself; arpitaḥ — offered; ca — and; bhavataḥ — to You; atra — here; vibho — O omnipotent one; vidhehi — please accept; mā — never; vīra — of the hero; bhāgam — the portion; abhimarśatu — should touch; caidyaḥ — Śiśupāla, son of the King of Cedi; ārāt — swiftly; gomāyu-vat — like a jackal; mṛga-pateḥ — belonging to the king of animals, the lion; balim — the tribute; ambuja-akṣa — O lotus-eyed one.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Therefore, my dear Lord, I have chosen You as my husband, and I surrender myself to You. Please come swiftly, O almighty one, and make me Your wife. My dear lotus-eyed Lord, let Śiśupāla never touch the hero's portion like a jackal stealing the property of a lion.

 

10.52.40

pūrteṣṭa-datta-niyama-vrata-deva-vipra

gurv-arcanādibhir alaḿ bhagavān pareśaḥ

ārādhito yadi gadāgraja etya pāṇiḿ

gṛhṇātu me na damaghoṣa-sutādayo 'nye

 

pūrta — by pious works (such as feeding brāhmaṇas, digging wells, etc.); iṣṭa — sacrificial performances; datta — charity; niyama — ritual observances (such as visiting holy places); vrata — vows of penance; deva — of the demigods; vipra — brāhmaṇas; guru — and spiritual masters; arcana — by worship; ādibhiḥ — and by other activities; alam — sufficiently; bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead; para — supreme; īśaḥ — controller; ārādhitaḥ — rendered devotional service; yadi — if; gada-agrajaḥ — Kṛṣṇa, the elder brother of Gada; etya — coming here; pāṇim — the hand; gṛhṇātu — may please take; me — my; na — not; damaghoṣa-suta — Śiśupāla, the son of Damaghoṣa; ādayaḥ — and so on; anye — others.

 

TRANSLATION

 

If I have sufficiently worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead by pious works, sacrifices, charity, rituals and vows, and also by worshiping the demigods, brāhmaṇas and gurus, then may Gadāgraja come and take my hand, and not Damaghoṣa's son or anyone else.

 

10.52.41

śvo bhāvini tvam ajitodvahane vidarbhān

guptaḥ sametya pṛtanā-patibhiḥ parītaḥ

nirmathya caidya-magadhendra-balaḿ prasahya

māḿ rākṣasena vidhinodvaha vīrya-śulkām

 

śvaḥ bhāvini — tomorrow; tvam — You; ajita — O unconquerable one; udvahane — at the time of the marriage ceremony; vidarbhān — to Vidarbha; guptaḥ — unseen; sametya — coming; pṛtanā — of Your army; patibhiḥ — by the leaders; parītaḥ — surrounded; nirmathya — crushing; caidya — of Caidya, Śiśupāla; magadha-indra — and the King of Magadha, Jarāsandha; balam — the military strength; prasahya — by force; mām — me; rākṣasena vidhinā — in the Rākṣasa style; udvaha — take in marriage; vīrya — Your prowess; śulkām — the payment for whom.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O unconquerable one, tomorrow when my marriage ceremony is about to begin, You should arrive unseen in Vidarbha and surround Yourself with the leaders of Your army. Then crush the forces of Caidya and Magadhendra and marry me in the Rākṣasa style, winning me with Your valor.

 

10.52.42

antaḥ-purāntara-carīm anihatya bandhūn

tvām udvahe katham iti pravadāmy upāyam

pūrve-dyur asti mahatī kula-deva-yātrā

yasyāḿ bahir nava-vadhūr girijām upeyāt

 

antaḥ-pura — the women's quarters of the palace; antara — within; carīm — moving; anihatya — without killing; bandhūn — your relatives; tvām — you; udvahe — I shall carry away; katham — how; iti — saying such words; pravadāmi — I shall explain; upāyam — a means; pūrve-dyuḥ — on the day before; asti — there is; mahatī — large; kula — of the royal family; deva — for the presiding deity; yātrā — a ceremonial procession; yasyām — in which; bahiḥ — outside; nava — new; vadhūḥ — the bride; girijām — goddess Girijā (Ambikā); upeyāt — approaches.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Since I will be staying within the inner chambers of the palace, You may wonder, "How can I carry you away without killing some of your relatives?" But I shall tell You a way: On the day before the marriage there is a grand procession to honor the royal family's deity, and in this procession the new bride goes outside the city to visit Goddess Girijā.

 

10.52.43

yasyāńghri-pańkaja-rajaḥ-snapanaḿ mahānto

vāñchanty umā-patir ivātma-tamo-'pahatyai

yarhy ambujākṣa na labheya bhavat-prasādaḿ

jahyām asūn vrata-kṛśān śata-janmabhiḥ syāt

 

yasya — whose; ańghri — of the feet; pańkaja — lotus; rajaḥ — with the dust; snapanam — bathing; mahāntaḥ — great souls; vāñchanti — hanker after; umā-patiḥ — Lord Śiva, husband of Goddess Umā; iva — just as; ātma — their own; tamaḥ — of the ignorance; apahatyai — to vanquish; yarhi — when; ambuja-akṣa — O lotus-eyed one; na labheya — I cannot obtain; bhavat — Your; prasādam — mercy; jahyām — I should give up; asūn — my life airs; vrata — by austere penances; kṛśān — weakened; śata — hundreds; janmabhiḥ — after lifetimes; syāt — it may be.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O lotus-eyed one, great souls like Lord Śiva hanker to bathe in the dust of Your lotus feet and thereby destroy their ignorance. If I cannot obtain Your mercy, I shall simply give up my vital force, which will have become weak from the severe penances I will perform. Then, after hundreds of lifetimes of endeavor, I may obtain Your mercy.

 

10.52.44

brāhmaṇa uvāca

ity ete guhya-sandeśā

yadu-deva mayāhṛtāḥ

vimṛśya kartuḿ yac cātra

kriyatāḿ tad anantaram

 

brāhmaṇaḥ uvāca — the brāhmaṇa said; iti — thus; ete — these; guhya — confidential; sandeśāḥ — messages; yadu-deva — O Lord of the Yadus; mayā — by me; āhṛtāḥ — brought; vimṛśya — considering; kartum — to be done; yat — what; ca — and; atra — in this matter; kriyatām — please do; tat — that; anantaram — immediately following.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The brāhmaṇa said: This is the confidential message I have brought with me, O Lord of the Yadus. Please consider what must be done in these circumstances, and do it at once.