S'rî
S'uka said: 'The Descendant of Yadu [Krishna] at that
moment hearing the confidential message of the princess of
Vidarbha, took the hand of the messenger into His and said
smiling the following.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Thus hearing the confidential
message of Princess Vaidarbhî, Lord Yadunandana took
the brâhmana's hand and, smiling, spoke to him as
follows. (Vedabase)
Text
2
The
Supreme Lord said: 'I also am the same way in My mind fixed on
her and cannot sleep at night; I know that Rukmî in his
enmity is against Me marrying her.
The
Supreme Lord said: Just as Rukminî's mind is fixed on
Me, My mind is fixed on her. I can't even sleep at night. I
know that Rukmî, out of envy, has forbidden our
marriage. (Vedabase)
Text
3
I'll
bring her, that indisputable beauty deeming Me the best, over
here and crush in battle that half-breed royalty, the way one
ignites a fire from firewood!'
She
has dedicated herself exclusively to Me, and her beauty is
flawless. I will bring her here after thrashing those
worthless kings in battle, just as one brings a blazing
flame out of firewood. (Vedabase)
Text
4
S'rî
S'uka said: 'And known with the exact time of Rukminî's
marriage told Madhusûdana His charioteer: 'Dâruka,
immediately get the chariot ready'.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Lord Madhusûdana also
understood the exact lunar time for Rukminî's wedding.
Thus He told His driver, "Dâruka, ready My chariot
immediately." (Vedabase)
Text
5
He accordingly
bringing the chariot with the horses
named
S'aibya,
Sugrîva, Meghapushpa and Balâhaka
[*],
next stood before Him with folded palms.
Dâruka
brought the Lord's chariot, yoked with the horses named
S'aibya, Sugrîva, Meghapushpa and Balâhaka. He
then stood before Lord Krishna with joined palms.
(Vedabase)
Text
6
S'auri
together with the brahmin mounting His chariot drove swiftly
with His horses in a single night to the Vidarbha
kingdom.
Lord
S'auri mounted His chariot and had the brâhmana do
likewise. Then the Lord's swift horses took them from the
Ânarta district to Vidarbha in a single night.
(Vedabase)
Text
7
King
Bhîshmaka who in his affection answered to the wishes of
his son [Rukmî] was prepared to give his daughter
away to S'is'upâla and saw to it that the required duties
were performed.
King
Bhîshmaka, the master of Kundina, having succumbed to
the sway of affection for his son, was about to give his
daughter to S'is'upâla. The King saw to all the
required preparations. (Vedabase)
Text
8-9
The
city thoroughly cleansed and with its avenues, streets and
intersections abundantly sprinkled with water, was decorated
with banners on flagpoles and with archways. With their homes
aromatic of aguru arrayed the women and men of the city in
spotless clothing, hung with jewels, fragrant and decorated
with flowers and other ornaments.
The
king had the main avenues, commercial roads and
intersections thoroughly cleaned and then sprinkled with
water, and he also had the city decorated with triumphant
archways and multicolored banners on poles. The men and
women of the city, arrayed in spotless raiment and anointed
with fragrant sandalwood paste, wore precious necklaces,
flower garlands and jeweled ornaments, and their opulent
homes were filled with the aroma of aguru. (Vedabase)
Text
10
To
the rules correctly worshiping the forefathers and the
demigods, o King, and feeding the scholars as was proper, had
he [Bhîshmaka]
chanted
auspicious mantras.
O
King, in accordance with prescribed rituals,
Mahârâja Bhîshmaka worshiped the
forefathers, demigods and brâhmanas, feeding them all
properly. Then He had the traditional mantras chanted for
the well-being of the bride. (Vedabase)
Text
11
The
bride properly bathed and with her teeth washed put on her
auspicious marriage-thread, as also a brand-new set of clothes
and adorned herself with the most excellent
jewels.
The
bride cleaned her teeth and bathed, after which she put on
the auspicious wedding necklace. Then she was dressed in
brand-new upper and lower garments and adorned with most
excellent jeweled ornaments. (Vedabase)
Text
12
For
the protection of the bride were, by the best of the twiceborn,
mantras chanted from the Sâma, Rig and Yajur Veda and
poured the priest expert in the Atharva mantras justly
oblations of ghee for the peace of the ruling
planets.
The
best of brâhmanas chanted mantras of the Rig,
Sâma and Yajur Vedas for the bride's protection, and
the priest learned in the Atharva Veda offered oblations to
pacify the controlling planets. (Vedabase)
Text
13
As
the best of the ones known with the vidhi
donated the king gold, silver, clothing and sesame seeds mixed
with raw sugar to the brahmins.
Outstanding
in his knowledge of regulative principles, the King rewarded
the brâhmanas with gold, silver, clothing, cows and
sesame seeds mixed with raw sugar. (Vedabase)
Text
14
The same way
arranged the lord of Cedi, king Damaghosha, for his son
[the bridegroom] that by the knowers of the mantras
everything was done that was conducive to his
prosperity.
Râjâ
Damaghosha, lord of Cedi, had also engaged brâhmanas
expert in chanting mantras to perform all rituals necessary
to assure his son's prosperity. (Vedabase)
Text
15
He traveled to
Kundina [Bhîshmaka's capital] accompanied by
hordes of elephants dripping of the mada and arrays of
golden chariots decorated with garlands and crowded by armies
of foot soldiers and horses.
King
Damaghosha traveled to Kundina accompanied by armies of
elephants exuding mada, chariots hung with golden chains,
and numerous cavalry and infantry soldiers.
(Vedabase)
Text
16
The
master of Vidarbha half way meeting him with pleasure arranged
for him honorably a specially constructed place to
stay.
Bhîshmaka,
the lord of Vidarbha, came out of the city and met King
Damaghosha, offering him tokens of respect. Bhîshmaka
then settled Damaghosha in a residence especially
constructed for the occasion. (Vedabase)
Text
17
S'âlva,
Jarâsandha, Dantavakra and Vidûratha taking to the
side of S'is'upâla, came along with Paundraka and
thousands of
others.
S'is'upâla's
supporters - S'âlva, Jarâsandha, Dantavakra and
Vidûratha - all came, along with Paundraka and
thousands of other kings. (Vedabase)
Text
18-19
Those inimical
towards Krishna and Râma were thus prepared: 'In order to
secure the bride for S'is'upâla will we join to fight Him
together, should Krishna accompanied by Râma and other
Yadus come to steal her', and thus decided had all the kings
come complete with a contingent of troops.
To
secure the bride for S'is'upâla, the kings who envied
Krishna and Balarâma came to the following decision
among themselves: "If Krishna comes here with Balarâma
and the other Yadus to steal the bride, we shall band
together and fight Him." Thus those envious kings went to
the wedding with their entire armies and a full complement
of military conveyances. (Vedabase)
Text
20-21
When Lord
Balarâma heard of these hostile preparations of the kings
and that Krishna had set off alone to steal the bride, went He,
fearing a fight, filled with love for His brother swiftly to
Kundina together with a mighty force of elephants, horses,
chariots and soldiers on foot.
When
Lord Balarâma heard about these preparations of the
inimical kings and how Lord Krishna had set off alone to
steal the bride, He feared that a fight would ensue.
Immersed in affection for His brother, He hurried to Kundina
with a mighty army consisting of infantry and of soldiers
riding on elephants, horses and chariots. (Vedabase)
Text
22
The daughter of
Bhîshmaka with her lovely hips awaiting the arrival of
Krishna, not seeing the brahmin return, then
wondered:
The
lovely daughter of Bhîshmaka anxiously awaited the
arrival of Krishna, but when she did not see the
brâhmana return she thought as follows.
(Vedabase)
Text
23
'Alas, three
yamas [nine hours] are left before I, without the
taste of happiness, will marry; the Lotus-eyed One does not
come and I don't know for what reason, nor has as yet the
carrier of my message returned.
[Princess
Rukminî thought:] Alas, my wedding is to take
place when the night ends! How unlucky I am! Lotus-eyed
Krishna does not come. I don't know why. And even the
brâhmana messenger has not yet returned.
(Vedabase)
Text
24
Perhaps
sees the One Faultless in Mind and Body, prepared as He for
sure originally is, something contemptible in me, not having
come to take my hand.
Perhaps
the faultless Lord, even while preparing to come here, saw
something contemptible in me and therefore has not come to
take my hand. (Vedabase)
Text
25
How
unfortunate, the creator is not favorably disposed towards me,
nor is the great Lord S'iva, or maybe has Devî his
consort, [known as] Gaurî, Rudrânî,
Girijâ or Satî turned against me.'
I
am extremely unfortunate, for the creator is not favorably
disposed toward me, nor is the great Lord S'iva. Or perhaps
S'iva's wife, Devî, who is known as Gaurî,
Rudrânî, Girijâ and Satî, has turned
against me. (Vedabase)
Text
26
Ruminating thus
did the young girl, whose mind had been stolen by Krishna,
close her eyes brimming with tears, knowing the time [that
was left].
As
she thought in this way, the young maiden, whose mind had
been stolen by Krishna, closed her tear-filled eyes,
remembering that there was still time. (Vedabase)
Text
27
As the bride
was thus awaiting Govinda's arrival, o King, twitched her left
thigh, arm and eye foretelling something
desirable.
O
King, as the bride thus awaited the arrival of Govinda, she
felt a twitch in her left thigh, arm and eye. This was a
sign that something desirable would happen.
(Vedabase)
Text
28
Just then came
that purest of the twiceborn to the command of Krishna, to see
the divine daughter of the king staying in the inner chambers
of the palace.
Just
then the purest of learned brâhmanas, following
Krishna's order, came to see the divine Princess
Rukminî within the inner chambers of the palace.
(Vedabase)
Text
29
Noticing
his joyful face and the relaxed movements of his body did she,
as an expert in the signs, inquire with a pure
smile.
Noting
the brâhmana's joyful face and serene movements,
saintly Rukminî, who could expertly interpret such
symptoms, inquired from him with a pure smile.
(Vedabase)
Text
30
He
told her of the arrival of that Child of the Yadus and related
the words He had said in assurance of Him getting married to
her.
The
brâhmana announced to her the arrival of Lord
Yadunandana and relayed the Lord's promise to marry her.
(Vedabase)
Text
31
Concluding
that He had arrived, gladdened the mind of Vaidarbhî,
upon which she knew no other answer than to bow down to the
dear brahmin.
Princess
Vaidarbhî was overjoyed to learn of Krishna's arrival.
Not finding anything at hand suitable to offer the
brâhmana, she simply bowed down to him.
(Vedabase)
Text
32
Hearing
that He, eager to witness his daughter's marriage, had arrived
came he [king Bhîshmaka] with the sounds of
instruments and with abundant offerings to welcome Râma
and Krishna.
The
King, upon hearing that Krishna and Balarâma had come
and were eager to witness his daughter's wedding, went forth
with abundant offerings to greet Them as music resounded.
(Vedabase)
Text
33
As
prescribed performed he worship with desirables as honey-milk
[madhu-parka] and brought he new
clothes.
Presenting
Them with madhu-parka, new clothing and other
desirable gifts, he worshiped Them according to standard
rituals. (Vedabase)
Text
34
Generously
arranging for an opulent place to stay afforded he Them,
together with their soldiers and associates, proper
hospitality.
Generous
King Bhîshmaka arranged opulent accommodations for the
two Lords, and also for Their army and entourage. In this
way he afforded Them proper hospitality. (Vedabase)
Text
35
Thus was he
according each his power, age, strength and wealth with all
that was wanted of respect for the kings who had
assembled.
Thus
it was that Bhîshmaka gave all desirable things to the
kings who had assembled for the occasion, honoring them as
befitted their political power, age, physical prowess and
wealth. (Vedabase)
Text
36
The
residents of Vidarbha-pura hearing that Krishna had come, all
came to drink in His lotus face with the cupped palms of their
eyes [and said]:
When
the residents of Vidarbha-pura heard that Lord Krishna had
come, they all went to see Him. With the cupped palms of
their eyes they drank the honey of His lotus face.
(Vedabase)
Text
37
'He,
whose body is just as flawless, alone deserves Rukminî as
a wife, and no one else; He's the most suitable husband for
princess Bhaishmî!
[The
people of the city said:] Rukminî, and no one
else, deserves to become His wife, and He also, possessing
such flawless beauty, is the only suitable husband for
Princess Bhaishmî. (Vedabase)
Text
38
May,
with whatever of all our good deeds, the Creator of the Three
Worlds be as merciful, that Acyuta takes the hand of
Rukminî.'
May
Acyuta, the creator of the three worlds, be satisfied with
whatever pious work we may have done and show His mercy by
taking the hand of Vaidarbhî. (Vedabase)
Text
39
Thus
overflowing with love spoke the citizens in fascination and
left the bride protected by guards the inner palace for the
temple of Ambikâ [see also 10.52:
42].
Bound
by their swelling love, the city's residents spoke in this
way. Then the bride, protected by guards, left the inner
palace to visit the temple of Ambikâ.
(Vedabase)
Text
40-41
And
she, going there on foot to see the lotuspetal feet of
Bhavânî, kept, totally absorbed in meditating
Krishna's lotus feet, silent in de midst of her mothers and
female companions. Guarded by the valiant, armed soldiers of
the king, who stood prepared with their weapons raised, were
cymbals and mridangas, conchshells, horns and other wind
instruments played.
Rukminî
silently went out on foot to see the lotus feet of the deity
Bhavânî. Accompanied by her mothers and
girlfriends and protected by the King's valiant soldiers,
who held their upraised weapons at the ready, she simply
absorbed her mind in the lotus feet of Krishna. And all the
while mridangas, conchshells, panavas, horns
and other instruments resounded. (Vedabase)
Text
42-43
Accompanying
the bride were there the wives of the twice-born, well
ornamented, thousands of prominent chosen ones with various
items of worship and presents, flowergarlands, fragrances,
clothing and jewelry, as also singers singing and offering
prayers, musicians and bards, chroniclers and
heralds.
Behind
the bride followed thousands of prominent courtesans bearing
various offerings and presents, along with well-adorned
brâhmanas' wives singing and reciting prayers and
bearing gifts of garlands, scents, clothing and jewelry.
There were also professional singers, musicians, bards,
chroniclers and heralds. (Vedabase)
Text
44
Reaching
the temple of the goddess washed she her feet and lotuslike
hands, sipped she water for purification and entered she
sanctified and peaceful the place where Ambikâ
resided.
Upon
reaching the goddess's temple, Rukminî first washed
her lotus feet and hands and then sipped water for
purification. Thus sanctified and peaceful, she came into
the presence of mother Ambikâ. (Vedabase)
Text
45
The
so very young girl was by the elderly wives of the brahmins,
who were well acquainted with the injunctions, led in offering
respects to Bhavânî who was here together with her
consort Lord Bhava [S'iva].:
The
older wives of brâhmanas, expert in the knowledge of
rituals, led young Rukminî in offering respects to
Bhavânî, who appeared with her consort, Lord
Bhava. (Vedabase)
Text
46
'I
along with your children repeatedly offer my obeisances to you
o Ambikâ, please allow Krishna, the Supreme Lord, to be
my husband.'
[Princess
Rukminî prayed:] O mother Ambikâ, wife of
Lord S'iva, I repeatedly offer my obeisances unto you,
together with your children. May Lord Krishna become my
husband. Please grant this! (Vedabase)
Text
47-48
With
various offerings and gifts of water, fragrant substances,
whole grains, incense, clothing, garlands, necklaces, ornaments
and an array of lamps, performed each of the brahmin ladies
worship equipped with these articles as also with savories,
cakes, prepared betel nut, sacred threads, fruits and sugar
cane.
Rukminî
worshiped the goddess with water, scents, whole grains,
incense, clothing, garlands, necklaces, jewelry and other
prescribed offerings and gifts, and also with arrays of
lamps. The married brâhmana women each performed
worship simultaneously with the same items, also offering
savories and cakes, prepared betel nut, sacred threads,
fruit and sugar-cane juice. (Vedabase)
Text
49
After
they gave her what remained of the offering as also their
blessings, bowed the bride down to them and to the deity and
ate she some of the food that was sacrificed.
The
ladies gave the bride the remnants of the offerings and then
blessed her. She in turn bowed down to them and the deity
and accepted the remnants as prasâdam.
(Vedabase)
Text
50
Then,
ending her vow of silence, left she the temple of Ambikâ,
with her hand, that was beautified by a jeweled ring, holding
on to a maidservant.
The
princess then gave up her vow of silence and left the
Ambikâ temple, holding on to a maidservant with her
hand, which was adorned with a jeweled ring.
(Vedabase)
Text
51-55
As
if she were the illusory potency
[Mâyâdevî,
zie ook 8.12:
38-40;
10.2***]
of the Lord herself that even bewilders the sober ones,
entranced she the entire gathering of the respectable heroes
with the vision of her wearing the earrings that decorated the
virginal beauty of her face, with her jewel-studded belt around
her hips, her budding breasts, her eyes shy to the locks of her
hair, her pure smile and teeth reddened by the glow from her
bimba lips, her jasmine-bud feet walking, her gait gracious as
a royal swan and the tinkling of her skillfully fashioned
anklebells beautifying [her feet] with their
effulgence. The kings all rose to their feet upon the sight of
her broad smiles, shyness and mindboggling glances that was a
lust to them of which being distressed their hearts were torn
apart and their weapons dropped to the ground. Sitting on their
horses, elephants and chariots fell they, loosing their grip,
down to the ground as she on the pretext of the procession was
offering her beauty to Lord Hari. Slowly walking, put she one
before the other the two whorls of her lotus flower feet,
meanwhile eagerly expecting the arrival of the Supreme
Personality. Throwing aside her hair with the nails of her hand
spotted she, coyly looking from the corners of her eyes at
those present, that instant Acyuta. Right before the eyes of
His enemies seized Krishna the king's daughter who stood
prepared to mount the chariot.
Rukminî
appeared as enchanting as the Lord's illusory potency, who
enchants even the sober and grave. Thus the kings gazed upon
her virgin beauty, her shapely waist, and her lovely face
adorned with earrings. Her hips were graced with a
jewel-studded belt, her breasts were just budding, and her
eyes seemed apprehensive of her encroaching locks of hair.
She smiled sweetly, her jasmine-bud teeth reflecting the
glow of her bimba-red lips. As she walked with the motions
of a royal swan, the effulgence of her tinkling ankle bells
beautified her feet. Seeing her, the assembled heroes were
totally bewildered. Lust tore at their hearts. Indeed, when
the kings saw her broad smile and shy glance, they became
stupefied, dropped their weapons and fell unconscious to the
ground from their elephants, chariots and horses. On the
pretext of the procession, Rukminî displayed her
beauty for Krishna alone. Slowly she advanced the two moving
lotus-whorls of her feet, awaiting the arrival of the
Supreme Lord. With the fingernails of her left hand she
pushed some strands of hair away from her face and shyly
looked from the corners of her eyes at the kings standing
before her. At that moment she saw Krishna. Then, while His
enemies looked on, the Lord seized the princess, who was
eager to mount His chariot. (Vedabase)
Text
56
Lifting
her onto His chariot marked with [the flag of] Garuda
drove He back the circle of kings and left He, with
Balarâma in front, from there as slowly as a lion would
remove his prey from the midst of jackals.
Lifting
the princess onto His chariot, whose flag bore the emblem of
Garuda, Lord Mâdhava drove back the circle of kings.
With Balarâma in the lead, He slowly exited, like a
lion removing his prey from the midst of jackals.
(Vedabase)
Text
57
The
adversaries headed by Jarâsandha, conceited as they were,
could with their honor ruined not bear the defeat: 'Damn us
archers, with those cowherds stealing the honor from us lions,
like they are a bunch of puny animals!'
The
kings inimical to the Lord, headed by Jarâsandha,
could not tolerate this humiliating defeat. They exclaimed,
"Oh, damn us! Though we are mighty archers, mere cowherds
have stolen our honor, just as puny animals might steal the
honor of lions!" (Vedabase)
*
S'rîla Vis'vanâtha Cakravartî quotes the
following text of the Padma Purâna describing Lord
Krishna's chariot horses: "S'aibya was green like a parrot's
wings, Sugrîva yellow-gold, Meghapushpa the color of a
cloud, and Balâhaka whitish."