CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī
This chapter lists Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s sons, grandsons and other progeny. It also describes how Lord Balarāma killed Rukmī at Aniruddha’s marriage ceremony and how Lord Kṛṣṇa arranged for His sons and daughters to be married.
Not understanding the full truth about Śrī Kṛṣṇa, each of His wives thought that since He remained constantly in her palace she must be His favorite wife. They were all entranced by the Lord’s beauty and His loving conversations with them, but they could not agitate His mind with the charming gestures of their eyebrows or by any other means. Having attained as their husband Lord Kṛṣṇa, whom even demigods like Brahmā find it difficult to know in truth, the Lord’s queens were always eager to associate with Him. Thus, although each of them had hundreds of maidservants, they would personally render Him menial service.
Each of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives had ten sons, who in turn each fathered many sons and grandsons. In the womb of Rukmī’s daughter Rukmavatī, Pradyumna fathered Aniruddha. Though Śrī Kṛṣṇa had disrespected Rukmī, to please his sister Rukmī gave his daughter in marriage to Pradyumna, and his granddaughter to Aniruddha. Balī, the son of Kṛtavarmā, married Rukmiṇī’s daughter Cārumatī.
At Aniruddha’s wedding, Lord Baladeva, Śrī Kṛṣṇa and other Yādavas went to Rukmī’s palace in the city of Bhojakaṭa. After the ceremony, Rukmī challenged Lord Baladeva to a game of dice. In the first match Rukmī defeated Baladeva, whereupon the King of Kaliṅga laughed at the Lord, displaying all his teeth. Lord Baladeva won the next match, but Rukmī refused to concede defeat. A voice then spoke from the sky, announcing that Baladeva had in fact won. But Rukmī, encouraged by the wicked kings, offended Lord Baladeva by saying that while He was certainly expert at tending cows, He knew nothing of playing dice. Thus insulted, Lord Baladeva angrily struck Rukmī dead with His club. The King of Kaliṅga tried to flee, but Lord Baladeva seized him and knocked out all his teeth. Then the other offensive kings, their arms, thighs and heads wounded by Baladeva’s blows, fled in all directions, bleeding profusely. Śrī Kṛṣṇa expressed neither approval nor disapproval of His brother-in-law’s death, fearing He would jeopardize His loving ties with either Rukmiṇī or Baladeva.
Lord Baladeva and the other Yādavas then seated Aniruddha and His bride on a fine chariot, and they all set off for Dvārakā.
Devanagari
एकैकशस्ता: कृष्णस्य पुत्रान् दश दशाबला: ।
अजीजनन्ननवमान्पितु: सर्वात्मसम्पदा ॥ १ ॥
Text
ekaikaśas tāḥ kṛṣṇasya
putrān daśa-daśābaāḥ
ajījanann anavamān
pituḥ sarvātma-sampadā
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; eka-ekaśaḥ — each one of them; tāḥ — they; kṛṣṇasya — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; putrān — sons; daśa-daśa — ten each; abalāḥ — the wives; ajījanan — gave birth to; anavamān — not inferior; pituḥ — to their father; sarva — in all; ātma — His personal; sampadā — opulences.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Each of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives gave birth to ten sons, who were not less than their father, having all His personal opulence.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 wives, and thus this verse indicates that the Lord begot 161,080 sons.
Devanagari
प्रेष्ठं न्यमंसत स्वं स्वं न तत्तत्त्वविद: स्त्रिय: ॥ २ ॥
Text
rāja-putryo ’cyutaṁ sthitam
preṣṭhaṁ nyamaṁsata svaṁ svaṁ
na tat-tattva-vidaḥ striyaḥ
Synonyms
gṛhāt — from their palaces; anapagam — never going out; vīkṣya — seeing; rāja-putryaḥ — daughters of kings; acyutam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sthitam — remaining; preṣṭham — most dear; nyamaṁsata — they considered; svam svam — each their own; na — not; tat — about Him; tattva — the truth; vidaḥ — knowing; striyaḥ — the women.
Translation
Because each of these princesses saw that Lord Acyuta never left her palace, each thought herself the Lord’s favorite. These women did not understand the full truth about Him.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura notes that Lord Kṛṣṇa would leave the palaces only with the permission of His wives, and thus each one considered herself His favorite.
Devanagari
सप्रेमहासरसवीक्षितवल्गुजल्पै: ।
सम्मोहिता भगवतो न मनो विजेतुं
स्वैर्विभ्रमै: समशकन् वनिता विभूम्न: ॥ ३ ॥
Text
sa-prema-hāsa-rasa-vīkṣita-valgu-jalpaiḥ
sammohitā bhagavato na mano vijetuṁ
svair vibhramaiḥ samaśakan vanitā vibhūmnaḥ
Synonyms
cāru — beautiful; abja — of a lotus; kośa — (like) the whorl; vadana — by His face; āyata — extended; bāhu — by His arms; netra — and eyes; sa-prema — loving; hāsa — of laughter; rasa — in the mood; vīkṣita — by His glances; valgu — attractive; jalpaiḥ — and by His conversations; sammohitāḥ — totally bewildered; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Lord; na — not; manaḥ — the mind; vijetum — to conquer; svaiḥ — with their own; vibhramaiḥ — allurements; samaśakan — were able; vanitāḥ — the women; vibhūmnaḥ — of the perfectly complete.
Translation
The Supreme Lord’s wives were fully enchanted by His lovely, lotuslike face, His long arms and large eyes, His loving glances imbued with laughter, and His charming talks with them. But with all their charms these ladies could not conquer the mind of the all-powerful Lord.
Purport
The previous verse stated that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens could not understand the truth of the Lord. This truth is explained in the present verse. The Lord is all-powerful, full in Himself, with infinite opulence.
Devanagari
भ्रूमण्डलप्रहितसौरतमन्त्रशौण्डै: ।
पत्न्यस्तु षोडशसहस्रमनङ्गबाणै-
र्यस्येन्द्रियं विमथितुं करणैर्न शेकु: ॥ ४ ॥
Text
bhrū-maṇḍala-prahita-saurata-mantra-śauṇḍaiḥ
patnyas tu śoḍaśa-sahasram anaṅga-bāṇair
yasyendriyaṁ vimathitum karaṇair na śekuḥ
Synonyms
smāya — with concealed laughter; avaloka — of glances; lava — by the traces; darśita — displayed; bhāva — by the intentions; hāri — enchanting; bhrū — of the eyebrows; maṇḍala — by the arch; prahita — sent forth; saurata — romantic; mantra — of messages; śauṇḍaiḥ — with the manifestations of boldness; patnyaḥ — wives; tu — but; ṣoḍaśa — sixteen; sahasram — thousand; anaṅga — of Cupid; bāṇaiḥ — with the arrows; yasya — whose; indriyam — senses; vimathitum — to agitate; karaṇaiḥ — and by (other) means; na śekuḥ — were unable.
Translation
The arched eyebrows of these sixteen thousand queens enchantingly expressed those ladies’ secret intentions through coyly smiling sidelong glances. Thus their eyebrows boldly sent forth conjugal messages. Yet even with these arrows of Cupid, and with other means as well, they could not agitate Lord Kṛṣṇa’s senses.
Devanagari
ब्रह्मादयोऽपि न विदु: पदवीं यदीयाम् ।
भेजुर्मुदाविरतमेधितयानुराग-
हासावलोकनवसङ्गमलालसाद्यम् ॥ ५ ॥
Text
brahmādayo ’pi na viduḥ padavīṁ yadīyām
bhejur mudāviratam edhitayānurāga-
hāsāvaloka-nava-saṅgama-lālasādyam
Synonyms
ittham — in this manner; ramā-patim — the Lord of the goddess of fortune; avāpya — obtaining; patim — as their husband; striyaḥ — the women; tāḥ — they; brahma-ādayaḥ — Lord Brahmā and other demigods; api — even; na viduḥ — do not know; padavīm — the means of attaining; yadīyām — whom; bhejuḥ — partook of; mudā — with pleasure; aviratam — incessantly; edhitayā — increasing; anurāga — loving attraction; hāsa — smiling; avaloka — glances; nava — ever-fresh; saṅgama — for intimate association; lālasa — eagerness; ādyam — beginning with.
Translation
Thus these women obtained as their husband the master of the goddess of fortune, although even great demigods like Brahmā do not know how to approach Him. With ever-increasing pleasure, they felt loving attraction for Him, exchanged smiling glances with Him, eagerly anticipated associating with Him in ever-fresh intimacy and enjoyed in many other ways.
Purport
This text describes the intense conjugal attraction the queens felt for Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
ताम्बूलविश्रमणवीजनगन्धमाल्यै: ।
केशप्रसारशयनस्नपनोपहार्यै-
र्दासीशता अपि विभोर्विदधु: स्म दास्यम् ॥ ६ ॥
Text
tāmbūla-viśramaṇa-vījana-gandha-mālyaiḥ
keśa-prasāra-śayana-snapanopahāryaiḥ
dāsī-śatā api vibhor vidadhuḥ sma dāsyam
Synonyms
pratyudgama — by approaching; āsana — offering a seat; vara — first class; arhaṇa — worship; pāda — His feet; śauca — washing; tāmbūla — (offering) betel nut; viśramaṇa — helping Him to relax (by massaging His feet); vījana — fanning; gandha — (offering) fragrant substances; mālyaiḥ — and flower garlands; keśa — His hair; prasāra — by dressing; śayana — arranging His bed; snapana — bathing Him; upahāryaiḥ — and by presenting gifts; dāsī — maidservants; śatāḥ — having hundreds; api — although; vibhoḥ — for the almighty Lord; vidadhuḥ-sma — they executed; dāsyam — service.
Translation
Although the Supreme Lord’s queens each had hundreds of maidservants, they chose to personally serve the Lord by approaching Him humbly, offering Him a seat, worshiping Him with excellent paraphernalia, bathing and massaging His feet, giving Him pān to chew, fanning Him, anointing Him with fragrant sandalwood paste, adorning Him with flower garlands, dressing His hair, arranging His bed, bathing Him and presenting Him with various gifts.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Śukadeva Gosvāmī is so eager to describe these glorious pastimes of the Lord with His queens that he has repeated these verses. That is, text 5 of this chapter is almost identical with text 44 of the Fifty-ninth Chapter in this canto, and text 6 is identical with text 45 of that chapter. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the term varārhaṇa (“excellent offerings”) indicates that the queens offered the Lord palmfuls of flowers (puṣpāñjali) and palmfuls of jewels (ratnāñjali).
Devanagari
अष्टौ महिष्यस्तत्पुत्रान् प्रद्युम्नादीन् गृणामि ते ॥ ७ ॥
Text
kṛṣṇa-strīṇāṁ puroditāḥ
aṣṭau mahiṣyas tat-putrān
pradyumnādīn gṛṇāmi te
Synonyms
Translation
Among Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives, each of whom had ten sons, I previously mentioned eight principal queens. I shall now recite for you the names of those eight queens’ sons, headed by Pradyumna.
Devanagari
सुचारुश्चारुगुप्तश्च भद्रचारुस्तथापर: ॥ ८ ॥
चारुचन्द्रो विचारुश्च चारुश्च दशमो हरे: ।
प्रद्युम्नप्रमुखा जाता रुक्मिण्यां नावमा: पितु: ॥ ९ ॥
Text
cārudehaś ca vīryavān
sucāruś cāruguptaś ca
bhadracārus tathāparaḥ
cāruś ca daśamo hareḥ
pradyumna-pramukhā jātā
rukmiṇyāṁ nāvamāḥ pituḥ
Synonyms
cārudeṣṇaḥ sudeṣṇaḥ ca — Cārudeṣṇa and Sudeṣṇa; cārudehaḥ — Cārudeha; ca — and; vīrya-vān — powerful; sucāruḥ cāruguptaḥ ca — Sucāru and Cārugupta; bhadracāruḥ — Bhadracāru; tathā — also; aparaḥ — another; cārucandraḥ vicāraḥ ca — Cārucandra and Vicāru; cāraḥ — Cāru; ca — also; daśamaḥ — the tenth; hareḥ — by Lord Hari; pradyumna-pramukhāḥ — headed by Pradyumna; jātaḥ — begotten; rukmiṇyām — in Rukmiṇī; na — not; avamāḥ — inferior; pituḥ — to their father.
Translation
The first son of Queen Rukmiṇī was Pradyumna, and also born of her were Cārudeṣṇa, Sudeṣṇa and the powerful Cārudeha, along with Sucāru, Cārugupta, Bhadracāru, Cārucandra, Vicāru and Cāru, the tenth. None of these sons of Lord Hari was less than his father.
Devanagari
चन्द्रभानुर्बृहद्भानुरतिभानुस्तथाष्टम: ॥ १० ॥
श्रीभानु: प्रतिभानुश्च सत्यभामात्मजा दश ।
साम्ब: सुमित्र: पुरुजिच्छतजिच्च सहस्रजित् ॥ ११ ॥
विजयश्चित्रकेतुश्च वसुमान् द्रविड: क्रतु: ।
जाम्बवत्या: सुता ह्येते साम्बाद्या: पितृसम्मता: ॥ १२ ॥
Text
prabhānur bhānumāṁs tathā
candrabhānur bṛhadbhānur
atibhānus tathāṣṭamaḥ
satyabhāmātmajā daśa
sāmbaḥ sumitraḥ purujic
chatajic ca sahasrajit
vasumān draviḍaḥ kratuḥ
jāmbavatyāḥ sutā hy ete
sāmbādyāḥ pitṛ-sammatāḥ
Synonyms
bhānuḥ subhānuḥ svarbhānuḥ — Bhānu, Subhānu and Svarbhānu; prabhānaḥ bhānumān — Prabhānu and Bhānumān; tathā — also; candrabhānuḥ bṛhadbhānuḥ — Candrabhānu and Bṛhadbhānu; atibhānuḥ — Atibhānu; tathā — also; aṣṭamaḥ — the eighth; śrībhānuḥ — Śrībhānu; pratibhānuḥ — Pratibhānu; ca — and; satyabhāmā — of Satyabhāmā; ātmajāḥ — the sons; daśa — ten; sāmbaḥ sumitraḥ purujit śatajit ca sahasrajit — Sāmba, Sumitra, Purujit, Śatajit and Sahasrajit; vijayaḥ citraketuḥ ca — Vijaya and Citraketu; vasumān draviḍaḥ kratuḥ — Vasumān, Draviḍa and Kratu; jāmbavatyāḥ — of Jāmbavatī; sutāḥ — sons; hi — indeed; ete — these; sāmba-ādyāḥ — headed by Sāmba; pitṛ — by their father; sammatāḥ — favored.
Translation
The ten sons of Satyabhāmā were Bhānu, Subhānu, Svarbhānu, Prabhānu, Bhānumān, Candrabhānu, Bṛhadbhānu, Atibhānu (the eighth), Śrībhānu and Pratibhānu. Sāmba, Sumitra, Purujit, Śatajit, Sahasrajit, Vijaya, Citraketu, Vasumān, Draviḍa and Kratu were the sons of Jāmbavatī. These ten, headed by Sāmba, were their father’s favorites.
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī translates the compound pitṛ-sammatāḥ in this verse as “highly regarded by their father.” The word also indicates that these sons, like the others already mentioned, were regarded as being just like their glorious father, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
आम: शङ्कुर्वसु: श्रीमान् कुन्तिर्नाग्नजिते: सुता: ॥ १३ ॥
Text
citragur vegavān vṛṣaḥ
āmaḥ śaṅkur vasuḥ śrīmān
kuntir nāgnajiteḥ sutāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The sons of Nāgnajitī were Vīra, Candra, Aśvasena, Citragu, Vegavān, Vṛṣa, Āma, Śaṅku, Vasu and the opulent Kunti.
Devanagari
शान्तिर्दर्श: पूर्णमास: कालिन्द्या: सोमकोऽवर: ॥ १४ ॥
Text
subāhur bhadra ekalaḥ
śāntir darśaḥ pūrṇamāsaḥ
kālindyāḥ somako ’varaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Śruta, Kavi, Vṛṣa, Vīra, Subāhu, Bhadra, Śānti, Darśa and Pūrṇamāsa were sons of Kālindī. Her youngest son was Somaka.
Devanagari
माद्रया: पुत्रा महाशक्ति: सह ओजोऽपराजित: ॥ १५ ॥
Text
balaḥ prabala ūrdhagaḥ
mādryāḥ putrā mahāśaktiḥ
saha ojo ’parājitaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Mādrā’s sons were Praghoṣa, Gātravān, Siṁha, Bala, Prabala, Ūrdhaga, Mahāśakti, Saha, Oja and Aparājita.
Purport
Mādrā is also known as Lakṣmaṇā.
Devanagari
महांस: पावनो वह्निर्मित्रविन्दात्मजा: क्षुधि: ॥ १६ ॥
Text
vardhanonnāda eva ca
mahāṁsaḥ pāvano vahnir
mitravindātmajāḥ kṣudhiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Mitravindā’s sons were Vṛka, Harṣa, Anila, Gṛdhra, Vardhana, Unnāda, Mahāṁsa, Pāvana, Vahni and Kṣudhi.
Devanagari
जय: सुभद्रो भद्राया वाम आयुश्च सत्यक: ॥ १७ ॥
Text
śūraḥ praharaṇo ’rijit
jayaḥ subhadro bhadrāyā
vāma āyuś ca satyakaḥ
Synonyms
saṅgrāmajit bṛhatsenaḥ — Saṅgrāmajit and Bṛhatsena; śūraḥ praharaṇaḥ arijit — Śūra, Praharaṇa and Arijit; jayaḥ subhadraḥ — Jaya and Subhadra; bhadrāyāḥ — of Bhadrā (Śaibyā); vāmaḥ āyuś ca satyakaḥ — Vāma, Āyur and Satyaka.
Translation
Saṅgrāmajit, Bṛhatsena, Śūra, Praharaṇa, Arijit, Jaya and Subhadra were the sons of Bhadrā, together with Vāma, Āyur and Satyaka.
Devanagari
प्रद्यम्नाच्चानिरुद्धोऽभूद्रुक्मवत्यां महाबल: ।
पुत्र्यां तु रुक्मिणो राजन् नाम्ना भोजकटे पुरे ॥ १८ ॥
Text
rohiṇyās tanayā hareḥ
pradyamnāc cāniruddho ’bhūd
rukmavatyāṁ mahā-balaḥ
putryāṁ tu rukmiṇo rājan
nāmnā bhojakaṭe pure
Synonyms
dīptimān tāmratapta-ādyāḥ — Dīptimān, Tāmratapta and others; rohiṇyāḥ — of Rohiṇī (chief of the remaining 16,100 queens); tanayāḥ — sons; hareḥ — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; pradyumnāt — from Pradyumna; ca — and; aniruddhaḥ — Aniruddha; abhūt — was born; rukmavatyām — in Rukmavatī; mahā-balaḥ — greatly powerful; putryām — in the daughter; tu — indeed; rukmiṇaḥ — of Rukmī; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); nāmnā — by name; bhojakaṭe pure — in the city of Bhojakaṭa (Rukmī’s domain).
Translation
Dīptimān, Tāmratapta and others were the sons of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rohiṇī. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s son Pradyumna fathered the greatly powerful Aniruddha in the womb of Rukmavatī, the daughter of Rukmī. O King, this took place while they were living in the city of Bhojakaṭa.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s eight principal queens are Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā, Jāmbavatī, Nāgnajitī, Kālindī, Lakṣmaṇā, Mitravindā and Bhadrā. Having mentioned all their sons, Śukadeva Gosvāmī now refers to the sons of the other 16,100 queens by mentioning the two principal sons of Queen Rohiṇī, the foremost of the remaining queens.
Devanagari
मातर: कृष्णजातीनां सहस्राणि च षोडश ॥ १९ ॥
Text
babhūvuḥ koṭiśo nṛpa
mātaraḥ kṛṣṇa-jātīnāṁ
sahasrāṇi ca ṣoḍaśa
Synonyms
Translation
My dear King, the sons and grandsons of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s children numbered in the tens of millions. Sixteen thousand mothers gave rise to this dynasty.
Devanagari
कथं रुक्म्यरीपुत्राय प्रादाद् दुहितरं युधि ।
कृष्णेन परिभूतस्तं हन्तुं रन्ध्रं प्रतीक्षते ।
एतदाख्याहि मे विद्वन् द्विषोर्वैवाहिकं मिथ: ॥ २० ॥
Text
kathaṁ rukmy arī-putrāya
prādād duhitaraṁ yudhi
kṛṣṇena paribhūtas taṁ
hantuṁ randhraṁ pratīkṣate
etad ākhyāhi me vidvan
dviṣor vaivāhikaṁ mithaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-rājā uvāca — the King said; katham — how; rukmī — Rukmī; ari — of his enemy; putrāya — to the son; prādāt — gave; duhitaram — his daughter; yudhi — in battle; kṛṣṇena — by Kṛṣṇa; paribhūtaḥ — defeated; tam — Him (Lord Kṛṣṇa); hantum — to kill; randhram — the opportunity; pratīkṣate — he was waiting for; etat — this; ākhyāhi — please explain; me — to me; vidvan — O learned one; dviṣoḥ — of the two enemies; vaivāhikam — the marital arrangement; mithaḥ — between them.
Translation
King Parīkṣit said: How could Rukmī give his daughter to his enemy’s son? After all, Rukmī had been defeated by Lord Kṛṣṇa in battle and was waiting for an opportunity to kill Him. Please explain this to me, O learned one — how these two inimical parties became united through marriage.
Devanagari
विप्रकृष्टं व्यवहितं सम्यक् पश्यन्ति योगिन: ॥ २१ ॥
Text
vartamānam atīndriyam
viprakṛṣṭaṁ vyavahitaṁ
samyak paśyanti yoginaḥ
Synonyms
anāgatam — not yet happened; atītam — past; ca — also; vartamānam — present; atīndriyam — beyond the purview of the senses; viprakṛṣṭam — distant; vyavahitam — blocked by obstacles; samyak — perfectly; paśyanti — see; yoginaḥ — mystic yogīs.
Translation
Mystic yogīs can perfectly see that which has not yet happened, as well as things in the past or present, beyond the senses, remote or blocked by physical obstacles.
Purport
Here King Parīkṣit encourages Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain why Rukmī gave his daughter to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s son Pradyumna. The King stresses that since great yogīs like Śukadeva Gosvāmī know everything, the sage must also know this and should explain it to the anxious King.
Devanagari
वृत: स्वयंवरे साक्षादनङ्गोऽङ्गयुतस्तया ।
राज्ञ: समेतान् निर्जित्य जहारैकरथो युधि ॥ २२ ॥
Text
vṛtaḥ svayaṁvare sākṣād
anaṇgo ’ṇga-yutas tayā
rājñaḥ sametān nirjitya
jahāraika-ratho yudhi
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; vṛtaḥ — chosen; svayaṁvare — in her svayaṁvara ceremony; sākṣāt — manifest; anaṅgaḥ — Cupid; aṅga-yataḥ — incarnate; tayā — by her; rājñaḥ — the kings; sametān — assembled; nirjitya — defeating; jahāra — He took her away; eka-rathaḥ — having only one chariot; yudhi — in battle.
Translation
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: At her svayaṁvara ceremony, Rukmavatī herself chose Pradyumna, who was the re-embodiment of Cupid. Then, although He fought alone on a single chariot, Pradyumna defeated the assembled kings in battle and took her away.
Devanagari
व्यतरद् भागिनेयाय सुतां कुर्वन् स्वसु: प्रियम् ॥ २३ ॥
Text
rukmī kṛṣṇāvamānitaḥ
vyatarad bhāgineyāya
sutāṁ kurvan svasuḥ priyam
Synonyms
Translation
Though Rukmī always remembered his enmity toward Lord Kṛṣṇa, who had insulted him, in order to please his sister he sanctioned his daughter’s marriage to his nephew.
Purport
The answer to King Parīkṣit’s question is given here. Ultimately Rukmī approved his daughter’s marriage to Pradyumna in order to please his sister, Rukmiṇī.
Devanagari
उपयेमे विशालाक्षीं कन्यां चारुमतीं किल ॥ २४ ॥
Text
kṛtavarma-suto balī
upayeme viśālākṣīṁ
kanyāṁ cārumatīṁ kila
Synonyms
Translation
O King, Balī, the son of Kṛtavarmā, married Rukmiṇī’s young daughter, large-eyed Cārumatī.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that each of the Lord’s queens had one daughter, and that this mention of Cārumatī’s marriage is an indirect reference to the marriages of all these princesses.
Devanagari
रोचनां बद्धवैरोऽपि स्वसु: प्रियचिकीर्षया ।
जानन्नधर्मं तद् यौनं स्नेहपाशानुबन्धन: ॥ २५ ॥
Text
pautrīṁ rukmy ādadād dhareḥ
rocanāṁ baddha-vairo ’pi
svasuḥ priya-cikīrṣayā
jānann adharmaṁ tad yaunaṁ
sneha-pāśānubandhanaḥ
Synonyms
dauhitrāya — to his daughter’s son; aniruddhāya — Aniruddha; pautrīm — his granddaughter; rukmī — Rukmī; ādadāt — gave; hareḥ — toward Lord Kṛṣṇa; rocanām — named Rocanā; baddha — bound; vairaḥ — in enmity; api — although; svasuḥ — his sister; priya-cikīrṣayā — wanting to please; jānan — knowing; adharmam — irreligion; tat — that; yaunam — marriage; sneha — of affection; pāśa — by the ropes; anubandhanaḥ — whose bondage.
Translation
Rukmī gave his granddaughter Rocanā to his daughter’s son, Aniruddha, despite Rukmī’s relentless feud with Lord Hari. Although Rukmī considered this marriage irreligious, he wanted to please his sister, bound as he was by the ropes of affection.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that according to worldly standards one should not give one’s beloved granddaughter to the grandson of one’s bitter enemy. Thus we find the following injunction: dviṣad-annaṁ na bhoktavyaṁ dviṣantaṁ naiva bhojayet. “One should not eat an enemy’s food or feed an enemy.” There is also the following prohibition: asvargyaṁ loka-vidviṣṭaṁ dharmam apy ācaren na tu. “One should not execute religious injunctions if they will obstruct one’s journey to heaven, or if they are odious to human society.”
It should be pointed out here that Lord Kṛṣṇa is not really the enemy of anyone. As the Lord states in the Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati: “One achieves peace by understanding that I am the well-wishing friend of every living being.” Although Lord Kṛṣṇa is everyone’s friend, Rukmī could not appreciate this fact and considered Lord Kṛṣṇa his enemy. Still, out of affection for his sister, he gave his granddaughter to Aniruddha.
Finally, we should note that, contrary to the prohibition quoted above, one may not give up the basic principles of spiritual life merely because such principles are unpopular with people in general. As Lord Kṛṣṇa states in the Gītā (18.66), sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaranaṁ vraja. The last word in spiritual duties is to surrender to the Supreme Lord, and that duty takes precedence over all secondary injunctions. Moreover, in this age Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has kindly presented a sublime process that will attract all sincere people to come to the point of surrendering to the Lord. By following Lord Caitanya’s blissful process of chanting, dancing, feasting and discussing spiritual philosophy, anyone can easily go back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.
Still, someone may argue that the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should not practice in the Western countries those ceremonies or activities that displease people in general. We respond that even in the Western countries, when people are properly informed of the activities of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they generally appreciate this great spiritual institution. Those who are especially envious of God will not appreciate any type of religious movement, and since such persons are themselves little better than animals, they cannot impede the great Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, just as the envious Rukmī could not impede the performance of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pure pastimes.
Devanagari
पुरं भोजकटं जग्मु: साम्बप्रद्युम्नकादय: ॥ २६ ॥
Text
rukmiṇī rāma-keśavau
puraṁ bhojakaṭaṁ jagmuḥ
sāmba-pradyumnakādayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
On the joyous occasion of that marriage, O King, Queen Rukmiṇī, Lord Balarāma, Lord Kṛṣṇa and several of the Lord’s sons, headed by Sāmba and Pradyumna, went to the city of Bhojakaṭa.
Devanagari
दृप्तास्ते रुक्मिणं प्रोचुर्बलमक्षैर्विनिर्जय ॥ २७ ॥
अनक्षज्ञो ह्ययं राजन्नपि तद्व्यसनं महत् ।
इत्युक्तो बलमाहूय तेनाक्षैर्रुक्म्यदीव्यत ॥ २८ ॥
Text
kāliṅga-pramukhā nṛpāḥ
dṛptās te rukmiṇaṁ procur
balam akṣair vinirjaya
api tad-vyasanaṁ mahat
ity ukto balam āhūya
tenākṣair rukmy adīvyata
Synonyms
tasmin — when that; nivṛtte — was finished; udvāhe — the marriage ceremony; kāliṅga-pramukhāḥ — headed by the ruler of Kaliṅga; nṛpāḥ — kings; dṛptāḥ — arrogant; te — they; rukmiṇam — to Rukmī; procuḥ — spoke; balam — Balarāma; akṣaiḥ — with dice; vinirjaya — you should defeat; anakṣa-jñaḥ — not expert in gambling with dice; hi — indeed; ayam — He; rājan — O King; api — although; tat — with that; vyasanam — His fascination; mahat — great; iti — thus; uktaḥ — addressed; balam — Lord Balarāma; āhūya — inviting; tena — with Him; akṣaiḥ — at dice; rukmī — Rukmī; adīvyata — played.
Translation
After the wedding, a group of arrogant kings headed by the King of Kaliṅga told Rukmī, “You should defeat Balarāma at dice. He’s not expert at dice, O King, but still He’s quite addicted to it.” Thus advised, Rukmī challenged Balarāma and began a gambling match with Him.
Devanagari
तं तु रुक्म्यजयत्तत्र कालिङ्ग: प्राहसद् बलम् ।
दन्तान् सन्दर्शयन्नुच्चैर्नामृष्यत्तद्धलायुध: ॥ २९ ॥
Text
rāmas tatrādade paṇam
taṁ tu rukmy ajayat tatra
kāliṅgaḥ prāhasad balam
dantān sandarśayann uccair
nāmṛṣyat tad dhalāyudhaḥ
Synonyms
śatam — one hundred; sahasram — one thousand; ayatam — ten thousand; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; tatra — in that (match); ādade — accepted; paṇam — wager; tam — that; tu — but; rukmī — Rukmī; ajayat — won; tatra — thereupon; kāliṅgaḥ — the King of Kaliṅga; prāhasat — laughed loudly; balam — at Lord Balarāma; dantān — his teeth; sandarśayan — showing; uccaiḥ — openly; na amṛṣyat — did not forgive; tat — this; hala-āyudhaḥ — Balarāma, the carrier of the plow weapon.
Translation
In that match Lord Balarāma first accepted a wager of one hundred coins, then one thousand, then ten thousand. Rukmī won this first round, and the King of Kaliṅga laughed loudly at Lord Balarāma, showing all his teeth. Lord Balarāma could not tolerate this.
Purport
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the wagers consisted of gold coins. Lord Balarāma inwardly became quite angry when He saw the gross offense of the King of Kaliṅga.
Devanagari
जितवानहमित्याह रुक्मी कैतवमाश्रित: ॥ ३० ॥
Text
glahaṁ tatrājayad balaḥ
jitavān aham ity āha
rukmī kaitavam āśritaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Next Rukmī accepted a bet of one hundred thousand coins, which Lord Balarāma won. But Rukmī tried to cheat, declaring “I’m the winner!”
Devanagari
जात्यारुणाक्षोऽतिरुषा न्यर्बुदं ग्लहमाददे ॥ ३१ ॥
Text
samudra iva parvaṇi
jātyāruṇākṣo ’ti-ruṣā
nyarbudaṁ glaham ādade
Synonyms
manyunā — by anger; kṣubhitaḥ — agitated; śrī-mān — possessing beauty, or the beautiful goddess of fortune; samudraḥ — the ocean; iva — like; parvaṇi — on the full-moon day; jātyā — by nature; aruṇa — reddish; akṣaḥ — whose eyes; ati — extreme; ruṣā — with anger; nyarbudam — of one hundred million; glaham — a wager; ādade — accepted.
Translation
Shaking with anger like the ocean on the full-moon day, handsome Lord Balarāma, His naturally reddish eyes even redder in His fury, accepted a wager of one hundred million gold coins.
Devanagari
रुक्मी जितं मयात्रेमे वदन्तु प्राश्निका इति ॥ ३२ ॥
Text
dharmeṇa chalam āśritaḥ
rukmī jitaṁ mayātreme
vadantu prāśnikā iti
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Balarāma fairly won this wager also, but Rukmī again resorted to cheating and declared, “I have won! Let these witnesses here say what they saw.”
Purport
Rukmī undoubtedly had his friends in mind when he called for the witnesses to speak. But even as his witnesses prepared to aid their cheating friend, a wonderful event took place, as described in the next verse.
Devanagari
धर्मतो वचनेनैव रुक्मी वदति वै मृषा ॥ ३३ ॥
Text
balenaiva jito glahaḥ
dharmato vacanenaiva
rukmī vadati vai mṛṣā
Synonyms
Translation
Just then a voice from the sky declared, “Balarāma has fairly won this wager. Rukmī is surely lying.”
Devanagari
सङ्कर्षणं परिहसन् बभाषे कालचोदित: ॥ ३४ ॥
Text
duṣṭa-rājanya-coditaḥ
saṅkarṣaṇaṁ parihasan
babhāṣe kāla-coditaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Urged on by the wicked kings, Rukmī ignored the divine voice. In fact destiny itself was urging Rukmī on, and thus he ridiculed Lord Balarāma as follows.
Devanagari
अक्षैर्दीव्यन्ति राजानो बाणैश्च न भवादृशा: ॥ ३५ ॥
Text
gopālā vana-gocarāḥ
akṣair dīvyanti rājāno
bāṇaiś ca na bhavādṛśāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
[Rukmī said:] You cowherds who wander about the forests know nothing about dice. Playing with dice and sporting with arrows are only for kings, not for the likes of You.
Devanagari
क्रुद्ध: परिघमुद्यम्य जघ्ने तं नृम्णसंसदि ॥ ३६ ॥
Text
rājabhiś copahāsitaḥ
kruddhaḥ parigham udyamya
jaghne taṁ nṛmṇa-saṁsadi
Synonyms
Translation
Thus insulted by Rukmī and ridiculed by the kings, Lord Balarāma was provoked to anger. In the midst of the auspicious wedding assembly, He raised His club and struck Rukmī dead.
Devanagari
दन्तानपातयत् क्रुद्धो योऽहसद् विवृतैर्द्विजै: ॥ ३७ ॥
Text
gṛhītvā daśame pade
dantān apātayat kruddho
yo ’hasad vivṛtair dvijaiḥ
Synonyms
Translation
The King of Kaliṅga, who had laughed at Lord Balarāma and shown his teeth, tried to run away, but the furious Lord quickly seized him on his tenth step and knocked out all his teeth.
Devanagari
राजानो दुद्रवर्भीता बलेन परिघार्दिता: ॥ ३८ ॥
Text
śiraso rudhirokṣitāḥ
rājāno dudravar bhītā
balena paṅghārditāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Tormented by Lord Balarāma’s club, the other kings fled in fear, their arms, thighs and heads broken and their bodies drenched in blood.
Devanagari
रक्मिणीबलयो राजन् स्नेहभङ्गभयाद्धरि: ॥ ३९ ॥
Text
nābravīt sādhv asādhu vā
rakmiṇī-balayo rājan
sneha-bhaṅga-bhayād dhariḥ
Synonyms
Translation
When His brother-in-law Rukmī was slain, Lord Kṛṣṇa neither applauded nor protested, O King, for He feared jeopardizing His affectionate ties with either Rukmiṇī or Balarāma.
Devanagari
रथं समारोप्य ययु: कुशस्थलीम् ।
रामादयो भोजकटाद् दशार्हा:
सिद्धाखिलार्था मधुसूदनाश्रया: ॥ ४० ॥
Text
rathaṁ samāropya yayuḥ kuśasthalīm
rāmādayo bhojakaṭād daśārhāḥ
siddhākhilārthā madhusūdanāśrayāḥ
Synonyms
tataḥ — then; aniruddham — Aniruddha; saha — together with; sūryayā — His bride; varam — the groom; ratham — on His chariot; samāropya — placing; yayuḥ — they went; kuśasthalīm — to Kuśasthalī (Dvārakā); rāma-ādayaḥ — headed by Lord Balarāma; bhojakaṭāt — from Bhojakaṭa; daśārhāḥ — the descendants of Daśārha; siddha — fulfilled; akhila — all; arthāḥ — whose purposes; madhusūdana — of Lord Kṛṣṇa; āśrayāḥ — under the shelter.
Translation
Then the descendants of Daśārha, headed by Lord Balarāma, seated Aniruddha and His bride on a fine chariot and set off from Bhojakaṭa for Dvārakā. Having taken shelter of Lord Madhusūdana, they had fulfilled all their purposes.
Purport
Even though Rukmiṇī was very dear to all the Dāśārhas, her brother Rukmī had constantly opposed and insulted Kṛṣṇa since Rukmiṇī’s wedding. Thus, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains, the associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa could hardly lament Rukmī’s sudden demise.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Sixty-first Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī.”