The Marriage of Krishna and Rukmini

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.54.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति सर्वे सुसंरब्धा वाहानारुह्य दंशिताः । स्वैः स्वैर्बलैः परिक्रान्ता अन्वीयुर्धृतकार्मुकाः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti sarve su-saṁrabdhā vāhān āruhya daṁśitāḥ svaiḥ svair balaiḥ parikrāntā anvīyur dhṛta-kārmukāḥ

Shukadeva said: Speaking thus, all those enraged kings, clad in armor, mounted their conveyances and, surrounded by their own armies, bows in hand, pursued Krishna.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.54.2)

तानापतत आलोक्य यादवानीकयूथपाः । तस्थुस्तत्सम्मुखा राजन्विस्फूर्ज्य स्वधनूंषि ते ॥ २ ॥

tān āpatata ālokya yādavānīka-yūthapāḥ tasthus tat-sammukhā rājan visphūrjya sva-dhanūṁṣi te

O King, seeing them rushing to attack, the commanders of the Yadava army turned to face them directly, twanging their own bows.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.54.3)

अश्वपृष्ठे गजस्कन्धे रथोपस्थेऽस्त्र कोविदाः । मुमुचुः शरवर्षाणि मेघा अद्रिष्वपो यथा ॥ ३ ॥

aśva-pṛṣṭhe gaja-skandhe rathopasthe ’stra kovidāḥ mumucuḥ śara-varṣāṇi meghā adriṣv apo yathā

Skilled in the use of weapons, mounted on horseback, on elephants' shoulders and in chariot seats, they released showers of arrows, like clouds pouring rain upon mountains.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.54.4)

पत्युर्बलं शरासारैश्छन्नं वीक्ष्य सुमध्यमा । सव्रीड्मैक्षत्तद्वक्त्रं भयविह्वललोचना ॥ ४ ॥

patyur balaṁ śarāsāraiś channaṁ vīkṣya su-madhyamā sa-vrīḍm aikṣat tad-vaktraṁ bhaya-vihvala-locanā

Slender-waisted Rukmini, seeing her Lord's army covered by that downpour of arrows, gazed shyly at His face with eyes disturbed by fear.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.54.5)

प्रहस्य भगवानाह मा स्म भैर्वामलोचने । विनङ्क्ष्यत्यधुनैवैतत्तावकैः शात्रवं बलम् ॥ ५ ॥

prahasya bhagavān āha mā sma bhair vāma-locane vinaṅkṣyaty adhunaivaitat tāvakaiḥ śātravaṁ balam

The Lord laughed and said, ‘Do not fear, O beautiful-eyed one; this enemy force will soon be destroyed by your own soldiers.’

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.54.6)

तेषां तद्विक्रमं वीरा गदसङ्कर्षणादयः । अमृष्यमाणा नाराचैर्जघ्नुर्हयगजान् रथान् ॥ ६ ॥

teṣāṁ tad-vikramaṁ vīrā gada-saṅkarṣanādayaḥ amṛṣyamāṇā nārācair jaghnur haya-gajān rathān

The heroes Gada, Sankarshana and others, unable to bear that show of aggression, struck down the enemy's horses, elephants and chariots with iron arrows.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.54.7)

पेतुः शिरांसि रथिनामश्विनां गजिनां भुवि । सकुण्डलकिरीटानि सोष्णीषाणि च कोटिशः ॥ ७ ॥

petuḥ śirāṁsi rathinām aśvināṁ gajināṁ bhuvi sa-kuṇḍala-kirīṭāni soṣṇīṣāṇi ca koṭiśaḥ

By the millions, the heads of chariot warriors, horsemen and elephant riders fell to the ground, some still bearing earrings and helmets, others turbans.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.54.8)

हस्ताः सासिगदेष्वासाः करभा ऊरवोऽङ्घ्रयः । अश्वाश्वतरनागोष्ट्रखरमर्त्यशिरांसि च ॥ ८ ॥

hastāḥ sāsi-gadeṣv-āsāḥ karabhā ūravo ’ṅghrayaḥ aśvāśvatara-nāgoṣṭra- khara-martya-śirāṁsi ca

Hands still gripping swords, clubs and bows, severed limbs, thighs and legs lay scattered, along with the heads of horses, mules, elephants, camels, donkeys and men.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.54.9)

हन्यमानबलानीका वृष्णिभिर्जयकाङ्क्षिभिः । राजानो विमुखा जग्मुर्जरासन्धपुरःसराः ॥ ९ ॥

hanyamāna-balānīkā vṛṣṇibhir jaya-kāṅkṣibhiḥ rājāno vimukhā jagmur jarāsandha-puraḥ-sarāḥ

As their armies were slaughtered by the victory-seeking Vrishnis, the kings, headed by Jarasandha, grew disheartened and withdrew.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.54.10)

शिशुपालं समभ्येत्य हृतदारमिवातुरम् । नष्टत्विषं गतोत्साहं शुष्यद्वदनमब्रुवन् ॥ १० ॥

śiśupālaṁ samabhyetya hṛta-dāram ivāturam naṣṭa-tviṣaṁ gatotsāhaṁ śuṣyad-vadanam abruvan

They approached Shishupala, who looked as distressed as a man robbed of his wife — his color drained, his enthusiasm gone, his face parched — and spoke to him thus.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.54.11)

भो भोः पुरुषशार्दूल दौर्मनस्यमिदं त्यज । न प्रियाप्रिययो राजन् निष्ठा देहिषु दृश्यते ॥ ११ ॥

bho bhoḥ puruṣa-śārdūla daurmanasyam idaṁ tyaja na priyāpriyayo rājan niṣṭhā dehiṣu dṛśyate

Jarasandha said: ‘O tiger among men, give up this despondency. Neither happiness nor sorrow is ever seen to be permanent for embodied beings, O King.’

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.54.12)

यथा दारुमयी योषित् नृत्यते कुहकेच्छया । एवमीश्वरतन्त्रोऽयमीहते सुखदुःखयोः ॥ १२ ॥

yathā dāru-mayī yoṣit nṛtyate kuhakecchayā evam īśvara-tantro ’yam īhate sukha-duḥkhayoḥ

‘Just as a wooden puppet dances by the showman's will, so this world, controlled by the Supreme Lord, moves through happiness and sorrow.’

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.54.13)

शौरेः सप्तदशाहं वै संयुगानि पराजितः । त्रयोविंशतिभिः सैन्यैर्जिग्ये एकमहं परम् ॥ १३ ॥

śaureḥ sapta-daśāhaṁ vai saṁyugāni parājitaḥ trayo-viṁśatibhiḥ sainyair jigye ekam ahaṁ param

‘I myself lost seventeen battles against Shauri along with my twenty-three armies; only once did I gain victory over Him.’

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.54.14)

तथाप्यहं न शोचामि न प्रहृष्यामि कर्हिचित् । कालेन दैवयुक्तेन जानन् विद्रावितं जगत् ॥ १४ ॥

tathāpy ahaṁ na śocāmi na prahṛṣyāmi karhicit kālena daiva-yuktena jānan vidrāvitaṁ jagat

‘Yet still I neither grieve nor rejoice, for I know this world is driven onward by time joined with destiny.’

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.54.15)

अधुनापि वयं सर्वे वीरयूथपयूथपाः । पराजिताः फल्गुतन्त्रैर्यदुभिः कृष्णपालितैः ॥ १५ ॥

adhunāpi vayaṁ sarve vīra-yūthapa-yūthapāḥ parājitāḥ phalgu-tantrair yadubhiḥ kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ

‘Even now all of us, though commanders among the great commanders of heroes, have been defeated by the Yadus and their meager forces, protected as they are by Krishna.’

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.54.16)

रिपवो जिग्युरधुना काल आत्मानुसारिणि । तदा वयं विजेष्यामो यदा कालः प्रदक्षिणः ॥ १६ ॥

ripavo jigyur adhunā kāla ātmānusāriṇi tadā vayaṁ vijeṣyāmo yadā kālaḥ pradakṣiṇaḥ

‘Our enemies have conquered now because time favors them; we shall triumph when time turns favorably in our direction.’

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.54.17)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं प्रबोधितो मित्रैश्चैद्योऽगात् सानुगः पुरम् । हतशेषाः पुनस्तेऽपि ययुः स्वं स्वं पुरं नृपाः ॥ १७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ prabodhito mitraiś caidyo ’gāt sānugaḥ puram hata-śeṣāḥ punas te ’pi yayuḥ svaṁ svaṁ puraṁ nṛpāḥ

Shukadeva said: Thus consoled by his friends, Shishupala returned to his city with his followers; the surviving kings likewise returned, each to his own capital.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.54.18)

रुक्मी तु राक्षसोद्वाहं कृष्णद्विडसहन् स्वसुः । पृष्ठतोऽन्वगमत् कृष्णमक्षौहिण्या वृतो बली ॥ १८ ॥

rukmī tu rākṣasodvāhaṁ kṛṣṇa-dviḍ asahan svasuḥ pṛṣṭhato ’nvagamat kṛṣṇam akṣauhiṇyā vṛto balī

But powerful Rukmi, who hated Krishna, could not bear that his sister had been married in the Rakshasa style; surrounded by an entire akshauhini division, he pursued Krishna.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.54.19)

रुक्म्यमर्षी सुसंरब्धः शृण्वतां सर्वभूभुजाम् । प्रतिजज्ञे महाबाहुर्दंशितः सशरासनः ॥ १९ ॥

rukmy amarṣī su-saṁrabdhaḥ śṛṇvatāṁ sarva-bhūbhujām pratijajñe mahā-bāhur daṁśitaḥ sa-śarāsanaḥ

Intolerant, furiously enraged, mighty-armed Rukmi, clad in armor and bow in hand, swore before all the assembled kings —

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.54.20)

अहत्वा समरे कृष्णमप्रत्यूह्य च रुक्मिणीम् । कुण्डिनं न प्रवेक्ष्यामि सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि वः ॥ २० ॥

ahatvā samare kṛṣṇam apratyūhya ca rukmiṇīm kuṇḍinaṁ na pravekṣyāmi satyam etad bravīmi vaḥ

‘Without killing Krishna in battle and bringing Rukmini back, I shall not enter Kundina again; this I swear truthfully to you all.’

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.54.21)

इत्युक्त्वा रथमारुह्य सारथिं प्राह सत्वरः । चोदयाश्वान् यतः कृष्णः तस्य मे संयुगं भवेत् ॥ २१ ॥

ity uktvā ratham āruhya sārathiṁ prāha satvaraḥ codayāśvān yataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ tasya me saṁyugaṁ bhavet

Having said this, he mounted his chariot and swiftly told his charioteer, ‘Drive the horses to wherever Krishna is — my fight must be with Him.’

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.54.22)

अद्याहं निशितैर्बाणैर्गोपालस्य सुदुर्मतेः । नेष्ये वीर्यमदं येन स्वसा मे प्रसभं हृता ॥ २२ ॥

adyāhaṁ niśitair bāṇair gopālasya su-durmateḥ neṣye vīrya-madaṁ yena svasā me prasabhaṁ hṛtā

‘Today, with my sharp arrows, I will remove the arrogant pride of that ill-minded cowherd, by which he dared violently steal my sister.’

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.54.23)

विकत्थमानः कुमतिरीश्वरस्याप्रमाणवित् । रथेनैकेन गोविन्दं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेत्यथाह्वयत् ॥ २३ ॥

vikatthamānaḥ kumatir īśvarasyāpramāṇa-vit rathenaikena govindaṁ tiṣṭha tiṣṭhety athāhvayat

Boasting thus, the foolish Rukmi, unaware of the Lord's true, immeasurable power, challenged Govinda from his lone chariot, crying, ‘Stand and fight! Stand and fight!’

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.54.24)

धनुर्विकृष्य सुदृढं जघ्ने कृष्णं त्रिभिः शरैः । आह चात्र क्षणं तिष्ठ यदूनां कुलपांसन ॥ २४ ॥

dhanur vikṛṣya su-dṛḍhaṁ jaghne kṛṣṇaṁ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ āha cātra kṣaṇaṁ tiṣṭha yadūnāṁ kula-pāṁsana

Drawing his bow with great force, he struck Krishna with three arrows and said, ‘Stand here a moment, O defiler of the Yadu dynasty!’

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.54.25)

यत्र यासि स्वसारं मे मुषित्वा ध्वाङ्क्षवद्धविः । हरिष्येऽद्य मदं मन्द मायिनः कूटयोधिनः ॥ २५ ॥

yatra yāsi svasāraṁ me muṣitvā dhvāṅkṣa-vad dhaviḥ hariṣye ’dya madaṁ manda māyinaḥ kūṭa-yodhinaḥ

‘Wherever you go, having stolen my sister like a crow stealing the sacrificial offering, I will pursue; today I shall strip away your pride, you fool, you deceiver, you dishonest fighter!’

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.54.26)

यावन्न मे हतो बाणैः शयीथा मुञ्च दारीकाम् । स्मयन् कृष्णो धनुश्छित्त्वा षड्भिर्विव्याध रुक्मिणम् ॥ २६ ॥

yāvan na me hato bāṇaiḥ śayīthā muñca dārīkām smayan kṛṣṇo dhanuś chittvā ṣaḍbhir vivyādha rukmiṇam

‘Release the girl, before my arrows strike you down!’ Smiling at this, Krishna broke Rukmi's bow and pierced him with six arrows.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.54.27)

अष्टभिश्चतुरो वाहान् द्वाभ्यां सूतं ध्वजं त्रिभिः । स चान्यद्धनुराधाय कृष्णं विव्याध पञ्चभिः ॥ २७ ॥

aṣṭabhiś caturo vāhān dvābhyāṁ sūtaṁ dhvajaṁ tribhiḥ sa cānyad dhanur ādhāya kṛṣṇaṁ vivyādha pañcabhiḥ

With eight arrows He struck Rukmi's four horses, with two his charioteer, with three his flagpole; Rukmi then took up another bow and struck Krishna with five arrows.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.54.28)

तैस्ताडितः शरौघैस्तु चिच्छेद धनुरच्युतः । पुनरन्यदुपादत्त तदप्यच्छिनदव्ययः ॥ २८ ॥

tais tāditaḥ śaraughais tu ciccheda dhanur acyutaḥ punar anyad upādatta tad apy acchinad avyayaḥ

Though struck by that flood of arrows, Achyuta broke Rukmi's bow; Rukmi took up yet another, and the infallible Lord broke that one too.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.54.29)

परिघं पट्टिशं शूलं चर्मासी शक्तितोमरौ । यद् यदायुधमादत्त तत्सर्वं सोऽच्छिनद्धरिः ॥ २९ ॥

parighaṁ paṭṭiśaṁ śūlaṁ carmāsī śakti-tomarau yad yad āyudham ādatta tat sarvaṁ so ’cchinad dhariḥ

Iron bludgeon, three-pointed spear, lance, shield and sword, pike and javelin — whatever weapon Rukmi took up, Lord Hari broke it to pieces.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.54.30)

ततो रथादवप्लुत्य खड्गपाणिर्जिघांसया । कृष्णमभ्यद्रवत् क्रुद्धः पतङ्ग इव पावकम् ॥ ३० ॥

tato rathād avaplutya khaḍga-pāṇir jighāṁsayā kṛṣṇam abhyadravat kruddhaḥ pataṅga iva pāvakam

Then, leaping down from his chariot, sword in hand, Rukmi, enraged, rushed at Krishna to kill Him, like a moth flying into fire.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.54.31)

तस्य चापततः खड्गं तिलशश्चर्म चेषुभिः । छित्त्वासिमाददे तिग्मं रुक्मिणं हन्तुमुद्यतः ॥ ३१ ॥

tasya cāpatataḥ khaḍgaṁ tilaśaś carma ceṣubhiḥ chittvāsim ādade tigmaṁ rukmiṇaṁ hantum udyataḥ

As he attacked, Krishna's arrows shattered his sword and shield into fragments; then the Lord took up His own sharp sword, ready to slay Rukmi.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.54.32)

दृष्ट्वा भ्रातृवधोद्योगं रुक्मिणी भयविह्वला । पतित्वा पादयोर्भर्तुरुवाच करुणं सती ॥ ३२ ॥

dṛṣṭvā bhrātṛ-vadhodyogaṁ rukmiṇī bhaya-vihvalā patitvā pādayor bhartur uvāca karuṇaṁ satī

Seeing this attempt to kill her brother, Rukmini, overcome with fear, fell at her husband's feet and, pitifully, saintly as she was, spoke.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.54.33)

श्रीरुक्मिण्युवाच योगेश्वराप्रमेयात्मन् देवदेव जगत्पते । हन्तुं नार्हसि कल्याण भ्रातरं मे महाभुज ॥ ३३ ॥

śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca yogeśvarāprameyātman deva-deva jagat-pate hantuṁ nārhasi kalyāṇa bhrātaraṁ me mahā-bhuja

Rukmini said: ‘O Lord of all mystic power, immeasurable one, God of gods, master of the universe, O all-auspicious, mighty-armed one, please do not kill my brother!’

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.54.34)

श्रीशुक उवाच तया परित्रासविकम्पिताङ्गया शुचावशुष्यन्मुखरुद्धकण्ठया । कातर्यविस्रंसितहेममालया गृहीतपादः करुणो न्यवर्तत ॥ ३४ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca tayā paritrāsa-vikampitāṅgayā śucāvaśuṣyan-mukha-ruddha-kaṇṭhayā kātarya-visraṁsita-hema-mālayā gṛhīta-pādaḥ karuṇo nyavartata

Shukadeva said: Her limbs trembling in utter fear, her mouth parched and throat choked with sorrow, her golden necklace scattering in her agitation, she held His feet — and the compassionate Lord desisted.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.54.35)

चैलेन बद्ध्वा तमसाधुकारीणं सश्मश्रुकेशं प्रवपन् व्यरूपयत् । तावन्ममर्दुः परसैन्यमद्भुतं यदुप्रवीरा नलिनीं यथा गजाः ॥ ३५ ॥

cailena baddhvā tam asādhu-kārīṇaṁ sa-śmaśru-keśaṁ pravapan vyarūpayat tāvan mamarduḥ para-sainyam adbhutaṁ yadu-pravīrā nalinīṁ yathā gajāḥ

Binding that wrongdoer with a length of cloth, He disfigured him by shaving him, leaving patches of his mustache and hair; meanwhile the Yadu heroes had crushed the astonishing enemy army, as elephants trample a lotus pond.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.54.36)

कृष्णान्तिकमुपव्रज्य ददृशुस्तत्र रुक्मिणम् । तथाभूतं हतप्रायं दृष्ट्वा सङ्कर्षणो विभुः । विमुच्य बद्धं करुणो भगवान् कृष्णमब्रवीत् ॥ ३६ ॥

kṛṣṇāntikam upavrajya dadṛśus tatra rukmiṇam tathā-bhūtaṁ hata-prāyaṁ dṛṣṭvā saṅkarṣaṇo vibhuḥ vimucya baddhaṁ karuṇo bhagavān kṛṣṇam abravīt

As they drew near Krishna, the Yadus saw Rukmi in that condition; seeing him almost dead with shame, the mighty and compassionate Balarama freed him from his bonds and spoke to Krishna.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.54.37)

असाध्विदं त्वया कृष्ण कृतमस्मज्जुगुप्सितम् । वपनं श्मश्रुकेशानां वैरूप्यं सुहृदो वधः ॥ ३७ ॥

asādhv idaṁ tvayā kṛṣṇa kṛtam asmaj-jugupsitam vapanaṁ śmaśru-keśānāṁ vairūpyaṁ suhṛdo vadhaḥ

Balarama said: ‘O Krishna, You have done wrong — this deed disgusts Us. To shave off a man's mustache and hair and disfigure him is as good as killing a kinsman.’

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.54.38)

मैवास्मान् साध्व्यसूयेथा भ्रातुर्वैरूप्यचिन्तया । सुखदुःखदो न चान्योऽस्ति यतः स्वकृतभुक् पुमान् ॥ ३८ ॥

maivāsmān sādhvy asūyethā bhrātur vairūpya-cintayā sukha-duḥkha-do na cānyo ’sti yataḥ sva-kṛta-bhuk pumān

‘O saintly one, do not resent Us out of concern for your brother's disfigurement; no one but oneself is the giver of one's own joy and sorrow, for each man reaps the fruit of his own deeds.’

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.54.39)

बन्धुर्वधार्हदोषोऽपि न बन्धोर्वधमर्हति । त्याज्यः स्वेनैव दोषेण हतः किं हन्यते पुनः ॥ ३९ ॥

bandhur vadhārha-doṣo ’pi na bandhor vadham arhati tyājyaḥ svenaiva doṣeṇa hataḥ kiṁ hanyate punaḥ

‘Even a kinsman guilty of an offense deserving death does not deserve to be killed by his own kin — rather he should be cast out. Since he has already been slain by his own fault, why kill him again?’

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.54.40)

क्षत्रियाणामयं धर्मः प्रजापतिविनिर्मितः । भ्रातापि भ्रातरं हन्याद् येन घोरतमस्ततः ॥ ४० ॥

kṣatriyāṇām ayaṁ dharmaḥ prajāpati-vinirmitaḥ bhrātāpi bhrātaraṁ hanyād yena ghoratamas tataḥ

‘This is the code of the kshatriyas, established by Prajapati himself, by which even a brother may have to kill his own brother — indeed a most terrible law.’

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.54.41)

राज्यस्य भूमेर्वित्तस्य स्त्रियो मानस्य तेजसः । मानिनोऽन्यस्य वा हेतोः श्रीमदान्धाः क्षिपन्ति हि ॥ ४१ ॥

rājyasya bhūmer vittasya striyo mānasya tejasaḥ mānino ’nyasya vā hetoḥ śrī-madāndhāḥ kṣipanti hi

‘Blinded by the intoxication of their own opulence, the proud commit offense for the sake of kingdom, land, wealth, women, honor, power, or some other cause.’

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.54.42)

तवेयं विषमा बुद्धिः सर्वभूतेषु दुर्हृदाम् । यन्मन्यसे सदाभद्रं सुहृदां भद्रमज्ञवत् ॥ ४२ ॥

taveyaṁ viṣamā buddhiḥ sarva-bhūteṣu durhṛdām yan manyase sadābhadraṁ suhṛdāṁ bhadram ajña-vat

‘This partiality of yours toward all beings is unjust, since like an ignorant person you wish only good for those who have always wished ill upon your true well-wishers.’

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.54.43)

आत्ममोहो नृणामेव कल्पते देवमायया । सुहृद् दुर्हृदुदासीन इति देहात्ममानिनाम् ॥ ४३ ॥

ātma-moho nṛṇām eva kalpate deva-māyayā suhṛd durhṛd udāsīna iti dehātma-māninām

‘It is only by the Supreme Lord's illusory power that men become bewildered about the self, taking the body to be the self and thus regarding others as friend, enemy or neutral.’

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.54.44)

एक एव परो ह्यात्मा सर्वेषामपि देहिनाम् । नानेव गृह्यते मूढैर्यथा ज्योतिर्यथा नभः ॥ ४४ ॥

eka eva paro hy ātmā sarveṣām api dehinām nāneva gṛhyate mūḍhair yathā jyotir yathā nabhaḥ

‘The one Supreme Soul alone dwells within all embodied beings; yet the deluded perceive it as many, just as they perceive a single light or a single sky as many.’

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.54.45)

देह आद्यन्तवानेष द्रव्यप्राणगुणात्मकः । आत्मन्यविद्यया क्लृप्तः संसारयति देहिनम् ॥ ४५ ॥

deha ādy-antavān eṣa dravya-prāṇa-guṇātmakaḥ ātmany avidyayā kḷptaḥ saṁsārayati dehinam

‘This body, which has a beginning and an end and is made up of matter, the senses and the material modes, is superimposed upon the self by ignorance, and thus causes the embodied being to wander in the cycle of birth and death.’

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.54.46)

नात्मनोऽन्येन संयोगो वियोगश्चासतः सति । तद्धेतुत्वात्तत्प्रसिद्धेर्दृग्रूपाभ्यां यथा रवेः ॥ ४६ ॥

nātmano ’nyena saṁyogo viyogaś casataḥ sati tad-dhetutvāt tat-prasiddher dṛg-rūpābhyāṁ yathā raveḥ

‘O discerning lady, the self never truly unites with or separates from unreal material things, since the self is their very source and the light by which they are known — like the sun, which is never joined to or parted from the eye or the visible form.’

Verse 47 (bhagavata.10.54.47)

जन्मादयस्तु देहस्य विक्रियानात्मनः क्वचित् । कलानामिव नैवेन्दोर्मृतिर्ह्यस्य कुहूरिव ॥ ४७ ॥

janmādayas tu dehasya vikriyā nātmanaḥ kvacit kalānām iva naivendor mṛtir hy asya kuhūr iva

‘Birth and the other transformations belong only to the body, never to the self — just as the moon's phases change, yet the moon itself does not, though the new-moon day may be called its “death.”’

Verse 48 (bhagavata.10.54.48)

यथा शयान आत्मानं विषयान् फलमेव च । अनुभुङ्क्ते ऽप्यसत्यर्थे तथाप्नोत्यबुधो भवम् ॥ ४८ ॥

yathā śayāna ātmānaṁ viṣayān phalam eva ca anubhuṅkte ’py asaty arthe tathāpnoty abudho bhavam

‘Just as a sleeping man experiences himself, the objects of the senses and the fruits of action within an unreal dream, so the unintelligent undergo material existence though it is unreal.’

Verse 49 (bhagavata.10.54.49)

तस्मादज्ञानजं शोकमात्मशोषविमोहनम् । तत्त्वज्ञानेन निर्हृत्य स्वस्था भव शुचिस्मिते ॥ ४९ ॥

tasmād ajñāna-jaṁ śokam ātma-śoṣa-vimohanam tattva-jñānena nirhṛtya sva-sthā bhava śuci-smite

‘Therefore, O you of the pure smile, dispel with true knowledge this grief born of ignorance, which withers and bewilders the self, and return to your own natural composure.’

Verse 50 (bhagavata.10.54.50)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं भगवता तन्वी रामेण प्रतिबोधिता । वैमनस्यं परित्यज्य मनो बुद्ध्या समादधे ॥ ५० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ bhagavatā tanvī rāmeṇa pratibodhitā vaimanasyaṁ parityajya mano buddhyā samādadhe

Shukadeva said: Thus enlightened by the Supreme Lord Balarama, slender Rukmini set aside her sorrow and steadied her mind through understanding.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.10.54.51)

प्राणावशेष उत्सृष्टो द्विड्भिर्हतबलप्रभः । स्मरन् विरूपकरणं वितथात्ममनोरथः । चक्रे भोजकटं नाम निवासाय महत्पुरम् ॥ ५१ ॥

prāṇāvaśeṣa utsṛṣṭo dviḍbhir hata-bala-prabhaḥ smaran virūpa-karaṇaṁ vitathātma-manorathaḥ cakre bhojakaṭaṁ nāma nivāsāya mahat puram

Cast out by his enemies with only his life breath remaining, his strength and radiance destroyed, still brooding over his disfigurement and his thwarted resolve, Rukmi built for his dwelling a great city named Bhojakata.

Verse 52 (bhagavata.10.54.52)

अहत्वा दुर्मतिं कृष्णमप्रत्यूह्य यवीयसीम् । कुण्डिनं न प्रवेक्ष्यामीत्युक्त्वा तत्रावसद् रुषा ॥ ५२ ॥

ahatvā durmatiṁ kṛṣṇam apratyūhya yavīyasīm kuṇḍinaṁ na pravekṣyāmīty uktvā tatrāvasad ruṣā

Having vowed, ‘I shall not enter Kundina without killing that wicked Krishna and bringing back my younger sister,’ he angrily settled there instead.

Verse 53 (bhagavata.10.54.53)

भगवान् भीष्मकसुतामेवं निर्जित्य भूमिपान् । पुरमानीय विधिवदुपयेमे कुरूद्वह ॥ ५३ ॥

bhagavān bhīṣmaka-sutām evaṁ nirjitya bhūmi-pān puram ānīya vidhi-vad upayeme kurūdvaha

O protector of the Kurus, having thus defeated the kings, the Supreme Lord brought the daughter of Bhishmaka to His own city and married her according to Vedic rites.

Verse 54 (bhagavata.10.54.54)

तदा महोत्सवो नृणां यदुपुर्यां गृहे गृहे । अभूदनन्यभावानां कृष्णे यदुपतौ नृप ॥ ५४ ॥

tadā mahotsavo nṝṇāṁ yadu-puryāṁ gṛhe gṛhe abhūd ananya-bhāvānāṁ kṛṣṇe yadu-patau nṛpa

O King, at that time great celebration arose in every home of the Yadu capital among the people, whose devotion to Krishna, chief of the Yadus, knew no other object.

Verse 55 (bhagavata.10.54.55)

नरा नार्यश्च मुदिताः प्रमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः । पारिबर्हमुपाजह्रुर्वरयोश्चित्रवाससोः ॥ ५५ ॥

narā nāryaś ca muditāḥ pramṛṣṭa-maṇi-kuṇḍalāḥ pāribarham upājahrur varayoś citra-vāsasoḥ

Joyful men and women, their jewels and earrings polished bright, brought wedding gifts and presented them to the wonderfully robed bride and groom.

Verse 56 (bhagavata.10.54.56)

सा वृष्णिपुर्युत्तम्भितेन्द्रकेतुभि- र्विचित्रमाल्याम्बररत्नतोरणैः । बभौ प्रतिद्वार्युपक्लृप्तमङ्गलै- रापूर्णकुम्भागुरुधूपदीपकैः ॥ ५६ ॥

sā vṛṣṇi-pury uttambhitendra-ketubhir vicitra-mālyāmbara-ratna-toraṇaiḥ babhau prati-dvāry upakḷpta-maṅgalair āpūrṇa-kumbhāguru-dhūpa-dīpakaiḥ

That city of the Vrishnis shone beautifully with upraised festive columns and archways decked in varied garlands, banners and jewels, every doorway adorned with auspicious brimming waterpots, aguru incense and lamps.

Verse 57 (bhagavata.10.54.57)

सिक्तमार्गा मदच्युद्भिराहूतप्रेष्ठभूभुजाम् । गजैर्द्वाःसु परामृष्टरम्भापूगोपशोभिता ॥ ५७ ॥

sikta-mārgā mada-cyudbhir āhūta-preṣṭha-bhūbhujām gajair dvāḥsu parāmṛṣṭa- rambhā-pūgopaśobhitā

Its streets, sprinkled by the ichor-flowing elephants of the beloved invited kings, were further beautified by plantain and betel-nut trunks set up at every doorway.

Verse 58 (bhagavata.10.54.58)

कुरुसृञ्जयकैकेयविदर्भयदुकुन्तयः । मिथो मुमुदिरे तस्मिन् सम्भ्रमात् परिधावताम् ॥ ५८ ॥

kuru-sṛñjaya-kaikeya- vidarbha-yadu-kuntayaḥ mitho mumudire tasmin sambhramāt paridhāvatām

Members of the Kuru, Srinjaya, Kaikeya, Vidarbha, Yadu and Kunti clans rejoiced together, meeting one another amid the excited crowds hurrying about.

Verse 59 (bhagavata.10.54.59)

रुक्मिण्या हरणं श्रुत्वा गीयमानं ततस्ततः । राजानो राजकन्याश्च बभूवुर्भृशविस्मिताः ॥ ५९ ॥

rukmiṇyā haraṇaṁ śrutvā gīyamānaṁ tatas tataḥ rājāno rāja-kanyāś ca babhūvur bhṛśa-vismitāḥ

Hearing the tale of Rukmini's abduction being sung on every side, the kings and their daughters were struck with utter amazement.

Verse 60 (bhagavata.10.54.60)

द्वारकायामभूद् राजन् महामोदः पुरौकसाम् । रुक्मिण्या रमयोपेतं दृष्ट्वा कृष्णं श्रियः पतिम् ॥ ६० ॥

dvārakāyām abhūd rājan mahā-modaḥ puraukasām rukmiṇyā ramayopetaṁ dṛṣṭvā kṛṣṇaṁ śriyaḥ patim

O King, there was great rejoicing among the citizens of Dvaraka upon seeing Krishna, the Lord of all fortune, united with Rukmini, the goddess of fortune herself.