Rukmiṇī’s Message to Lord Kṛṣṇa
VERSE 10.52.1
śrī-śuka uvāca
itthaṁ so ’nagrahīto ’nga
kṛṣṇenekṣvāku nandanaḥ
taṁ parikramya sannamya
niścakrāma guhā-mukhāt
SYNONYMS
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; ittham — in this manner; saḥ — he; anugrahītaḥ — shown mercy; aṅga — 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.
VERSE 10.52.2
saṁvīkṣya kṣullakān martyān
paśūn vīrud-vanaspatīn
matvā kali-yugaṁ prāptaṁ
jagāma diśam uttarām
SYNONYMS
saṁvīkṣya — 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.
VERSE 10.52.3
tapaḥ-śraddhā-yuto dhīro
niḥsaṅgo mukta-saṁśayaḥ
samādhāya manaḥ kṛṣṇe
prāviśad gandhamādanam
SYNONYMS
tapaḥ — in austerities; śraddhā — faith; yutaḥ — having; dhīraḥ — serious; niḥsaṅgaḥ — detached from material association; mukta — freed; saṁśayaḥ — 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.
VERSE 10.52.4
badary-āśramam āsādya
nara-nārāyaṇālayam
sarva-dvandva-sahaḥ śāntas
tapasārādhayad dharim
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.5
bhagavān punar āvrajya
purīṁ yavana-veṣṭitām
hatvā mleccha-balaṁ ninye
tadīyaṁ dvārakāṁ dhanam
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.6
nīyamāne dhane gobhir
nṛbhiś cācyuta-coditaiḥ
ājagāma jarāsandhas
trayo-viṁśaty-anīka-paḥ
SYNONYMS
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; viṁśati — 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.
VERSE 10.52.7
vilokya vega-rabhasaṁ
ripu-sainyasya mādhavau
manuṣya-ceṣṭām āpannau
rājan dudruvatur drutam
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.8
vihāya vittaṁ pracuram
abhītau bhīru-bhīta-vat
padbhyāṁ palāśābhyāṁ
celatur bahu-yojanam
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.9
palāyamānau tau dṛṣṭvā
māgadhaḥ prahasan balī
anvadhāvad rathānīkair
īśayor apramāṇa-vit
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.10
pradrutya dūraṁ saṁśrāntau
tuṅgam āruhatāṁ girim
pravarṣaṇākhyaṁ bhagavān
nityadā yatra varṣati
SYNONYMS
pradrutya — having run with full speed; dūram — a long distance; saṁśrāntau — exhausted; tuṅgam — 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.
VERSE 10.52.11
girau nilīnāv ājñāya
nādhigamya padaṁ nṛpa
dadāha girim edhobhiḥ
samantād agnim utsṛjan
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.12
tata utpatya tarasā
dahyamāna-taṭād ubhau
daśaika-yojanāt tuṅgān
nipetatur adho bhuvi
SYNONYMS
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; tuṅgāt — 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.
VERSE 10.52.13
alakṣyamāṇau ripuṇā
sānugena yadūttamau
sva-puraṁ punar āyātau
samudra-parikhāṁ nṛpa
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.14
so ’pi dagdhāv iti mṛṣā
manvāno bala-keśavau
balam ākṛṣya su-mahan
magadhān māgadho yayau
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.15
ānartādhipatiḥ śrīmān
raivato raivatīṁ sutām
brahmaṇā coditaḥ prādād
balāyeti puroditam
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.16-17
bhagavān api govinda
upayeme kurūdvaha
vaidarbhīṁ bhīṣmaka-sutāṁ
śriyo mātrāṁ svayaṁvare
pramathya tarasā rājñaḥ
śālvādīṁś caidya-pakṣa-gān
paśyatāṁ sarva-lokānāṁ
tārkṣya-putraḥ sudhām iva
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.18
śrī-rājovāca
bhagavān bhīṣmaka-sutāṁ
rukmiṇīṁ rucirānanām
rākṣasena vidhānena
upayema iti śrutam
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.19
bhagavan śrotum icchāmi
kṛṣṇasyāmita-tejasaḥ
yathā māgadha-śālvādīn
jitvā kanyām upāharat
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.20
brahman kṛṣṇa-kathāḥ puṇyā
mādhvīr loka-malāpahāḥ
ko nu tṛpyeta śṛṇvānaḥ
śruta-jño nitya-nūtanāḥ
SYNONYMS
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?
VERSE 10.52.21
śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca
rājāsīd bhīṣmako nāma
vidarbhādhipatir mahān
tasya pancābhavan putrāḥ
kanyaikā ca varānanā
SYNONYMS
śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ — Śrī Bādarāyaṇi (Śukadeva, the son of Badarāyaṇa Vedavyāsa); 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.
VERSE 10.52.22
rukmy agrajo rukmaratho
rukmabāhur anantaraḥ
rukmakeśo rukmamālī
rukmiṇy eṣā svasā satī
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.23
sopaśrutya mukundasya
rūpa-vīrya-guṇa-śriyaḥ
gṛhāgatair gīyamānās
taṁ mene sadṛśaṁ patim
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.24
tāṁ buddhi-lakṣaṇaudārya-
rūpa-śīla-guṇāśrayām
kṛṣṇaś ca sadṛśīṁ bhāryāṁ
samudvoḍhuṁ mano dadhe
SYNONYMS
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, magnanimity, 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.
VERSE 10.52.25
bandhūnām icchatāṁ dātuṁ
kṛṣṇāya bhaginīṁ nṛpa
tato nivārya kṛṣṇa-dviḍ
rukmī caidyam amanyata
SYNONYMS
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
O King, because Rukmī envied the Lord, he forbade his family members to give his sister to Kṛṣṇa, although they wanted to. Instead, Rukmī decided to give Rukmiṇī to Śiśupāla.
VERSE 10.52.26
tad avetyāsitāpāṅgī
vaidarbhī durmanā bhṛśam
vicintyāptaṁ dvijaṁ kañcit
kṛṣṇāya prāhiṇod drutam
SYNONYMS
tat — that; avetya — knowing; asita — dark; apāṅgī — 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.
VERSE 10.52.27
dvārakāṁ sa samabhyetya
pratīhāraiḥ praveśitaḥ
apaśyad ādyaṁ puruṣam
āsīnaṁ kāñcanāsane
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.28
dṛṣṭvā brahmaṇya-devas tam
avaruhya nijāsanāt
upaveśyārhayāṁ cakre
yathātmānaṁ divaukasaḥ
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.29
taṁ bhuktavantaṁ viśrāntam
upagamya satāṁ gatiḥ
pāṇinābhimṛśan pādāv
avyagras tam apṛcchata
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.30
kaccid dvija-vara-śreṣṭha
dharmas te vṛddha-sammataḥ
vartate nāti-kṛcchreṇa
santuṣṭa-manasaḥ sadā
SYNONYMS
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?
VERSE 10.52.31
santuṣṭo yarhi varteta
brāhmaṇo yena kenacit
ahīyamānaḥ svad dharmāt
sa hy asyākhila-kāma-dhuk
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.32
asantuṣṭo ’sakṛl lokān
āpnoty api sureśvaraḥ
akiñcano ’pi santuṣṭaḥ
śete sarvāṅga-vijvaraḥ
SYNONYMS
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; aṅga — 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.
VERSE 10.52.33
viprān sva-lābha-santuṣṭān
sādhūn bhūta-suhṛttamān
nirahaṅkāriṇaḥ śāntān
namasye śirasāsakṛt
SYNONYMS
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; nirahaṅkāriṇaḥ — 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.
VERSE 10.52.34
kaccid vaḥ kuśalaṁ brahman
rājato yasya hi prajāḥ
sukhaṁ vasanti viṣaye
pālyamānāḥ sa me priyaḥ
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.35
yatas tvam āgato durgaṁ
nistīryeha yad-icchayā
sarvaṁ no brūhy aguhyaṁ cet
kiṁ kāryaṁ karavāma te
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.36
evaṁ sampṛṣṭa-sampraśno
brāhmaṇaḥ parameṣṭhinā
līlā-gṛhīta-dehena
tasmai sarvam avarṇayat
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.37
śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
śrutvā guṇān bhuvana-sundara śṛṇvatāṁ te
nirviśya karṇa-vivarair harato ’ṅga-tāpam
rūpaṁ dṛśāṁ dṛśimatām akhilārtha-lābhaṁ
tvayy acyutāviśati cittam apatrapaṁ me
SYNONYMS
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; aṅga — 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.
VERSE 10.52.38
kā tvā mukunda mahatī kula-śīla-rūpa-
vidyā-vayo-draviṇa-dhāmabhir ātma-tulyam
dhīrā patiṁ kulavatī na vṛṇīta kanyā
kāle nṛ-siṁha nara-loka-mano-’bhirāmam
SYNONYMS
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; siṁha — 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?
VERSE 10.52.39
tan me bhavān khalu vṛtaḥ patir aṅga jāyām
ātmārpitaś ca bhavato ’tra vibho vidhehi
mā vīra-bhāgam abhimarśatu caidya ārād
gomāyu-van mṛga-pater balim ambujākṣa
SYNONYMS
tat — therefore; me — by me; bhavān — Your good self; khalu — indeed; vṛtaḥ — chosen; patiḥ — as husband; aṅga — 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.
VERSE 10.52.40
pūrteṣṭa-datta-niyama-vrata-deva-vipra
gurv-arcanādibhir alaṁ bhagavān pareśaḥ
ārādhito yadi gadāgraja etya pāṇiṁ
gṛhṇātu me na damaghoṣa-sutādayo ’nye
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.41
śvo bhāvini tvam ajitodvahane vidarbhān
guptaḥ sametya pṛtanā-patibhiḥ parītaḥ
nirmathya caidya-magadhendra-balaṁ prasahya
māṁ rākṣasena vidhinodvaha vīrya-śulkām
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.42
antaḥ-purāntara-carīm anihatya bandhūn
tvām udvahe katham iti pravadāmy upāyam
pūrve-dyur asti mahatī kula-deva-yātrā
yasyāṁ bahir nava-vadhūr girijām upeyāt
SYNONYMS
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.
VERSE 10.52.43
yasyāṅghri-paṅkaja-rajaḥ-snapanaṁ mahānto
vāñchanty umā-patir ivātma-tamo-’pahatyai
yarhy ambujākṣa na labheya bhavat-prasādaṁ
jahyām asūn vrata-kṛśān śata-janmabhiḥ syāt
SYNONYMS
yasya — whose; aṅghri — of the feet; paṅkaja — 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.
VERSE 10.52.44
brāhmaṇa uvāca
ity ete guhya-sandeśā
yadu-deva mayāhṛtāḥ
vimṛśya kartuṁ yac cātra
kriyatāṁ tad anantaram
SYNONYMS
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.