Śrīmad Bhāgavatam|Canto 10 Chapter 61

Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī

VERSE 10.61.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

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.

VERSE 10.61.2

gṛhād anapagaṁ vīkṣya
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.

VERSE 10.61.3

cārv-abja-kośa-vadanāyata-bāhu-netra-
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.

VERSE 10.61.4

smāyāvaloka-lava-darśita-bhāva-hāri
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.

VERSE 10.61.5

itthaṁ ramā-patim avāpya patiṁ striyas tā
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.

VERSE 10.61.6

pratyudgamāsana-varārhaṇa-pāda-śauca-
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.

VERSE 10.61.7

tāsāṁ yā daśa-putrāṇāṁ
kṛṣṇa-strīṇāṁ puroditāḥ
aṣṭau mahiṣyas tat-putrān
pradyumnādīn gṛṇāmi te

SYNONYMS

tāsām — among those; yāḥ — who; daśa — having ten; putrāṇām — sons; kṛṣṇa-strīṇām — wives of Lord Kṛṣṇa; purā — previously; uditāḥ — mentioned; aṣṭau — eight; mahiṣyaḥ — chief queens; tat — their; putrān — sons; pradyumna-ādīn — headed by Pradyumna; gṛṇāmi — I shall recite; te — for you.

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.

VERSE 10.61.8-9

cārudeṣṇaḥ sudeṣṇaś ca
cārudehaś ca vīryavān
sucāruś cāruguptaś ca
bhadracārus tathāparaḥ

cārucandro vicāruś ca
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.

VERSE 10.61.10-12

bhānuḥ subhānuḥ svarbhānuḥ
prabhānur bhānumāṁs tathā
candrabhānur bṛhadbhānur
atibhānus tathāṣṭamaḥ

śrībhānuḥ pratibhānuś ca
satyabhāmātmajā daśa
sāmbaḥ sumitraḥ purujic
chatajic ca sahasrajit

viyayaś citraketuś ca
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.

VERSE 10.61.13

vīraś candro ’śvasenaś ca
citragur vegavān vṛṣaḥ
āmaḥ śaṅkur vasuḥ śrīmān
kuntir nāgnajiteḥ sutāḥ

SYNONYMS

vīraḥ candraḥ aśvasenaḥ ca — Vīra, Candra and Aśvasena; citraguḥ vegavān vṛṣaḥ — Citragu, Vegavān and Vṛṣa; āmaḥ śaṅkuḥ vasuḥ — Āma, Śaṅku and Vasu; śrī-mān — opulent; kuntiḥ — Kunti; nāgnajiteḥ — of Nagnajitī; sutāḥ — the sons.

TRANSLATION

The sons of Nāgnajitī were Vīra, Candra, Aśvasena, Citragu, Vegavān, Vṛṣa, Āma, Śaṅku, Vasu and the opulent Kunti.

VERSE 10.61.14

śrutaḥ kavir vṛṣo vīraḥ
subāhur bhadra ekalaḥ
śāntir darśaḥ pūrṇamāsaḥ
kālindyāḥ somako ’varaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrutaḥ kaviḥ vṛṣaḥ vīraḥ — Śruta, Kavi, Vṛṣa and Vīra; subāhuḥ — Subāhu; bhadraḥ — Bhadra; ekalaḥ — one of them; śāntiḥ darśaḥ pūrṇamāsaḥ — Śānti, Darśa and Pūrṇamāsa; kālindyāḥ — of Kālindī; somakaḥ — Somaka; avaraḥ — the youngest.

TRANSLATION

Śruta, Kavi, Vṛṣa, Vīra, Subāhu, Bhadra, Śānti, Darśa and Pūrṇamāsa were sons of Kālindī. Her youngest son was Somaka.

VERSE 10.61.15

praghoṣo gātravān siṁho
balaḥ prabala ūrdhagaḥ
mādryāḥ putrā mahāśaktiḥ
saha ojo ’parājitaḥ

SYNONYMS

praghoṣaḥ gātravān siṁhaḥ — Praghoṣa, Gātravān and Siṁha; balaḥ prabalaḥ ūrdhagaḥ — Bala, Prabala and Ūrdhaga; mādryāḥ — of Mādrā; putrāḥ — sons; mahāśaktiḥ sahaḥ ojaḥ aparājitaḥ — Mahāśakti, Saha, Oja and Aparājita.

TRANSLATION

Mādrā’s sons were Praghoṣa, Gātravān, Siṁha, Bala, Prabala, Ūrdhaga, Mahāśakti, Saha, Oja and Aparājita.

VERSE 10.61.16

vṛko harṣo ’nilo gṛdhro
vardhanonnāda eva ca
mahāṁsaḥ pāvano vahnir
mitravindātmajāḥ kṣudhiḥ

SYNONYMS

vṛkaḥ harṣaḥ anilaḥ gṛdhraḥ — Vṛka, Harṣa, Anila and Gṛdhra; vardhana-unnādaḥ — Vardhana and Unnāda; eva ca — also; mahāṁsaḥ pāvanaḥ vahniḥ — Mahāṁsa, Pāvana and Vahni; mitravindā — of Mitravindā; ātmajāḥ — sons; kṣudhiḥ — Kṣudhi.

TRANSLATION

Mitravindā’s sons were Vṛka, Harṣa, Anila, Gṛdhra, Vardhana, Unnāda, Mahāṁsa, Pāvana, Vahni and Kṣudhi.

VERSE 10.61.17

saṅgrāmajid bṛhatsenaḥ
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.

VERSE 10.61.18

dīptimāṁs tāmrataptādyā
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.

VERSE 10.61.19

eteṣāṁ putra-pautrāś ca
babhūvuḥ koṭiśo nṛpa
mātaraḥ kṛṣṇa-jātīnāṁ
sahasrāṇi ca ṣoḍaśa

SYNONYMS

eteṣām — of these; putra — sons; pautrāḥ — and grandsons; ca — and; babhūvuḥ — were born; koṭiśaḥ — by the tens of millions; nṛpa — O King; mātaraḥ — the mothers; kṛṣṇa-jātīnām — of the descendants of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sahasrāṇi — thousands; ca — and; ṣoḍaśa — sixteen.

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.

VERSE 10.61.20

śrī-rājovāca

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.

VERSE 10.61.21

anāgatam atītaṁ ca
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.

VERSE 10.61.22

śrī-śuka uvāca

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.

VERSE 10.61.23

yady apy anusmaran vairaṁ
rukmī kṛṣṇāvamānitaḥ
vyatarad bhāgineyāya
sutāṁ kurvan svasuḥ priyam

SYNONYMS

yadi api — although; anusmaran — always remembering; vairam — his enmity; rukmī — Rukmī; kṛṣṇa — by Lord Kṛṣṇa; avamānitaḥ — insulted; vyatarat — granted; bhāgineyāya — to his sister’s son; sutām — his daughter; kurvan — doing; svasuḥ — of his sister; priyam — the pleasing.

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.

VERSE 10.61.24

rukmiṇyās tanayāṁ rājan
kṛtavarma-suto balī
upayeme viśālākṣīṁ
kanyāṁ cārumatīṁ kila

SYNONYMS

rukmiṇyāḥ — of Rukmiṇī; tanayām — the daughter; rājan — O King; kṛtavarma-sutaḥ — the son of Krtavarmā; balī — named Balī; upayeme — married; viśāla — broad; akṣīm — whose eyes; kanyām — young, innocent girl; cārumatīm — named Cārumatī; kila — indeed.

TRANSLATION

O King, Balī, the son of Kṛtavarmā, married Rukmiṇī’s young daughter, large-eyed Cārumatī.

VERSE 10.61.25

dauhitrāyāniruddhāya
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.

VERSE 10.61.26

tasminn abhyudaye rājan
rukmiṇī rāma-keśavau
puraṁ bhojakaṭaṁ jagmuḥ
sāmba-pradyumnakādayaḥ

SYNONYMS

tasmin — on the occasion of that; abhyudaye — happy event; rājan — O King; rukmiṇī — Rukmiṇī; rāma-keśavau — Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa; puram — to the city; bhojakaṭam — Bhojakaṭa; jagmuḥ — went; sāmba-pradyumnaka-ādayaḥ — Sāmba, Pradyumna and others.

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.

VERSE 10.61.27-28

tasmin nivṛtta udvāhe
kāliṅga-pramukhā nṛpāḥ
dṛptās te rukmiṇaṁ procur
balam akṣair vinirjaya

anakṣa-jño hy ayaṁ rājann
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.

VERSE 10.61.29

śataṁ sahasram ayutaṁ
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.

VERSE 10.61.30

tato lakṣaṁ rukmy agṛhṇād
glahaṁ tatrājayad balaḥ
jitavān aham ity āha
rukmī kaitavam āśritaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ — then; lakṣam — one hundred thousand; rukmī — Rukmī; agṛhṇāt — accepted; glaham — a bet; tatra — in that; ajayat — won; balaḥ — Lord Balarāma; jitavān — have won; aham — I; iti — thus; āha — said; rukmī — Rukmī; kaitavam — deception; āśritaḥ — resorting to.

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!”

VERSE 10.61.31

manyunā kṣubhitaḥ śrīmān
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.

VERSE 10.61.32

taṁ cāpi jitavān rāmo
dharmeṇa chalam āśritaḥ
rukmī jitaṁ mayātreme
vadantu prāśnikā iti

SYNONYMS

tam — that; ca api — also; jitavān — won; rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma; dharmeṇa — fairly; chalam — deceit; āśritaḥ — resorting to; rukmī — Rukmī; jitam — won; mayā — by me; atra — in this regard; ime — these; vadantu — may speak; prāśnikāḥ — witnesses; iti — thus.

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.”

VERSE 10.61.33

tadābravīn nabho-vāṇī
balenaiva jito glahaḥ
dharmato vacanenaiva
rukmī vadati vai mṛṣā

SYNONYMS

tadā — then; abravīt — spoke; nabhaḥ — in the sky; vāṇī — a voice; balena — by Lord Balarāma; eva — indeed; jitaḥ — won; glahaḥ — the wager; dharmataḥ — fairly; vacanena — with words; eva — certainly; rukmī — Rukmī; vadati — speaks; vai — indeed; mṛṣā — duplicitous.

TRANSLATION

Just then a voice from the sky declared, “Balarāma has fairly won this wager. Rukmī is surely lying.”

VERSE 10.61.34

tām anādṛtya vaidarbho
duṣṭa-rājanya-coditaḥ
saṅkarṣaṇaṁ parihasan
babhāṣe kāla-coditaḥ

SYNONYMS

tām — that (voice); anādṛtya — disregarding; vaidarbhaḥ — Rukmī, Prince of Vidarbha; duṣṭa — wicked; rājanya — by the kings; coditaḥ — urged on; saṅkarṣaṇam — to Lord Balarāma; parihasan — ridiculing; babhāṣe — he spoke; kāla — by the force of time; coditaḥ — impelled.

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.

VERSE 10.61.35

naivākṣa-kovidā yūyaṁ
gopālā vana-gocarāḥ
akṣair dīvyanti rājāno
bāṇaiś ca na bhavādṛśāḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; eva — indeed; akṣa — in playing at dice; kovidāḥ — expert; yūyam — You; gopālāḥ — cowherds; vana — in the forest; gocarāḥ — ranging about; akṣaiḥ — with dice; dīvyanti — play; rājānaḥ — kings; bāṇaiḥ — with arrows; ca — and; na — not; bhavādṛśāḥ — the likes of You.

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.

VERSE 10.61.36

rukmiṇaivam adhikṣipto
rājabhiś copahāsitaḥ
kruddhaḥ parigham udyamya
jaghne taṁ nṛmṇa-saṁsadi

SYNONYMS

rukmiṇā — by Rukmī; evam — in this manner; adhikṣiptaḥ — insulted; rājabhiḥ — by the kings; ca — and; upahāsitaḥ — laughed at; kruddhaḥ — angered; parigham — His club; udyamya — raising; jaghne — He struck dead; tam — him; nṛmṇa-saṁsadi — in the auspicious assembly.

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.

VERSE 10.61.37

kaliṅga-rājaṁ tarasā
gṛhītvā daśame pade
dantān apātayat kruddho
yo ’hasad vivṛtair dvijaiḥ

SYNONYMS

kaliṅga-rājam — the King of Kaliṅga; tarasā — quickly; gṛhītvā — seizing; daśame — on his tenth; pade — step (as he tried to run away); dantān — his teeth; apātayat — He knocked out; kruddhaḥ — angry; yaḥ — who; ahasat — laughed; vivṛtaiḥ — with openly displayed; dvijaiḥ — teeth.

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.

VERSE 10.61.38

anye nirbhinna-bāhūru-
śiraso rudhirokṣitāḥ
rājāno dudravar bhītā
balena paṅghārditāḥ

SYNONYMS

anye — others; nirbhinna — broken; bāhu — their arms; ūru — thighs; śirasaḥ — and heads; rudhira — with blood; ukṣitāḥ — drenched; rājānaḥ — kings; dudruvuḥ — fled; bhītāḥ — frightened; balena — by Lord Balarāma; parigha — with His club; arditāḥ — tormented.

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.

VERSE 10.61.39

nihate rukmiṇi śyāle
nābravīt sādhv asādhu vā
rakmiṇī-balayo rājan
sneha-bhaṅga-bhayād dhariḥ

SYNONYMS

nihate — being killed; rukmiṇi — Rukmī; śyāle — His brother-in-law; na abravīt — did not say; sādhu — good; asādhu — not good; — or; rukmiṇī-balayoḥ — of Rukmiṇī and Balarāma; rājan — O King; sneha — the affection; bhaṅga — of breaking; bhayāt — out of fear; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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.

VERSE 10.61.40

tato ’niruddhaṁ saha sūryayā varaṁ
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.