> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > **************

> > Chapter Fifty-four: The Marriage of Krishna and Rukminî

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > iti sarve su-samrabdhâ

> > vâhân âruhya dams'itâh

> > svaih svair balaih parikrântâ

> > anvîyur dhrita-kârmukâh

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti - thus (speaking); sarve - all of them; su-samrabdhâh - greatly angered; vâhân - their conveyances; âruhya - mounting; dams'itâh - wearing armor; svaih svaih - each by his own; balaih - military force; parikrântâh - surrounded; anvîyuh - they followed; dhrita - holding; kârmukâh - their bows.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Having thus spoken, all those infuriated kings donned their armor and mounted their conveyances. Each king, bow in hand, was surrounded by his own army as he went after Lord Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > tân âpatata âlokya

> > yâdavânîka-yûthapâh

> > tasthus tat-sammukhâ râjan

> > visphûrjya sva-dhanûmshi te

> > tân - them; âpatatah - in pursuit; âlokya - seeing; yâdava-anîka - of the Yâdava army; yûtha-pah - the officers; tasthuh - stood; tat - them; sammukhâh - directly facing; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); visphûrjya - twanging; sva - their; dhanûmshi - bows; te - they.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The commanders of the Yâdava army, seeing the enemy racing to attack, turned to face them and stood firm, O King, twanging their bows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > as'va-prishthhe gaja-skandhe

> > rathopasthe 'stra kovidâh

> > mumucuh s'ara-varshâni

> > meghâ adrishv apo yathâ

> > as'va-prishthhe - on horseback; gaja - of elephants; skandhe - on the shoulders; ratha - of chariots; upasthe - on the seats; astra - of weapons; kovidâh - those expert in the use; mumucuh - released; s'ara - of arrows; varshâni - rains; meghâh - clouds; adrishu - upon mountains; apah - water; yathâ - as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Mounted on the backs of horses, the shoulders of elephants and the seats of chariots, the enemy kings, expert with weapons, rained down arrows upon the Yadus like clouds pouring rain on mountains.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > patyur balam s'arâsârais'

> > channam vîkshya su-madhyamâ

> > sa-vrîdm aikshat tad-vaktram

> > bhaya-vihvala-locanâ

> > patyuh - of her Lord; balam - the army; s'ara - of arrows; âsâraih - by heavy rains; channam - covered; vîkshya - seeing; su-madhyamâ - slender-waisted (Rukminî); sa- vrîdam - shyly; aikshat - looked; tat - His; vaktram - at the face; bhaya - with fear; vihvala - disturbed; locanâ - whose eyes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Slender-waisted Rukminî, seeing her Lord's army covered by torrents of arrows, shyly looked at His face with fear-stricken eyes.

> > ******

> > SB 10.54.5

> > TEXT 5

> > prahasya bhagavân âha

> > mâ sma bhair vâma-locane

> > vinankshyaty adhunaivaitat

> > tâvakaih s'âtravam balam

> > prahasya - laughing; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; âha - said; mâ sma bhaih - do not be afraid; vâma-locane - O beautiful-eyed one; vinankshyati - will be destroyed; adhunâ eva - just now; etat - this; tâvakaih - by your (army); s'âtravam - of enemies; balam - force.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In response the Lord laughed and assured her, "Do not be afraid, beautiful- eyed one. This enemy force is about to be destroyed by your soldiers."

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > teshâm tad-vikramam vîrâ

> > gada-sankarshanâdayah

> > amrishyamânâ nârâcair

> > jaghnur haya-gajân rathân

> > teshâm - by them (the opposing kings); tat - that; vikramam - show of prowess; vîrâh - the heroes; gada - Gada, the younger brother of Lord Krishna; sankarshana - Lord Balarâma; âdayah - and others; amrishyamânâh - not tolerating; nârâcaih - with arrows made of iron; jaghnuh - they struck; haya - horses; gajân - elephants; rathân - and chariots.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The heroes of the Lord's army, headed by Gada and Sankarshana, could not tolerate the aggression of the opposing kings. Thus with iron arrows they began to strike down the enemy's horses, elephants and chariots.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > petuh s'irâmsi rathinâm

> > as'vinâm gajinâm bhuvi

> > sa-kundala-kirîthâni

> > soshnîshâni ca kothis'ah

> > petuh - fell; s'irâmsi - the heads; rathinâm - of those riding on chariots; as'vinâm - of those riding horses; gajinâm - of those riding elephants; bhuvi - to the ground; sa - with; kundala - earrings; kirîthâni - and helmets; sa - with; ushnîshâni - turbans; ca - and; kothis'ah - by the millions.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The heads of soldiers fighting on chariots, horses and elephants fell to the ground by the millions; some heads wore earrings and helmets, others turbans.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > hastâh sâsi-gadeshv-âsâh

> > karabhâ ûravo 'nghrayah

> > as'vâs'vatara-nâgoshthra-

> > khara-martya-s'irâmsi ca

> > hastâh - hands; sa - with; asi - swords; gadâ - clubs; ishu-âsâh - bows; karabhâh - fingerless hands; ûravah - thighs; anghrayah - legs; as'va - of horses; as'vatara - donkeys; nâga - elephants; ushthra - camels; khara - wild asses; martya - and humans; s'irâmsi - heads; ca - also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lying all around were thighs, legs and fingerless hands, along with hands clutching swords, clubs and bows, and also the heads of horses, donkeys, elephants, camels, wild asses and humans.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > hanyamâna-balânîkâ

> > vrishnibhir jaya-kânkshibhih

> > râjâno vimukhâ jagmur

> > jarâsandha-purah-sarâh

> > hanyamâna - being killed; bala-anîkâh - whose armies; vrishnibhih - by the Vrishnis; jaya - for victory; kânkshibhih - who were eager; râjânah - the kings; vimukhâh - discouraged; jagmuh - left; jarâsandha-purah-sarâh - headed by Jarâsandha.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing their armies being struck down by the Vrishnis, who were eager for victory, the kings headed by Jarâsandha were discouraged and left the battlefield.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > s'is'upâlam samabhyetya

> > hrita-dâram ivâturam

> > nashtha-tvisham gatotsâham

> > s'ushyad-vadanam abruvan

> > s'is'upâlam - S'is'upâla; samabhyetya - approaching; hrita - stolen; dâram - whose wife; iva - as if; âturam - perturbed; nashtha - lost; tvisham - whose color; gata - gone; utsâham - whose enthusiasm; s'ushyat - dried up; vadanam - whose face; abruvan - they addressed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The kings approached S'is'upâla, who was disturbed like a man who has lost his wife. His complexion was drained of color, his enthusiasm was gone, and his face appeared dried up. The kings spoke to him as follows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > bho bhoh purusha-s'ârdûla

> > daurmanasyam idam tyaja

> > na priyâpriyayo râjan

> > nishthhâ dehishu dris'yate

> > bhoh bhoh - O sir; purusha - among men; s'ârdûla - O tiger; daurmana-syam - depressed state of mind; idam - this; tyaja - give up; na - no; priya - of the desirable; apriyayoh - or the undesirable; râjan - O King; nishthhâ - permanence; dehishu - among embodied beings; dris'yate - is seen.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [Jarâsandha said:] Listen, S'is'upâla, O tiger among men, give up your depression. After all, embodied beings' happiness and unhappiness is never seen to be permanent, O King.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > yathâ dâru-mayî yoshit

> > nrityate kuhakecchayâ

> > evam îs'vara-tantro 'yam

> > îhate sukha-duhkhayoh

> > yathâ - as; dâru-mayî - made of wood; yoshit - a woman; nrityate - dances; kuhaka - of the showman; icchayâ - by the desire; evam - in the same way; îs'vara - of the Supreme Lord; tantrah - under the control; ayam - this world; îhate - endeavors; sukha - in joy; duhkhayoh - and misery.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Just as a puppet in the form of a woman dances by the desire of the puppeteer, so this world, controlled by the Supreme Lord, struggles in both happiness and misery.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > s'aureh sapta-das'âham vai

> > samyugâni parâjitah

> > trayo-vims'atibhih sainyair

> > jigye ekam aham param

> > s'aureh - with Krishna; sapta-das'a - seventeen; aham - I; vai - indeed; samyugâni - battles; parâjitah - lost; trayah-vims'atibhih - twenty-three; sainyaih - with armies; jigye - won; ekam - one; aham - I; param - only.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In battle with Krishna I and my twenty-three armies lost seventeen times; only once did I defeat Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > tathâpy aham na s'ocâmi

> > na prahrishyâmi karhicit

> > kâlena daiva-yuktena

> > jânan vidrâvitam jagat

> > tathâ api - nonetheless; aham - I; na s'ocâmi - do not lament; na prahrishyâmi - do not rejoice; karhicit - ever; kâlena - by time; daiva - with fate; yuktena - conjoined; jânan - knowing; vidrâvitam - driven; jagat - the world.

> > TRANSLATION

> > But still I never lament or rejoice, because I know this world is driven by time and fate.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > adhunâpi vayam sarve

> > vîra-yûthapa-yûthapâh

> > parâjitâh phalgu-tantrair

> > yadubhih krishna-pâlitaih

> > adhunâ - now; api - even; vayam - we; sarve - all; vîra - of heroes; yûtha-pa - of the leaders; yûtha-pâh - the leaders; parâjitâh - defeated; phalgu - meager; tantraih - whose entourage; yadubhih - by the Yadus; krishna-pâlitaih - protected by Krishna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > And now all of us, great commanders of military leaders, have been defeated by the Yadus and their small entourage, who are protected by Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > ripavo jigyur adhunâ

> > kâla âtmânusârini

> > tadâ vayam vijeshyâmo

> > yadâ kâlah pradakshinah

> > ripavah - our enemies; jigyuh - have conquered; adhunâ - now; kâle - the time; âtma - them; anusârîni - favoring; tadâ - then; vayam - we; vijeshyâmah - shall conquer; yadâ - when; kâlah - time; pradakshinah - turned toward us.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Now our enemies have conquered because time favors them, but in the future, when time is auspicious for us, we shall conquer.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > evam prabodhito mitrais'

> > caidyo 'gât sânugah puram

> > hata-s'eshâh punas te 'pi

> > yayuh svam svam puram nripâh

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; evam - thus; prabodhitah - persuaded; mitraih - by his friends; caidyah - S'is'upâla; agât - went; sa-anugah - with his followers; puram - to his city; hata - from the killed; s'eshâh - who remained; punah - again; te - they; api - also; yayuh - went; svam svam - each to his own; puram - city; nripâh - kings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Thus persuaded by his friends, S'is'upâla took his followers and went back to his capital. The surviving warriors also returned to their respective cities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > rukmî tu râkshasodvâham

> > krishna-dvid asahan svasuh

> > prishthhato 'nvagamat krishnam

> > akshauhinyâ vrito balî

> > rukmî - Rukmî; tu - however; râkshasa - in the style of demons; udvâham - the marriage; krishna-dvith - the hater of Krishna; asahan - unable to bear; svasuh - of his sister; prishthhatah - from behind; anvagamat - he followed; krishnam - Lord Krishna; akshauhinyâ - by an entire akshauhinî division; vritah - surrounded; balî - powerful.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Powerful Rukmî, however, was especially envious of Krishna. He could not bear the fact that Krishna had carried off his sister to marry her in the Râkshasa style. Thus he pursued the Lord with an entire military division.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 19 - 20

> > rukmy amarshî su-samrabdhah

> > s'rinvatâm sarva-bhûbhujâm

> > pratijajn'e mahâ-bâhur

> > dams'itah sa-s'arâsanah

> > ahatvâ samare krishnam

> > apratyûhya ca rukminîm

> > kundinam na pravekshyâmi

> > satyam etad bravîmi vah

> > rukmî - Rukmî; amarshî - intolerant; su-samrabdhah - extremely angry; s'rinvatâm - while they listened; sarva - all; bhû-bhujâm - the kings; pratijajn'e - he swore; mahâ-bâhuh - mighty-armed; dams'itah - wearing his armor; sa-s'arâsanah - with his bow;

> > ahatvâ - without killing; samare - in battle; krishnam - Krishna; apratyûhya - without bringing back; ca - and; rukminîm - Rukminî; kundinam - the city of Kundina; na pravekshyâmi - I shall not enter; satyam - in truth; etat - this; bravîmi - I say; vah - to all of you.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Frustrated and enraged, mighty-armed Rukmî, dressed in armor and wielding his bow, had sworn before all the kings, "I shall not again enter Kundina if I do not kill Krishna in battle and bring Rukminî back with me. I swear this to you."

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > ity uktvâ ratham âruhya

> > sârathim prâha satvarah

> > codayâs'vân yatah krishnah

> > tasya me samyugam bhavet

> > iti - thus; uktvâ - speaking; ratham - on his chariot; âruhya - climbing; sârathim - to his driver; prâha - said; satvarah - quickly; codaya - drive; as'vân - the horses; yatah - to where; krishnah - Krishna; tasya - His; me - with me; samyugam - fight; bhavet - must be.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Having said this, he had mounted his chariot and told his charioteer, "Drive the horses quickly to where Krishna is. He and I must fight.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > adyâham nis'itair bânair

> > gopâlasya su-durmateh

> > neshye vîrya-madam yena

> > svasâ me prasabham hritâ

> > adya - today; aham - I; nis'itaih - sharp; bânaih - with my arrows; gopâlasya - of the cowherd; su-durmateh - whose mentality is most wicked; neshye - I will remove; vîrya - in His power; madam - the intoxicated pride; yena - by which; svasâ - sister; me - my; prasabham - violently; hritâ - abducted.

> > TRANSLATION

> > "This wicked-minded cowherd boy, infatuated with His prowess, has violently abducted my sister. But today I will remove His pride with my sharp arrows."

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > vikatthamânah kumatir

> > îs'varasyâpramâna-vit

> > rathenaikena govindam

> > tishthha tishthhety athâhvayat

> > vikatthamânah - boasting; ku-matih - foolish; îs'varasya - of the Supreme Lord; apramâna-vit - not knowing the dimensions; rathena ekena - with a single chariot; govindam - to Lord Krishna; tishthha tishthha - stand and fight; iti - so saying; atha - then; âhvayat - he called.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Boasting thus, foolish Rukmî, ignorant of the true extent of the Supreme Lord's power, approached Lord Govinda in his lone chariot and challenged Him, "Just stand and fight!"

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > dhanur vikrishya su-dridham

> > jaghne krishnam tribhih s'araih

> > âha câtra kshanam tishthha

> > yadûnâm kula-pâmsana

> > dhanuh - his bow; vikrishya - drawing; su - very; dridham - firmly; jaghne - he struck; krishnam - Lord Krishna; tribhih - with three; s'araih - arrows; âha - he said; ca - and; atra - here; kshanam - a moment; tishthha - stand; yadûnâm - of the Yadus; kula - of the dynasty; pâmsana - O corrupter.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Rukmî drew his bow with great strength and struck Lord Krishna with three arrows. Then he said, "Stand here for a moment, O defiler of the Yadu dynasty!

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > yatra yâsi svasâram me

> > mushitvâ dhvânksha-vad dhavih

> > harishye 'dya madam manda

> > mâyinah kûtha-yodhinah

> > yatra - wherever; yâsi - You go; svasâram - sister; me - my; mushitvâ - having stolen; dhvânksha-vat - like a crow; havih - the sacrificial butter; harishye - I will remove; adya - today; madam - Your false pride; manda - You fool; mâyinah - of the deceiver; kûtha - cheating; yodhinah - of the fighter.

> > TRANSLATION

> > "Wherever You go, carrying off my sister like a crow stealing sacrificial butter, I will follow. This very day I shall relieve You of Your false pride, You fool, You deceiver, You cheater in battle!

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > yâvan na me hato bânaih

> > s'ayîthâ mun'ca dârîkâm

> > smayan krishno dhanus' chittvâ

> > shadbhir vivyâdha rukminam

> > yâvat - while; na - not; me - my; hatah - killed; bânaih - by the arrows; s'ayîthah - you lie down; mun'ca - release; dârîkâm - the girl; smayan - smiling; krishnah - Lord Krishna; dhanuh - his bow; chittvâ - breaking; shadbhih - with six (arrows); vivyâdha - pierced; rukminam - Rukmî.

> > TRANSLATION

> > "Release the girl before You are struck dead by my arrows and made to lie down!" In response to this, Lord Krishna smiled, and with six arrows He struck Rukmî and broke his bow.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > ashthabhis' caturo vâhân

> > dvâbhyâm sûtam dhvajam tribhih

> > sa cânyad dhanur âdhâya

> > krishnam vivyâdha pan'cabhih

> > ashthabhih - with eight (arrows); caturah - the four; vâhân - horses; dvâbhyâm - with two; sûtam - the chariot driver; dhvajam - the flagpole; tribhih - with three; sah - he, Rukmî; ca - and; anyat - another; dhanuh - bow; âdhâya - taking up; krishnam - Krishna; vivyâdha - pierced; pan'cabhih - with five.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord struck Rukmî's four horses with eight arrows, his chariot driver with two, and the chariot's flag with three. Rukmî grabbed another bow and struck Lord Krishna with five arrows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > tais tâditah s'araughais tu

> > ciccheda dhanur acyutah

> > punar anyad upâdatta

> > tad apy acchinad avyayah

> > taih - by these; tâditah - struck; s'ara - of arrows; oghaih - floods; tu - although; ciccheda - broke; dhanuh - (Rukmî's) bow; acyutah - Lord Krishna; punah - again; anyat - another; upâdatta - he (Rukmî) picked up; tat - that; api - also; acchinat - broke; avyayah - the infallible Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although hit by these many arrows, Lord Acyuta again broke Rukmî's bow. Rukmî picked up yet another bow, but the infallible Lord broke that one to pieces as well.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > parigham paththis'am s'ûlam

> > carmâsî s'akti-tomarau

> > yad yad âyudham âdatta

> > tat sarvam so 'cchinad dharih

> > parigham - spiked iron bludgeon; paththis'am - three-pointed spear; s'ûlam - lance; carma-asî - shield and sword; s'akti - pike; tomarau - javelin; yat yat - whatever; âyudham - weapon; âdatta - he took up; tat sarvam - all of them; sah - He; acchinat - broke; harih - Lord Krishna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Iron bludgeon, three-pointed spear, sword and shield, pike, javelin - whatever weapon Rukmî picked up, Lord Hari smashed it to bits.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > tato rathâd avaplutya

> > khadga-pânir jighâmsayâ

> > krishnam abhyadravat kruddhah

> > patanga iva pâvakam

> > tatah - then; rathât - from his chariot; avaplutya - leaping down; khadga - a sword; panih - in his hand; jighâmsayâ - with the desire to kill; krishnam - Lord Krishna; abhyadravat - he ran toward; kruddhah - furious; patangah - a bird; iva - as; pâvakam - the wind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then Rukmî leaped down from his chariot and, sword in hand, rushed furiously toward Krishna to kill Him, like a bird flying into the wind.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > tasya câpatatah khadgam

> > tilas'as' carma ceshubhih

> > chittvâsim âdade tigmam

> > rukminam hantum udyatah

> > tasya - of him; ca - and; âpatatah - who was attacking; khadgam - the sword; tilas'ah - into small pieces; carma - the shield; ca - and; ishubhih - with His arrows; chittvâ - breaking; asim - His sword; âdade - He took; tigmam - sharp; rukminam - Rukmî; hantum - to kill; udyatah - prepared.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As Rukmî attacked Him, the Lord shot arrows that broke Rukmî's sword and shield into small pieces. Krishna then took up His own sharp sword and prepared to kill Rukmî.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > drishthvâ bhrâtri-vadhodyogam

> > rukminî bhaya-vihvalâ

> > patitvâ pâdayor bhartur

> > uvâca karunam satî

> > drishthvâ - seeing; bhrâtri - her brother; vadha - to kill; udyogam - the attempt; rukminî - S'rîmatî Rukminî; bhaya - by fear; vihvalâ - agitated; patitvâ - falling; pâdayoh - at the feet; bhartuh - of her husband; uvâca - spoke; karunam - pathetically; satî - saintly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing Lord Krishna ready to kill her brother, saintly Rukminî was filled with alarm. She fell at her husband's feet and piteously spoke as follows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > s'rî-rukminy uvâca

> > yoges'varâprameyâtman

> > deva-deva jagat-pate

> > hantum nârhasi kalyâna

> > bhrâtaram me mahâ-bhuja

> > s'rî-rukminî uvâca - S'rî Rukminî said; yoga-îs'vara - O controller of all mystic power; aprameya-âtman - O immeasurable one; deva-deva - O Lord of lords; jagat- pate - O master of the universe; hantum na arhasi - please do not kill; kalyâna - O all auspicious one; bhrâtaram - brother; me - my; mahâ-bhuja - O mighty- armed one.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî Rukminî said: O controller of all mystic power, immeasurable one, Lord of lords, master of the universe! O all auspicious and mighty-armed one, please do not kill my brother!

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > tayâ paritrâsa-vikampitângayâ

> > s'ucâvas'ushyan-mukha-ruddha-kanthhayâ

> > kâtarya-visramsita-hema-mâlayâ

> > grihîta-pâdah karuno nyavartata

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; tayâ - by her; paritrâsa - in total fear; vikampita - trembling; angayâ - whose limbs; s'ucâ - out of sorrow; avas'ushyat - drying up; mukha - whose mouth; ruddha - and choked; kanthhayâ - whose throat; kâtarya - in her agitation; visramsita - disheveled; hema - golden; mâlayâ - whose necklace; grihîta - held; pâdah - His feet; karunah - compassionate; nyavartata - He desisted.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Rukminî's utter fear caused her limbs to tremble and her mouth to dry up, while her throat choked up out of sorrow. And in her agitation her golden necklace scattered. She grasped Krishna's feet, and the Lord, feeling compassionate, desisted.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > cailena baddhvâ tam asâdhu-kârînam

> > sa-s'mas'ru-kes'am pravapan vyarûpayat

> > tâvan mamarduh para-sainyam adbhutam

> > yadu-pravîrâ nalinîm yathâ gajâh

> > cailena - with a strip of cloth; baddhvâ - tying up; tam - him; asâdhu- kârinam - the evil-doer; sa-s'mas'ru-kes'am - leaving some of his mustache and hair remaining; pravapan - by shaving him; vyarûpayat - made him disfigured; tâvat - by then; mamarduh - they had crushed; para - opposing; sainyam - the army; adbhutam - extraordinary; yadu-pravîrâh - the heroes of the Yadu dynasty; nalinîm - a lotus flower; yathâ - as; gajâh - elephants.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Krishna tied up the evil-doer with a strip of cloth. He then proceeded to disfigure Rukmî by comically shaving him, leaving parts of his mustache and hair. By that time the Yadu heroes had crushed the extraordinary army of their opponents, just as elephants crush a lotus flower.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > krishnântikam upavrajya

> > dadris'us tatra rukminam

> > tathâ-bhûtam hata-prâyam

> > drishthvâ sankarshano vibhuh

> > vimucya baddham karuno

> > bhagavân krishnam abravît

> > krishna - of Krishna; antikam - the proximity; upavrajya - approaching; dadris'uh - they (the Yadu soldiers) saw; tatra - there; rukminam - Rukmî; tathâ-bhûtam - in such a condition; hata - dead; prâyam - practically; drishthvâ - seeing; sankarshanah - Balarâma; vibhuh - the omnipotent; vimucya - releasing; baddham - the bound-up (Rukmî); karunah - compassionate; bhagavân - the Lord; krishnam - to Krishna; abravît - said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As the Yadus approached Lord Krishna, they saw Rukmî in this sorry condition, practically dying of shame. When the all-powerful Lord Balarâma saw Rukmî, He compassionately released him and spoke the following to Lord Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > asâdhv idam tvayâ krishna

> > kritam asmaj-jugupsitam

> > vapanam s'mas'ru-kes'ânâm

> > vairûpyam suhrido vadhah

> > asâdhu - improperly; idam - this; tvayâ - by You; krishna - O Krishna; kritam - done; asmat - for Us; jugupsitam - terrible; vapanam - the shaving; s'mas'ru-kes'ânâm - of his mustache and hair; vairûpyam - the disfigurement; suhridah - of a family member; vadhah - death.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [Lord Balarâma said:] My dear Krishna, You have acted improperly! This deed will bring shame on Us, for to disfigure a close relative by shaving off his mustache and hair is as good as killing him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > maivâsmân sâdhvy asûyethâ

> > bhrâtur vairûpya-cintayâ

> > sukha-duhkha-do na cânyo 'sti

> > yatah sva-krita-bhuk pumân

> > mâ - please do not; eva - indeed; asmân - toward Us; sâdhvi - O saintly lady; asûyethâh - feel inimical; bhrâtuh - of your brother; vairûpya - over the disfigurement; cintayâ - out of concern; sukha - of happiness; duhkha - and unhappiness; dah - bestower; na - not; ca - and; anyah - anyone else; asti - there is; yatah - since; sva - of his own; krita - action; bhuk - the sufferer of the reaction; pumân - a man.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Saintly lady, please do not be displeased with Us out of anxiety for your brother's disfigurement. No one but oneself is responsible for one's joy and grief, for a man experiences the result of his own deeds.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > bandhur vadhârha-dosho 'pi

> > na bandhor vadham arhati

> > tyâjyah svenaiva doshena

> > hatah kim hanyate punah

> > bandhuh - a relative; vadha - being killed; arha - which merits; doshah - whose wrong-doing; api - even though; na - not; bandhoh - from a relative; vadham - being killed; arhati - deserves; tyâjyah - to be cast out; svena eva - by his own; doshena - fault; hatah - killed; kim - why; hanyate - is to be killed; punah - again.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [Again addressing Krishna, Balarâma said:] A relative should not be killed even if his wrongdoing warrants capital punishment. Rather, he should be thrown out of the family. Since he has already been killed by his own sin, why kill him again?

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > kshatriyânâm ayam dharmah

> > prajâpati-vinirmitah

> > bhrâtâpi bhrâtaram hanyâd

> > yena ghoratamas tatah

> > kshatriyânâm - of warriors; ayam - this; dharmah - code of sacred duty; prajâpati - by the original progenitor, Lord Brahmâ; vinirmitah - established; bhrâtâ - a brother; api - even; bhrâtaram - his brother; hanyât - has to kill; yena - by which (code); ghora-tamah - most terrible; tatah - therefore.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [Turning to Rukminî, Balarâma continued: ] The code of sacred duty for warriors established by Lord Brahmâ enjoins that one may have to kill even his own brother. That is indeed a most dreadful law.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > râjyasya bhûmer vittasya

> > striyo mânasya tejasah

> > mânino 'nyasya vâ hetoh

> > s'rî-madândhâh kshipanti hi

> > râjyasya - of kingdom; bhûmeh - of land; vittasya - of wealth; striyah - of a woman; mânasya - of honor; tejasah - of power; mâninah - those who are proud; anyasya - of something else; vâ - or; hetoh - for the reason; s'rî - in their opulence; mada - by their intoxication; andhâh - blinded; kshipanti - they commit insult; hi - indeed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [Again Balarâma addressed Krishna:] Blinded by conceit with their personal opulences, proud men offend others for the sake of such things as kingdom, land, wealth, women, honor and power.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > taveyam vishamâ buddhih

> > sarva-bhûteshu durhridâm

> > yan manyase sadâbhadram

> > suhridâm bhadram ajn'a-vat

> > tava - your; iyam - this; vishamâ - biased; buddhih - attitude; sarva-bhûteshu - toward all living beings; durhridâm - of those who have ill intentions; yat - that; manyase - you wish; sadâ - always; abhadram - evil; suhridâm - to your well-wishers; bhadram - good; ajn'a-vat - like an ignorant person.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [To Rukminî Balarâma said:] Your attitude is unfair, for like an ignorant person you wish good to those who are inimical to all living beings and who have done evil to your true well-wishers.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > âtma-moho nrinâm eva

> > kalpate deva-mâyayâ

> > suhrid durhrid udâsîna

> > iti dehâtma-mâninâm

> > âtma - about the self; mohah - the bewilderment; nrinâm - of men; eva - only; kalpate - is effected; deva - of the Supreme Lord; mâyayâ - by the illusory, material energy; suhrit - a friend; durhrit - an enemy; udâsînah - a neutral party; iti - thus thinking; deha - the body; âtma - as the self; mâninâm - for those who consider.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Lord's Mâyâ makes men forget their real selves, and thus, taking the body for the self, they consider others to be friends, enemies or neutral parties.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > eka eva paro hy âtmâ

> > sarveshâm api dehinâm

> > nâneva grihyate mûdhair

> > yathâ jyotir yathâ nabhah

> > ekah - one; eva - only; parah - the Supreme; hi - indeed; âtmâ - Soul; sarveshâm - among all; api - and; dehinâm - embodied beings; nânâ - many; iva - as if; grihyate - is perceived; mûdhaih - by those who are bewildered; yathâ - as; jyotih - a celestial body; yathâ - as; nabhah - the sky.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Those who are bewildered perceive the one Supreme Soul, who resides in all embodied beings, as many, just as one may perceive the light in the sky, or the sky itself, as many.

> > ******

> > TEXT 45

> > deha âdy-antavân esha

> > dravya-prâna-gunâtmakah

> > âtmany avidyayâ kÿptah

> > samsârayati dehinam

> > dehah - the material body; âdi - beginning; anta - and end; vân - having; eshah - this; dravya - of the physical elements; prâna - the senses; guna - and the primary modes of material nature (goodness, passion and ignorance); âtmakah - composed; âtmani - on the self; avidyayâ - by material ignorance; kÿptah - imposed; samsârayati - causes to experience the cycle of birth and death; dehinam - an embodied being.

> > TRANSLATION

> > This material body, which has a beginning and an end, is composed of the physical elements, the senses and the modes of nature. The body, imposed on the self by material ignorance, causes one to experience the cycle of birth and death.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > nâtmano 'nyena samyogo

> > viyogas' casatah sati

> > tad-dhetutvât tat-prasiddher

> > drig-rûpâbhyâm yathâ raveh

> > na - not; âtmanah - for the self; anyena - with anything else; samyogah - contact; viyogah - separation; ca - and; asatah - with that which is insubstantial; sati - O discriminating one; tat - from it (the self); hetutvât - because of originating; tat - by it (the self); prasiddheh - because of being revealed; drik - with the sense of vision; rûpâbhyâm - and visible form; yathâ - as; raveh - for the sun.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O intelligent lady, the soul never undergoes contact with or separation from insubstantial, material objects, because the soul is their very origin and illuminator. Thus the soul resembles the sun, which neither comes in contact with nor separates from the sense of sight and what is seen.

> > ******

> > TEXT 47

> > janmâdayas tu dehasya

> > vikriyâ nâtmanah kvacit

> > kalânâm iva naivendor

> > mritir hy asya kuhûr iva

> > janma-âdayah - birth and so on; tu - but; dehasya - of the body; vikriyâh - transformations; na - not; âtmanah - of the self; kvacit - ever; kalânâm - of the phases; iva - as; na - not; eva - indeed; indoh - of the moon; mritih - the death; hi - indeed; asya - of it; kuhûh - the new moon day; iva - as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Birth and other transformations are undergone by the body but never by the self, just as change occurs for the moon's phases but never for the moon, though the new-moon day may be called the moon's "death."

> > ******

> > TEXT 48

> > yathâ s'ayâna âtmânam

> > vishayân phalam eva ca

> > anubhunkte 'py asaty arthe

> > tathâpnoty abudho bhavam

> > yathâ - as; s'ayânah - a sleeping person; âtmânam - himself; vishayân - sense objects; phalam - the fruits; eva - indeed; ca - also; anubhunkte - experiences; api - even; asati arthe - in that which is not real; tathâ - so; âpnoti - undergoes; abudhah - the unintelligent; bhavam - material existence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As a sleeping person perceives himself, the objects of sense enjoyment and the fruits of his acts within the illusion of a dream, so one who is unintelligent undergoes material existence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 49

> > tasmâd ajn'âna-jam s'okam

> > âtma-s'osha-vimohanam

> > tattva-jn'ânena nirhritya

> > sva-sthâ bhava s'uci-smite

> > tasmât - therefore; ajn'âna - out of ignorance; jam - born; s'okam - the lamentation; âtma - yourself; s'osha - drying up; vimohanam - and bewildering; tattva - of the truth; jn'ânena - with knowledge; nirhritya - dispelling; sva-sthâ - reinstated in your natural mood; bhava - please be; s'uci-smite - O you whose smile is pure.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Therefore, with transcendental knowledge dispel the grief that is weakening and confounding your mind. Please resume your natural mood, O princess of the pristine smile.

> > ******

> > TEXT 50

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > evam bhagavatâ tanvî

> > râmena pratibodhitâ

> > vaimanasyam parityajya

> > mano buddhyâ samâdadhe

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; evam - thus; bhagavatâ - by the Supreme Lord; tanvî - slender-waisted Rukminî; râmena - by Balarâma; pratibodhitâ - enlightened; vaimanasyam - her depression; parityajya - giving up; manah - her mind; buddhyâ - by intelligence; samâdadhe - composed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Thus enlightened by Lord Balarâma, slender Rukminî forgot her depression and steadied her mind by spiritual intelligence.

> > ******

> > TEXT 51

> > prânâvas'esha utsrishtho

> > dvidbhir hata-bala-prabhah

> > smaran virûpa-karanam

> > vitathâtma-manorathah

> > cakre bhojakatham nâma

> > nivâsâya mahat puram

> > prâna - his life air; avas'eshah - remaining only; utshrishthah - expelled; dvidbhih - by his enemies; hata - destroyed; bala - his strength; prabhah - and bodily effulgence; smaran - remembering; virûpa-karanam - his disfigurement; vitatha - frustrated; âtma - his personal; manah-rathah - desires; cakre - he made; bhoja-katham nâma - named Bhojakatha; nivâsâya - for his residence; mahat - large; puram - a city.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Left with only his life air, cast out by his enemies and deprived of his strength and bodily radiance, Rukmî could not forget how he had been disfigured. In frustration he constructed for his residence a large city, which he called Bhojakatha.

> > ******

> > TEXT 52

> > ahatvâ durmatim krishnam

> > apratyûhya yavîyasîm

> > kundinam na pravekshyâmîty

> > uktvâ tatrâvasad rushâ

> > ahatvâ - without killing; durmatim - evil-minded; krishnam - Krishna; apratyûhya - without bringing back; yavîyasîm - my younger sister; kundinam - Kundina; na pravekshyâmi - I will not enter; iti - such; uktvâ - having spoken; tatra - there (in the same place where he had been disfigured); avasat - he took up residence; rushâ - in anger.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because he had promised "I will not reenter Kundina until I have killed wicked Krishna and brought back my younger sister," in a mood of angry frustration Rukmî took up residence at that very place.

> > ******

> > TEXT 53

> > bhagavân bhîshmaka-sutâm

> > evam nirjitya bhûmi-pân

> > puram ânîya vidhi-vad

> > upayeme kurûdvaha

> > bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; bhîshmaka-sutâm - the daughter of Bhîshmaka; evam - thus; nirjitya - defeating; bhûmi-pân - the kings; puram - to His capital; ânîya - bringing; vidhi-vat - in accordance with the injunctions of the Vedas; upayeme - married; kuru-udvaha - O protector of the Kurus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus defeating all the opposing kings, the Supreme Personality of Godhead brought the daughter of Bhîshmaka to His capital and married her according to the Vedic injunctions, O protector of the Kurus.

> > ******

> > TEXT 54

> > tadâ mahotsavo nrnâm

> > yadu-puryâm grihe grihe

> > abhûd ananya-bhâvânâm

> > krishne yadu-patau nripa

> > tadâ - then; mahâ-utsavah - great rejoicing; nrnâm - by the people; yadu- puryâm - in the capital of the Yadus, Dvârakâ; grihe grihe - in each and every home; abhût - arose; ananya-bhâvânâm - who had exclusive love; krishne - for Krishna; yadu-patau - the chief of the Yadus; nripa - O King (Parîkchit).

> > TRANSLATION

> > At that time, O King, there was great rejoicing in all the homes of Yadupurî, whose citizens loved only Krishna, chief of the Yadus.

> > ******

> > TEXT 55

> > narâ nâryas' ca muditâh

> > pramrishtha-mani-kundalâh

> > pâribarham upâjahrur

> > varayos' citra-vâsasoh

> > narâh - the men; nâryah - women; ca - and; muditâh - joyful; pramrishtha - polished; mani - their jewels; kundalâh - and earrings; pâribarham - wedding gifts; upâjahruh - they respectfully presented; varayoh - to the groom and the bride; citra - wonderful; vâsasoh - whose dress.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All the men and women, full of joy and adorned with shining jewels and earrings, brought wedding presents, which they reverently offered to the exquisitely dressed groom and bride.

> > ******

> > TEXT 56

> > sâ vrishni-pury uttambhitendra-ketubhir

> > vicitra-mâlyâmbara-ratna-toranaih

> > babhau prati-dvâry upakÿpta-mangalair

> > âpûrna-kumbhâguru-dhûpa-dîpakaih

> > sâ - that; vrishni-purî - city of the Vrishnis; uttambhita - upraised; indra- ketubhih - with festive columns; vicitra - variegated; mâlya - having flower garlands; ambara - cloth banners; ratna - and jewels; toranaih - with archways; babhau - appeared beautiful; prati - in every; dvâri - doorway; upakÿpta - arranged; mangalaih - with auspicious items; âpûrna - full; kumbha - waterpots; aguru - scented with aguru; dhûpa - with incense; dîpakaih - and lamps.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The city of the Vrishnis appeared most beautiful: there were tall, festive columns, and also archways decorated with flower garlands, cloth banners and precious gems. Arrangements of auspicious, full waterpots, aguru- scented incense, and lamps graced every doorway.

> > ******

> > TEXT 57

> > sikta-mârgâ mada-cyudbhir

> > âhûta-preshthha-bhûbhujâm

> > gajair dvâhsu parâmrishtha-

> > rambhâ-pûgopas'obhitâ

> > sikta - sprinkled; mârgâ - its streets; mada - a secretion that flows from the foreheads of excited elephants; cyudbhih - exuding; âhûta - invited; preshthha - beloved; bhû-bhujâm - of the kings; gajaih - by the elephants; dvâhsu - in the doorways; parâmrishtha - handled; rambhâ - by plantain trees; pûga - and betel-nut trees; upas'obhitâ - beautified.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The city's streets were cleansed by the intoxicated elephants belonging to the beloved kings who were guests at the wedding, and these elephants further enhanced the beauty of the city by placing trunks of plantain and betel-nut trees in all the doorways.

> > ******

> > TEXT 58

> > kuru-srin'jaya-kaikeya-

> > vidarbha-yadu-kuntayah

> > mitho mumudire tasmin

> > sambhramât paridhâvatâm

> > kuru-srin'jaya-kaikeya-vidarbha-yadu-kuntayah - of the members of the Kuru, Srin'jaya, Kaikeya, Vidarbha, Yadu and Kunti clans; mithah - with one another; mumudire - they took pleasure; tasmin - in that (festivity); sambhramât - out of excitement; paridhâvatâm - among those who were running about.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Those who belonged to the royal families of the Kuru, Srin'jaya, Kaikeya, Vidarbha, Yadu and Kunti clans joyfully met one another in the midst of the crowds of people excitedly running here and there.

> > ******

> > TEXT 59

> > rukminyâ haranam s'rutvâ

> > gîyamânam tatas tatah

> > râjâno râja-kanyâs' ca

> > babhûvur bhris'a-vismitâh

> > rukminyâh - of Rukminî; haranam - about the kidnapping; s'rutvâ - hearing; gîyamânam - which was being sung; tatah tatah - all over; râjânah - the kings; râja-kanyâh - the kings' daughters; ca - and; babhûvuh - became; bhris'a - extremely; vismitâh - amazed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The kings and their daughters were totally astonished to hear the story of Rukminî's abduction, which was being glorified in song everywhere.

> > ******

> > TEXT 60

> > dvârakâyâm abhûd râjan

> > mahâ-modah puraukasâm

> > rukminyâ ramayopetam

> > drishthvâ krishnam s'riyah patim

> > dvârakâyâm - in Dvârakâ; abhût - there was; râjan - O King; mahâ-modah - great joy; pura-okasâm - for the inhabitants of the city; rukminyâ - with Rukminî; ramayâ - the goddess of fortune; upetam - joined; drishthvâ - seeing; krishnam - Lord Krishna; s'riyah - of all opulence; patim - the master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dvârakâ's citizens were overjoyed to see Krishna, the Lord of all opulence, united with Rukminî, the goddess of fortune.

> > Back to the running text