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

> > *******

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > *******

> > Chapter Fifty-two: Rukminî's Message to Lord Krishna

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > ittham so 'nagrahîto 'nga

> > krishnenekshvâku nandanah

> > tam parikramya sannamya

> > nis'cakrâma guhâ-mukhât

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; ittham - in this manner; sah - he; anugrahîtah - shown mercy; anga - my dear (Parîkchit Mahârâja); krishnena - by Lord Krishna; ikshvâku-nandanah - Mucukunda, the beloved descendant of Ikshvâku; tam - Him; parikramya - circumambulating; sannamya - bowing down; nis'cakrâma - he went out; guhâ - of the cave; mukhât - from the mouth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: My dear King, thus graced by Lord Krishna, Mucukunda circumambulated Him and bowed down to Him. Then Mucukunda, the beloved descendant of Ikshvâku, exited through the mouth of the cave.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > samvîkshya kshullakân martyân

> > pas'ûn vîrud-vanaspatîn

> > matvâ kali-yugam prâptam

> > jagâma dis'am uttarâm

> > samvîkshya - noticing; kshullakân - tiny; martyân - the human beings; pas'ûn - animals; vîrut - plants; vanaspatîn - and trees; matvâ - considering; kali- yugam - the age of Kali; prâptam - having arrived; jagâma - he went; dis'am - to the direction; uttarâm - 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.

> > ******

> > SB 10.52.3

> > TEXT 3

> > tapah-s'raddhâ-yuto dhîro

> > nihsango mukta-sams'ayah

> > samâdhâya manah krishne

> > prâvis'ad gandhamâdanam

> > tapah - in austerities; s'raddhâ - faith; yutah - having; dhîrah - serious; nihsangah - detached from material association; mukta - freed; sams'ayah - of doubts; samâdhâya - fixing in trance; manah - his mind; krishne - upon Lord Krishna; prâvis'at - he entered upon; gandhamâdanam - the mountain known as Gandhamâdana.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sober King, beyond material association and free of doubt, was convinced of the value of austerity. Absorbing his mind in Lord Krishna, he came to Gandhamâdana Mountain.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > badary-âs'ramam âsâdya

> > nara-nârâyanâlayam

> > sarva-dvandva-sahah s'ântas

> > tapasârâdhayad dharim

> > badarî-âs'ramam - the hermitage Badarikâs'rama; âsâdya - reaching; nara- nârâyana - of the Supreme Lord's dual incarnation as Nara and Nârâyana; âlayam - the residence; sarva - all; dvandva - dualities; sahah - tolerating; s'ântah - peaceful; tapasâ - with severe austerities; ârâdhayat - he worshiped; harim - Lord Krishna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > There he arrived at Badarikâs'rama, the abode of Lord Nara-Nârâyana, where, remaining tolerant of all dualities, he peacefully worshiped the Supreme Lord Hari by performing severe austerities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > bhagavân punar âvrajya

> > purîm yavana-veshthitâm

> > hatvâ mleccha-balam ninye

> > tadîyam dvârakâm dhanam

> > bhagavân - the Lord; punah - once again; âvrajya - returning; purîm - to His city; yavana - by the Yavanas; veshthitâm - surrounded; hatvâ - killing; mleccha - of barbarians; balam - the army; ninye - He brought; tadîyam - their; dvârakâm - to Dvârakâ; dhanam - wealth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Lord returned to Mathurâ, which was still surrounded by Yavanas. Then He destroyed the army of barbarians and began taking their valuables to Dvârakâ.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > nîyamâne dhane gobhir

> > nribhis' câcyuta-coditaih

> > âjagâma jarâsandhas

> > trayo-vims'aty-anîka-pah

> > nîyamâne - as it was being taken; dhane - the wealth; gobhih - by oxen; nribhih - by men; ca - and; acyuta - by Lord Krishna; coditaih - engaged; âjugâma - came there; jarâsandhah - Jarâsandha; trayah - three; vims'ati - plus twenty; anîka - of armies; pah - the leader.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As the wealth was being carried by oxen and men under Lord Krishna's direction, Jarâsandha appeared at the head of twenty-three armies.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > vilokya vega-rabhasam

> > ripu-sainyasya mâdhavau

> > manushya-ceshthâm âpannau

> > râjan dudruvatur drutam

> > vilokya - seeing; vega - of the waves; rabhasam - the fierceness; ripu - enemy; sainyasya - of the armies; mâdhavau - the two Mâdhavas (Krishna and Balarâma); manushya - humanlike; ceshthâm - behavior; âpannau - assuming; râjan - O King (Parîkchit); dudruvatuh - ran away; drutam - quickly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, seeing the fierce waves of the enemy's army, the two Mâdhavas, imitating human behavior, ran swiftly away.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > vihâya vittam pracuram

> > abhîtau bhîru-bhîta-vat

> > padbhyâm palâs'âbhyâm

> > celatur bahu-yojanam

> > vihâya - abandoning; vittam - the riches; pracuram - abundant; abhîtau - actually unafraid; bhîru - like cowards; bhîta-vat - as if frightened; padbhyâm - with Their feet; padma - of lotuses; palâs'âbhyâm - like petals; celatuh - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > palâyamânau tau drishthvâ

> > mâgadhah prahasan balî

> > anvadhâvad rathânîkair

> > îs'ayor apramâna-vit

> > palâyamânau - who were fleeing; tau - Those two; drishthvâ - seeing; mâgadhah - Jarâsandha; prahasan - laughing loudly; balî - powerful; anvadhâvat - he ran after; ratha - with charioteers; anîkaih - and soldiers; îs'ayoh - of the Lords; apramâna-vit - unaware of the scope.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When he saw Them fleeing, powerful Jarâsandha laughed loudly and then pursued Them with charioteers and foot soldiers. He could not understand the exalted position of the two Lords.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > pradrutya dûram sams'rântau

> > tungam âruhatâm girim

> > pravarshanâkhyam bhagavân

> > nityadâ yatra varshati

> > pradrutya - having run with full speed; dûram - a long distance; sams'rântau - exhausted; tungam - very high; âruhatâm - They climbed; girim - the mountain; pravarshana-âkhyam - known as Pravarshana; bhagavân - Lord Indra; nityadâ - always; yatra - where; varshati - he rains.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Apparently exhausted after fleeing a long distance, the two Lords climbed a high mountain named Pravarshana, upon which Lord Indra showers incessant rain.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > girau nilînâv âjn'âya

> > nâdhigamya padam nripa

> > dadâha girim edhobhih

> > samantâd agnim utsrijan

> > girau - on the mountain; nilînau - hiding; âjn'âya - being aware; na adhigamya - not finding; padam - Their location; nripa - O King (Parîkchit); dadâha - he set ablaze; girim - the mountain; edhobhih - with firewood; samantât - on all sides; agnim - fire; utsrijan - generating.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although he knew They were hiding on the mountain, Jarâsandha could find no trace of Them. Therefore, O King, he placed firewood on all sides and set the mountain ablaze.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > tata utpatya tarasâ

> > dahyamâna-tathâd ubhau

> > das'aika-yojanât tungân

> > nipetatur adho bhuvi

> > tatah - from it (the mountain); utpatya - jumping; tarasâ - with haste; dahyamâna - which were burning; tathât - whose sides; ubhau - the two of Them; das'a-eka - eleven; yojanât - yojanas; tungât - high; nipetatuh - They fell; adhah - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > alakshyamânau ripunâ

> > sânugena yadûttamau

> > sva-puram punar âyâtau

> > samudra-parikhâm nripa

> > alakshyamânau - not being seen; ripunâ - by Their enemy; sa - together; anugena - with his followers; yadu - of the Yadus; uttamau - the two most excellent; sva-puram - to Their own city (Dvârakâ); punah - again; âyâtau - They went; samudra - the ocean; parikhâm - having as its protective moat; nripa - O King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Unseen by Their opponent or his followers, O King, those two most exalted Yadus returned to Their city of Dvârakâ, which had the ocean as a protective moat.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > so 'pi dagdhâv iti mrishâ

> > manvâno bala-kes'avau

> > balam âkrishya su-mahan

> > magadhân mâgadho yayau

> > sah - he; api - further; dagdhau - both burned in the fire; iti - thus; mrishâ - falsely; manvânah - thinking; bala-kes'avau - Balarâma and Krishna; balam - his force; âkrishya - pulling back; su-mahat - huge; magadhân - to the kingdom of the Magadhas; mâgadhah - the King of the Magadhas; yayau - went.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Jarâsandha, moreover, mistakenly thought that Balarâma and Kes'ava had burned to death in the fire. Thus he withdrew his vast military force and returned to the Magadha kingdom.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > ânartâdhipatih s'rîmân

> > raivato raivatîm sutâm

> > brahmanâ coditah prâdâd

> > balâyeti puroditam

> > ânarta - of the Ânarta province; adhipatih - the overlord; s'rîmân - opulent; raivatah - Raivata; raivatîm - named Raivatî; sutâm - his daughter; brahmanâ - by Lord Brahmâ; coditah - ordered; prâdât - gave; balâya - to Balarâma; iti - thus; purâ - previously; uditam - mentioned.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As ordered by Lord Brahmâ, Raivata, the opulent ruler of Ânarta, gave Lord Balarâma his daughter Raivatî in marriage. This has already been discussed.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 16 - 17

> > bhagavân api govinda

> > upayeme kurûdvaha

> > vaidarbhîm bhîshmaka-sutâm

> > s'riyo mâtrâm svayam-vare

> > pramathya tarasâ râjn'ah

> > s'âlvâdîms' caidya-paksha-gân

> > pas'yatâm sarva-lokânâm

> > târkshya-putrah sudhâm iva

> > bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; api - indeed; govindah - Krishna; upayeme - married; kuru-udvaha - O hero among the Kurus (Parîkchit); vaidarbhîm - Rukminî; bhîshmaka- sutâm - the daughter of King Bhîshmaka; s'riyah - of the goddess of fortune; mâtrâm - the plenary portion; svayam-vare - by her own choice;

> > pramathya - subduing; tarasâ - by force; râjn'ah - kings; s'âlva-âdîn - S'âlva and others; caidya - of S'is'upâla; paksha-gân - the supporters; pas'yatâm - as they looked on; sarva - all; lokânâm - the people; târkshya-putrah - the son of Târkshya (Garuda); sudhâm - the nectar of heaven; iva - as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O hero among the Kurus, the Supreme Lord Himself, Govinda, married Bhîshmaka's daughter, Vaidarbhî, who was a direct expansion of the goddess of fortune. The Lord did this by her desire, and in the process He beat down S'âlva and other kings who took S'is'upâla's side. Indeed, as everyone watched, S'rî Krishna took Rukminî just as Garuda boldly stole nectar from the demigods.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > s'rî-râjovâca

> > bhagavân bhîshmaka-sutâm

> > rukminîm rucirânanâm

> > râkshasena vidhânena

> > upayema iti s'rutam

> > s'rî-râjâ uvâca - the King (Parîkchit Mahârâja) said; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; bhîshmaka-sutâm - the daughter of Bhîshmaka; rukminîm - S'rîmatî Rukminî- devî; rucira - charming; ânanâm - whose face; râkshasena - called Râkshasa; vidhânena - by the method (namely, by kidnapping); upayeme - He married; iti - thus; s'rutam - heard.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Parîkchit said: The Supreme Lord married Rukminî, the beautiful-faced daughter of Bhîshmaka, in the Râkshasa style - or so I have heard.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > bhagavan s'rotum icchâmi

> > krishnasyâmita-tejasah

> > yathâ mâgadha-s'âlvâdîn

> > jitvâ kanyâm upâharat

> > bhagavan - O lord (S'ukadeva Gosvâmî); s'rotum - to hear; icchâmi - I wish; krishnasya - about Krishna; amita - immeasurable; tejasah - whose potency; yathâ - how; mâgadha-s'âlva-âdîn - such kings as Jarâsandha and S'âlva; jitvâ - defeating; kanyâm - the bride; upâharat - He took away.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My lord, I wish to hear how the immeasurably powerful Lord Krishna took away His bride while defeating such kings as Mâgadha and Sâlva.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > brahman krishna-kathâh punyâ

> > mâdhvîr loka-malâpahâh

> > ko nu tripyeta s'rinvânah

> > s'ruta-jn'o nitya-nûtanâh

> > brahman - O brâhmana; krishna-kathâh - topics of Krishna; punyâh - pious; mâdhvîh - sweet; loka - of the world; mala - the contamination; apahâh - which remove; kah - who; nu - at all; tripyeta - would become satiated; s'rinvânah - hearing; s'ruta - what is heard; jn'ah - who can understand; nitya - always; nûtanâh - novel.

> > TRANSLATION

> > What experienced listener, O brâhmana, could ever grow satiated while listening to the pious, charming and ever-fresh topics of Lord Krishna, which cleanse away the world's contamination?

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > s'rî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> > râjâsîd bhîshmako nâma

> > vidarbhâdhipatir mahân

> > tasya pancâbhavan putrâh

> > kanyaikâ ca varânanâ

> > s'rî-bâdarâyanih - S'rî Bâdarâyani (S'ukadeva, the son of Badarâyana Veda- vyâsa); uvâca - said; râjâ - a king; âsît - there was; bhîshmakah nâma - named Bhîshmaka; vidarbha-adhipatih - ruler of the kingdom Vidarbha; mahân - great; tasya - his; pan'ca - five; abhavan - there were; putrâh - sons; kanyâ - daughter; ekâ - one; ca - and; vara - exceptionally beautiful; ânanâ - whose face.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî Bâdarâyani said: There was a king named Bhîshmaka, the powerful ruler of Vidarbha. He had five sons and one daughter of lovely countenance.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > rukmy agrajo rukmaratho

> > rukmabâhur anantarah

> > rukmakes'o rukmamâlî

> > rukminy eshâ svasâ satî

> > rukmî - Rukmî; agra-jah - the first-born; rukma-rathah rukmabâhuh - Rukmaratha and Rukmabâhu; anantarah - following him; rukma-kes'ah rukma-mâlî - Rukmakes'a and Rukmamâlî; rukminî - Rukminî; eshâ - she; svasâ - sister; satî - of saintly character.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Rukmî was the first-born son, followed by Rukmaratha, Rukmabâhu, Rukmakes'a and Rukmamâlî. Their sister was the exalted Rukminî.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > sopas'rutya mukundasya

> > rûpa-vîrya-guna-s'riyah

> > grihâgatair gîyamânâs

> > tam mene sadris'am patim

> > sâ - she; upas'rutya - hearing; mukundasya - Krishna's; rûpa - about the beauty; vîrya - prowess; guna - character; s'riyah - and opulences; griha - to her family's residence; âgataih - by those who came; gîyamânâh - being sung; tam - Him; mene - she thought; sadris'am - suitable; patim - husband.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Hearing of the beauty, prowess, transcendental character and opulence of Mukunda from visitors to the palace who sang His praises, Rukminî decided that He would be the perfect husband for her.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > tâm buddhi-lakshanaudârya-

> > rûpa-s'îla-gunâs'rayâm

> > krishnas' ca sadris'îm bhâryâm

> > samudvodhum mano dadhe

> > tâm - her; buddhi - of intelligence; lakshana - auspicious bodily markings; audârya - magnanimity; rûpa - beauty; s'îla - proper behavior; guna - and other personal qualities; âs'rayâm - repository; krishnah - Lord Krishna; ca - and; sadris'îm - suitable; bhâryâm - wife; samudvodhum - to marry; manah - His mind; dadhe - made up.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Krishna knew that Rukminî possessed intelligence, auspicious bodily markings, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > bandhûnâm icchatâm dâtum

> > krishnâya bhaginîm nripa

> > tato nivârya krishna-dvid

> > rukmî caidyam amanyata

> > bandhûnâm - her family members; icchatâm - even as they were desiring; dâtum - to give; krishnâya - to Krishna; bhaginîm - their sister; nripa - O King; tatah - from this; nivârya - preventing them; krishna-dvith - hateful of Krishna; rukmî - Rukmî; caidyam - Caidya (S'is'upâla); amanyata - considered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because Rukmî envied the Lord, O King, he forbade his family members to give his sister to Krishna, although they wanted to. Instead, Rukmî decided to give Rukminî to S'is'upâla.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > tad avetyâsitâpângî

> > vaidarbhî durmanâ bhris'am

> > vicintyâptam dvijam kan'cit

> > krishnâya prâhinod drutam

> > tat - that; avetya - knowing; asita - dark; apângî - the corners of whose eyes; vaidarbhî - the princess of Vidarbha; durmanâ - unhappy; bhris'am - very much; vicintya - thinking; âptam - reliable; dvijam - brâhmana; kan'cit - a certain; krishnâya - to Krishna; prâhinot - sent; drutam - with haste.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Dark-eyed Vaidarbhî was aware of this plan, and it deeply upset her. Analyzing the situation, she quickly sent a trustworthy brâhmana to Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > dvârakâm sa samabhyetya

> > pratîhâraih praves'itah

> > apas'yad âdyam purusham

> > âsînam kân'canâsane

> > dvârakâm - at Dvârakâ; sah - he (the brâhmana); samabhyetya - arriving; pratîhâraih - by the gatekeepers; praves'itah - brought inside; apas'yat - he saw; âdyam - the original; purusham - Supreme Person; âsînam - seated; kân'cana - golden; âsane - on a throne.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon reaching Dvârakâ, the brâhmana was brought inside by the gatekeepers and saw the primeval Personality of Godhead sitting on a golden throne.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > drishthvâ brahmanya-devas tam

> > avaruhya nijâsanât

> > upaves'yârhayâm cakre

> > yathâtmânam divaukasah

> > drishthvâ - seeing; brahmanya - who is considerate to the brâhmanas; devah - the Lord; tam - him; avaruhya - getting down; nija - His own; âsanât - from the throne; upaves'ya - seating him; arhayâm cakre - He performed worship; yathâ - as; âtmânam - to Himself; diva-okasah - the residents of heaven.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing the brâhmana, S'rî Krishna, Lord of the brâhmanas, came down from His throne and seated him. Then the Lord worshiped him just as He Himself is worshiped by the demigods.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > tam bhuktavantam vis'rântam

> > upagamya satâm gatih

> > pâninâbhimris'an pâdâv

> > avyagras tam apricchata

> > tam - him; bhuktavantam - having eaten; vis'rântam - rested; upagamya - approaching; satâm - of saintly devotees; gatih - the goal; pâninâ - with His hands; abhimris'an - massaging; pâdau - his feet; avyagrah - without agitation; tam - of him; apricchata - He inquired.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After the brâhmana had eaten and rested, S'rî Krishna, the goal of saintly devotees, came forward, and while massaging the brâhmana's feet with His own hands, He patiently questioned him as follows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > kaccid dvija-vara-s'reshthha

> > dharmas te vriddha-sammatah

> > vartate nâti-kricchrena

> > santushtha-manasah sadâ

> > kaccit - whether; dvija - of the brâhmanas; vara - first-class; s'reshthha - O best; dharmah - religious principles; te - your; vriddha - by senior authorities; sammatah - sanctioned; vartate - are proceeding; na - not; ati - too much; kricchrena - with difficulty; santushtha - fully satisfied; manasah - whose mind; sadâ - always.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [The Supreme Lord said:] O best of exalted brâhmanas, are your religious practices, sanctioned by senior authorities, proceeding without great difficulty? Is your mind always fully satisfied?

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > santushtho yarhi varteta

> > brâhmano yena kenacit

> > ahîyamânah svad dharmât

> > sa hy asyâkhila-kâma-dhuk

> > santushthah - satisfied; yarhi - when; varteta - carries on; brâhmanah - a brâhmana; yena kenacit - with whatever; ahîyamânah - not falling short; svât - of his own; dharmât - religious duty; sah - those religious principles; hi - indeed; asya - for him; akhila - of everything; kâma-dhuk - the mystic cow, milked for fulfillment of any desire.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When a brâhmana 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > asantushtho 'sakril lokân

> > âpnoty api sures'varah

> > akin'cano 'pi santushthah

> > s'ete sarvânga-vijvarah

> > asantushthah - dissatisfied; asakrit - repeatedly; lokân - various planets; âpnoti - he attains; api - even though; sura - of the demigods; îs'varah - the master; akin'canah - possessing nothing; api - even; santushthah - satisfied; s'ete - he rests; sarva - all; anga - his limbs; vijvarah - free of distress.

> > TRANSLATION

> > An unsatisfied brâhmana wanders restlessly from one planet to another, even if he becomes King of heaven. But a satisfied brâhmana, though he may possess nothing, rests peacefully, all his limbs free of distress.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > viprân sva-lâbha-santushthân

> > sâdhûn bhûta-suhrittamân

> > nirahankârinah s'ântân

> > namasye s'irasâsakrit

> > viprân - to the learned brâhmanas; sva - their own; lâbha - by the gain; santushthân - satisfied; sâdhûn - saintly; bhûta - of all living beings; suhrit- tamân - the best well-wishing friends; nirahankârinah - devoid of false ego; s'ântân - peaceful; namasye - I bow down; s'irasâ - with My head; asakrit - again and again.

> > TRANSLATION

> > I repeatedly bow My head in respect to those brâhmanas who are satisfied with their lot. Saintly, prideless and peaceful, they are the best well- wishers of all living beings.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > kaccid vah kus'alam brahman

> > râjato yasya hi prajâh

> > sukham vasanti vishaye

> > pâlyamânâh sa me priyah

> > kaccit - whether; vah - your; kus'alam - well-being; brahman - O brâhmana; râjatah - from the King; yasya - whose; hi - indeed; prajâh - subjects; sukham - happily; vasanti - reside; vishaye - in the state; pâlyamânâh - being protected; sah - he; me - to Me; priyah - dear.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O brâhmana, is your King attending to your welfare? Indeed, that king in whose country the citizens are happy and protected is very dear to Me.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > yatas tvam âgato durgam

> > nistîryeha yad-icchayâ

> > sarvam no brûhy aguhyam cet

> > kim kâryam karavâma te

> > yatah - from which place; tvam - you; âgatah - have come; durgam - the impassable sea; nistîrya - crossing; iha - here; yat - with what; icchayâ - desire; sarvam - everything; nah - to Us; brûhi - please tell; aguhyam - not secret; cet - if; kim - what; kâryam - work; karavâma - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > evam samprishtha-sampras'no

> > brâhmanah parameshthhinâ

> > lîlâ-grihîta-dehena

> > tasmai sarvam avarnayat

> > evam - thus; samprishtha - asked; sampras'nah - questions; brâhmanah - the brâhmana; parameshthhinâ - by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; lîla - as His pastime; grihîta - who assumes; dehena - His bodies; tasmai - to Him; sarvam - everything; avarnayat - he related.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus questioned by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who incarnates to perform His pastimes, the brâhmana told Him everything.

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > s'rî-rukminy uvâca

> > s'rutvâ gunân bhuvana-sundara s'rinvatâm te

> > nirvis'ya karna-vivarair harato 'nga-tâpam

> > rûpam dris'âm dris'imatâm akhilârtha-lâbham

> > tvayy acyutâvis'ati cittam apatrapam me

> > s'rî-rukminî uvâca - S'rî Rukminî said; s'rutvâ - hearing; gunân - the qualities; bhuvana - of all the worlds; sundara - O beauty; s'rinvatâm - for those who hear; te - Your; nirvis'ya - having entered; karna - of the ears; vivaraih - by the orifices; haratah - removing; anga - of their bodies; tâpam - the pain; rûpam - the beauty; dris'âm - of the sense of sight; dris'i-matâm - of those who have eyes; akhila - total; artha - of the fulfillment of desires; lâbham - the obtaining; tvayi - in You; acyuta - O infallible Krishna; âvis'ati - is entering; cittam - mind; apatrapam - shameless; me - my.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rî Rukminî said [in her letter, as read by the brâhmana]: 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 Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > kâ tvâ mukunda mahatî kula-s'îla-rûpa-

> > vidyâ-vayo-dravina-dhâmabhir âtma-tulyam

> > dhîrâ patim kulavatî na vrinîta kanyâ

> > kâle nri-simha nara-loka-mano-'bhirâmam

> > kâ - who; tvâ - You; mukunda - O Krishna; mahatî - aristocratic; kula - in terms of family background; s'îla - character; rûpa - beauty; vidyâ - knowledge; vayah - youth; dravina - property; dhâmabhih - and influence; âtma - to Yourself only; tulyam - equal; dhîrâ - who is sober; patim - as her husband; kula-vatî - of a good family; na vrinîta - would not choose; kanyâ - marriageable young lady; kâle - at such a time; nri - among men; simha - O lion; nara-loka - of human society; manah - to the minds; abhirâmam - 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?

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > tan me bhavân khalu vritah patir anga jâyâm

> > âtmârpitas' ca bhavato 'tra vibho vidhehi

> > mâ vîra-bhâgam abhimars'atu caidya ârâd

> > gomâyu-van mriga-pater balim ambujâksha

> > tat - therefore; me - by me; bhavân - Your good self; khalu - indeed; vritah - chosen; patih - as husband; anga - dear Lord; jâyâm - as wife; âtmâ - myself; arpitah - offered; ca - and; bhavatah - to You; atra - here; vibho - O omnipotent one; vidhehi - please accept; mâ - never; vîra - of the hero; bhâgam - the portion; abhimars'atu - should touch; caidyah - S'is'upâla, son of the King of Cedi; ârât - swiftly; gomâyu-vat - like a jackal; mriga-pateh - belonging to the king of animals, the lion; balim - the tribute; ambuja-aksha - 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 S'is'upâla never touch the hero's portion like a jackal stealing the property of a lion.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > pûrteshtha-datta-niyama-vrata-deva-vipra

> > gurv-arcanâdibhir alam bhagavân pares'ah

> > ârâdhito yadi gadâgraja etya pânim

> > grihnâtu me na damaghosha-sutâdayo 'nye

> > pûrta - by pious works (such as feeding brâhmanas, digging wells, etc.); ishtha - sacrificial performances; datta - charity; niyama - ritual observances (such as visiting holy places); vrata - vows of penance; deva - of the demigods; vipra - brâhmanas; guru - and spiritual masters; arcana - by worship; âdibhih - and by other activities; alam - sufficiently; bhagavân - the Personality of Godhead; para - supreme; îs'ah - controller; ârâdhitah - rendered devotional service; yadi - if; gada-agrajah - Krishna, the elder brother of Gada; etya - coming here; pânim - the hand; grihnâtu - may please take; me - my; na - not; damaghosha-suta - S'is'upâla, the son of Damaghosha; âdayah - 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, brâhmanas and gurus, then may Gadâgraja come and take my hand, and not Damaghosha's son or anyone else.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > s'vo bhâvini tvam ajitodvahane vidarbhân

> > guptah sametya pritanâ-patibhih parîtah

> > nirmathya caidya-magadhendra-balam prasahya

> > mâm râkshasena vidhinodvaha vîrya-s'ulkâm

> > s'vah bhâvini - tomorrow; tvam - You; ajita - O unconquerable one; udvahane - at the time of the marriage ceremony; vidarbhân - to Vidarbha; guptah - unseen; sametya - coming; pritanâ - of Your army; patibhih - by the leaders; parîtah - surrounded; nirmathya - crushing; caidya - of Caidya, S'is'upâla; magadha- indra - and the King of Magadha, Jarâsandha; balam - the military strength; prasahya - by force; mâm - me; râkshasena vidhinâ - in the Râkshasa style; udvaha - take in marriage; vîrya - Your prowess; s'ulkâm - 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 Râkshasa style, winning me with Your valor.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > antah-purântara-carîm anihatya bandhûn

> > tvâm udvahe katham iti pravadâmy upâyam

> > pûrve-dyur asti mahatî kula-deva-yâtrâ

> > yasyâm bahir nava-vadhûr girijâm upeyât

> > antah-pura - the women's quarters of the palace; antara - within; carîm - moving; anihatya - without killing; bandhûn - your relatives; tvâm - you; udvahe - I shall carry away; katham - how; iti - saying such words; pravadâmi - I shall explain; upâyam - a means; pûrve-dyuh - on the day before; asti - there is; mahatî - large; kula - of the royal family; deva - for the presiding deity; yâtrâ - a ceremonial procession; yasyâm - in which; bahih - outside; nava - new; vadhûh - the bride; girijâm - goddess Girijâ (Ambikâ); upeyât - 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 Girijâ.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > yasyânghri-pankaja-rajah-snapanam mahânto

> > vân'chanty umâ-patir ivâtma-tamo-'pahatyai

> > yarhy ambujâksha na labheya bhavat-prasâdam

> > jahyâm asûn vrata-kris'ân s'ata-janmabhih syât

> > yasya - whose; anghri - of the feet; pankaja - lotus; rajah - with the dust; snapanam - bathing; mahântah - great souls; vân'chanti - hanker after; umâ- patih - Lord S'iva, husband of Goddess Umâ; iva - just as; âtma - their own; tamah - of the ignorance; apahatyai - to vanquish; yarhi - when; ambuja-aksha - O lotus-eyed one; na labheya - I cannot obtain; bhavat - Your; prasâdam - mercy; jahyâm - I should give up; asûn - my life airs; vrata - by austere penances; kris'ân - weakened; s'ata - hundreds; janmabhih - after lifetimes; syât - it may be.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O lotus-eyed one, great souls like Lord S'iva 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > brâhmana uvâca

> > ity ete guhya-sandes'â

> > yadu-deva mayâhritâh

> > vimris'ya kartum yac câtra

> > kriyatâm tad anantaram

> > brâhmanah uvâca - the brâhmana said; iti - thus; ete - these; guhya - confidential; sandes'âh - messages; yadu-deva - O Lord of the Yadus; mayâ - by me; âhritâh - brought; vimris'ya - considering; kartum - to be done; yat - what; ca - and; atra - in this matter; kriyatâm - please do; tat - that; anantaram - immediately following.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The brâhmana 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.

> > Back to the running text