Krishna: The Beautiful Legend of God: Srimad Bhagavata Purana by Edwin F. Bryant

Author:Edwin F. Bryant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literary Criticism, General, Religion, Eastern, Hinduism
Publisher: Penguin Books Limited
Published: 2003-12-04T05:19:51+00:00

CHAPTER 52

The Marriage of Rukmiṇī

1. Śriī Śuka said:

‘Blessed in this way by Kṛṣṇa, Mucukunda, the descendant of Ikṣvāku, circumambulated Kṛṣṇa, bowed to him and stepped from the mouth of the cave.

2. Noticing that humans, animals, plants and trees had become diminished in size, Mucukunda concluded that the kaliyuga had arrived, and headed for the northern direction. 1

3. Endowed with discipline and faith, resolute, devoid of attachments and free from doubts, he fixed his mind on Kṛṣṇa and entered Gandhamādana. 2

4. Peaceful, and tolerant of all dualities, he approached Badarikāśram, 3 the abode of Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and worshipped Hari by undertaking ascetic practices.

5. Bhagavān then returned to the city, which was surrounded by Yavanas. He destroyed the mleccha army and carried off their wealth to Dvārakā.

6. While the wealth was being carried off by the men and oxen under the direction of Acyuta, Jarāsandha approached, in command of twenty-three armies.

7. When they saw the powerful force of the enemy’s armies, Mādhava and Balarāma behaved like humans, and hastily ran away, O king.

8. Although actually fearless, they behaved like frightened cowards. Abandoning the vast amounts of treasure, they went many yojanas away on their lotus-petal feet.

9. When he saw the two fleeing, the powerful king of Magadha laughed and pursued them with his chariots and armies. He was unaware of the nature of the two lords.

10. After they had run a long way, the pair became exhausted and climbed a high mountain called Pravarṣaṇa. 4 Bhagavān [Indra] always showers down rain there.

11. Jarāsandha knew that the two were hiding on the mountain, but he could not find out where, O king. So he set fire to the mountain with firewood, producing flames on all sides.

12. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma leapt from the mountain in haste as its sides were burning, and jumped down on to the ground below. It was eleven yojanas high.

13. Unseen by the enemy and his followers, O king, those two best of the Yadus returned to their own city, which had the ocean as its moat, O king.

14. The king of Magadha, however, mistakenly thinking that Balarāma and Keśava had been burnt, withdrew his force and returned to the extremely powerful kingdom of Magadha.

15. Under the directions of Brahmā, Raivata, the prosperous ruler of Ānarta, bestowed his daughter Revatī to Balarāma. This was mentioned earlier.

16. Bhagavān Govinda similarly took Vaidarbhī, the daughter of Bhīṣmaka, as wife in a svayaṃvara marriage ceremony. 5 She is an aṃśa of Śrī, the goddess of fortune.

17. He vanquished with force kings such as Śālva and others who had gone over to the side of Śiśupāla, king of the Cedis, while everyone was watching, O descendant of the Kuru dynasty, just as the son of Tārkṣya, Garuḍa, snatched the nectar.” 6

18. The king said:

‘It has been reported that Bhagavān married the beautiful Rukmiṇī, the daughter of Bhīṣmaka, through the rākṣasa system of marriage.7

19. O Bhagavān Sūta, I desire to hear about Kṛṣṇa, of immeasurable prowess. How did he defeat the king of Magadha, Śālva and others and then carry off the maiden?

20.

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