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CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī

This chapter lists Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s sons, grandsons and other progeny. It also describes how Lord Balarāma killed Rukmī at Aniruddha’s marriage ceremony and how Lord Kṛṣṇa arranged for His sons and daughters to be married.

Not understanding the full truth about Śrī Kṛṣṇa, each of His wives thought that since He remained constantly in her palace she must be His favorite wife. They were all entranced by the Lord’s beauty and His loving conversations with them, but they could not agitate His mind with the charming gestures of their eyebrows or by any other means. Having attained as their husband Lord Kṛṣṇa, whom even demigods like Brahmā find it difficult to know in truth, the Lord’s queens were always eager to associate with Him. Thus, although each of them had hundreds of maidservants, they would personally render Him menial service.

Each of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s wives had ten sons, who in turn each fathered many sons and grandsons. In the womb of Rukmī’s daughter Rukmavatī, Pradyumna fathered Aniruddha. Though Śrī Kṛṣṇa had disrespected Rukmī, to please his sister Rukmī gave his daughter in marriage to Pradyumna, and his granddaughter to Aniruddha. Balī, the son of Kṛtavarmā, married Rukmiṇī’s daughter Cārumatī.

At Aniruddha’s wedding, Lord Baladeva, Śrī Kṛṣṇa and other Yādavas went to Rukmī’s palace in the city of Bhojakaṭa. After the ceremony, Rukmī challenged Lord Baladeva to a game of dice. In the first match Rukmī defeated Baladeva, whereupon the King of Kaliṅga laughed at the Lord, displaying all his teeth. Lord Baladeva won the next match, but Rukmī refused to concede defeat. A voice then spoke from the sky, announcing that Baladeva had in fact won. But Rukmī, encouraged by the wicked kings, offended Lord Baladeva by saying that while He was certainly expert at tending cows, He knew nothing of playing dice. Thus insulted, Lord Baladeva angrily struck Rukmī dead with His club. The King of Kaliṅga tried to flee, but Lord Baladeva seized him and knocked out all his teeth. Then the other offensive kings, their arms, thighs and heads wounded by Baladeva’s blows, fled in all directions, bleeding profusely. Śrī Kṛṣṇa expressed neither approval nor disapproval of His brother-in-law’s death, fearing He would jeopardize His loving ties with either Rukmiṇī or Baladeva.

Lord Baladeva and the other Yādavas then seated Aniruddha and His bride on a fine chariot, and they all set off for Dvārakā.

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
एकैकशस्ता: कृष्णस्य पुत्रान् दश दशाबला: ।
अजीजनन्ननवमान्पितु: सर्वात्मसम्पदा ॥ १ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa had 16,108 wives, and thus this verse indicates that the Lord begot 161,080 sons.

Devanagari

गृहादनपगं वीक्ष्य राजपुत्र्योऽच्युतं स्थितम् ।
प्रेष्ठं न्यमंसत स्वं स्वं न तत्तत्त्वविद: स्‍त्रिय: ॥ २ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura notes that Lord Kṛṣṇa would leave the palaces only with the permission of His wives, and thus each one considered herself His favorite.

Devanagari

चार्वब्जकोशवदनायतबाहुनेत्र-
सप्रेमहासरसवीक्षितवल्गुजल्पै: ।
सम्मोहिता भगवतो न मनो विजेतुं
स्वैर्विभ्रमै: समशकन् वनिता विभूम्न: ॥ ३ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

The previous verse stated that Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens could not understand the truth of the Lord. This truth is explained in the present verse. The Lord is all-powerful, full in Himself, with infinite opulence.

Devanagari

स्मायावलोकलवदर्शितभावहारि-
भ्रूमण्डलप्रहितसौरतमन्त्रशौण्डै: ।
पत्न्‍यस्तु षोडशसहस्रमनङ्गबाणै-
र्यस्येन्द्रियं विमथितुं करणैर्न शेकु: ॥ ४ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

इत्थं रमापतिमवाप्य पतिं स्‍त्रियस्ता
ब्रह्मादयोऽपि न विदु: पदवीं यदीयाम् ।
भेजुर्मुदाविरतमेधितयानुराग-
हासावलोकनवसङ्गमलालसाद्यम् ॥ ५ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

This text describes the intense conjugal attraction the queens felt for Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Devanagari

प्रत्युद्गमासनवरार्हणपादशौच-
ताम्बूलविश्रमणवीजनगन्धमाल्यै: ।
केशप्रसारशयनस्‍नपनोपहार्यै-
र्दासीशता अपि विभोर्विदधु: स्म दास्यम् ॥ ६ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that Śukadeva Gosvāmī is so eager to describe these glorious pastimes of the Lord with His queens that he has repeated these verses. That is, text 5 of this chapter is almost identical with text 44 of the Fifty-ninth Chapter in this canto, and text 6 is identical with text 45 of that chapter. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the term varārhaṇa (“excellent offerings”) indicates that the queens offered the Lord palmfuls of flowers (puṣpāñjali) and palmfuls of jewels (ratnāñjali).

Devanagari

तासां या दशपुत्राणां कृष्णस्‍त्रीणां पुरोदिता: ।
अष्टौ महिष्यस्तत्पुत्रान् प्रद्युम्नादीन् गृणामि ते ॥ ७ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

चारुदेष्ण: सुदेष्णश्च चारुदेहश्च वीर्यवान् ।
सुचारुश्चारुगुप्तश्च भद्रचारुस्तथापर: ॥ ८ ॥
चारुचन्द्रो विचारुश्च चारुश्च दशमो हरे: ।
प्रद्युम्नप्रमुखा जाता रुक्‍मिण्यां नावमा: पितु: ॥ ९ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

भानु: सुभानु: स्वर्भानु: प्रभानुर्भानुमांस्तथा ।
चन्द्रभानुर्बृहद्भ‍ानुरतिभानुस्तथाष्टम: ॥ १० ॥
श्रीभानु: प्रतिभानुश्च सत्यभामात्मजा दश ।
साम्ब: सुमित्र: पुरुजिच्छतजिच्च सहस्रजित् ॥ ११ ॥
विजयश्चित्रकेतुश्च वसुमान् द्रविड: क्रतु: ।
जाम्बवत्या: सुता ह्येते साम्बाद्या: पितृसम्मता: ॥ १२ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī translates the compound pitṛ-sammatāḥ in this verse as “highly regarded by their father.” The word also indicates that these sons, like the others already mentioned, were regarded as being just like their glorious father, Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Devanagari

वीरश्चन्द्रोऽश्वसेनश्च चित्रगुर्वेगवान् वृष: ।
आम: शङ्कुर्वसु: श्रीमान् कुन्तिर्नाग्नजिते: सुता: ॥ १३ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

श्रुत: कविर्वृषो वीर: सुबाहुर्भद्र एकल: ।
शान्तिर्दर्श: पूर्णमास: कालिन्द्या: सोमकोऽवर: ॥ १४ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

प्रघोषो गात्रवान्सिंहो बल: प्रबल ऊर्धग: ।
माद्रय‍ा: पुत्रा महाशक्ति: सह ओजोऽपराजित: ॥ १५ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Mādrā is also known as Lakṣmaṇā.

Devanagari

वृको हर्षोऽनिलो गृध्रो वर्धनोन्नाद एव च ।
महांस: पावनो वह्निर्मित्रविन्दात्मजा: क्षुधि: ॥ १६ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

सङ्ग्रामजिद् बृहत्सेन: शूर: प्रहरणोऽरिजित् ।
जय: सुभद्रो भद्राया वाम आयुश्च सत्यक: ॥ १७ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

दीप्तिमांस्ताम्रतप्ताद्या रोहिण्यास्तनया हरे: ।
प्रद्यम्नाच्चानिरुद्धोऽभूद्रुक्‍मवत्यां महाबल: ।
पुत्र्यां तु रुक्‍मिणो राजन् नाम्ना भोजकटे पुरे ॥ १८ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa’s eight principal queens are Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā, Jāmbavatī, Nāgnajitī, Kālindī, Lakṣmaṇā, Mitravindā and Bhadrā. Having mentioned all their sons, Śukadeva Gosvāmī now refers to the sons of the other 16,100 queens by mentioning the two principal sons of Queen Rohiṇī, the foremost of the remaining queens.

Devanagari

एतेषां पुत्रपौत्राश्च बभूवु: कोटिशो नृप ।
मातर: कृष्णजातीनां सहस्राणि च षोडश ॥ १९ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

श्रीराजोवाच
कथं रुक्‍म्यरीपुत्राय प्रादाद् दुहितरं युधि ।
कृष्णेन परिभूतस्तं हन्तुं रन्ध्रं प्रतीक्षते ।
एतदाख्याहि मे विद्वन् द्विषोर्वैवाहिकं मिथ: ॥ २० ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

अनागतमतीतं च वर्तमानमतीन्द्रियम् ।
विप्रकृष्टं व्यवहितं सम्यक् पश्यन्ति योगिन: ॥ २१ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Here King Parīkṣit encourages Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain why Rukmī gave his daughter to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s son Pradyumna. The King stresses that since great yogīs like Śukadeva Gosvāmī know everything, the sage must also know this and should explain it to the anxious King.

Devanagari

श्रीशुक उवाच
वृत: स्वयंवरे साक्षादनङ्गोऽङ्गयुतस्तया ।
राज्ञ: समेतान् निर्जित्य जहारैकरथो युधि ॥ २२ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

यद्यप्यनुस्मरन् वैरं रुक्‍मी कृष्णावमानित: ।
व्यतरद् भागिनेयाय सुतां कुर्वन् स्वसु: प्रियम् ॥ २३ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

The answer to King Parīkṣit’s question is given here. Ultimately Rukmī approved his daughter’s marriage to Pradyumna in order to please his sister, Rukmiṇī.

Devanagari

रुक्‍मिण्यास्तनयां राजन् कृतवर्मसुतो बली ।
उपयेमे विशालाक्षीं कन्यां चारुमतीं किल ॥ २४ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that each of the Lord’s queens had one daughter, and that this mention of Cārumatī’s marriage is an indirect reference to the marriages of all these princesses.

Devanagari

दौहित्रायानिरुद्धाय पौत्रीं रुक्‍म्याददाद्धरे: ।
रोचनां बद्धवैरोऽपि स्वसु: प्रियचिकीर्षया ।
जानन्नधर्मं तद् यौनं स्‍नेहपाशानुबन्धन: ॥ २५ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that according to worldly standards one should not give one’s beloved granddaughter to the grandson of one’s bitter enemy. Thus we find the following injunction: dviṣad-annaṁ na bhoktavyaṁ dviṣantaṁ naiva bhojayet. “One should not eat an enemy’s food or feed an enemy.” There is also the following prohibition: asvargyaṁ loka-vidviṣṭaṁ dharmam apy ācaren na tu. “One should not execute religious injunctions if they will obstruct one’s journey to heaven, or if they are odious to human society.”

It should be pointed out here that Lord Kṛṣṇa is not really the enemy of anyone. As the Lord states in the Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati: “One achieves peace by understanding that I am the well-wishing friend of every living being.” Although Lord Kṛṣṇa is everyone’s friend, Rukmī could not appreciate this fact and considered Lord Kṛṣṇa his enemy. Still, out of affection for his sister, he gave his granddaughter to Aniruddha.

Finally, we should note that, contrary to the prohibition quoted above, one may not give up the basic principles of spiritual life merely because such principles are unpopular with people in general. As Lord Kṛṣṇa states in the Gītā (18.66), sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaranaṁ vraja. The last word in spiritual duties is to surrender to the Supreme Lord, and that duty takes precedence over all secondary injunctions. Moreover, in this age Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has kindly presented a sublime process that will attract all sincere people to come to the point of surrendering to the Lord. By following Lord Caitanya’s blissful process of chanting, dancing, feasting and discussing spiritual philosophy, anyone can easily go back home, back to Godhead, for an eternal life of bliss and knowledge.

Still, someone may argue that the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should not practice in the Western countries those ceremonies or activities that displease people in general. We respond that even in the Western countries, when people are properly informed of the activities of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, they generally appreciate this great spiritual institution. Those who are especially envious of God will not appreciate any type of religious movement, and since such persons are themselves little better than animals, they cannot impede the great Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, just as the envious Rukmī could not impede the performance of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pure pastimes.

Devanagari

तस्मिन्नभ्युदये राजन् रुक्‍मिणी रामकेशवौ ।
पुरं भोजकटं जग्मु: साम्बप्रद्युम्नकादय: ॥ २६ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

तस्मिन् निवृत्त उद्वाहे कालिङ्गप्रमुखा नृपा: ।
द‍ृप्तास्ते रुक्‍मिणं प्रोचुर्बलमक्षैर्विनिर्जय ॥ २७ ॥
अनक्षज्ञो ह्ययं राजन्नपि तद्‌व्यसनं महत् ।
इत्युक्तो बलमाहूय तेनाक्षैर्रुक्‍म्यदीव्यत ॥ २८ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

शतं सहस्रमयुतं रामस्तत्राददे पणम् ।
तं तु रुक्‍म्यजयत्तत्र कालिङ्ग: प्राहसद् बलम् ।
दन्तान् सन्दर्शयन्नुच्चैर्नामृष्यत्तद्धलायुध: ॥ २९ ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the wagers consisted of gold coins. Lord Balarāma inwardly became quite angry when He saw the gross offense of the King of Kaliṅga.

Devanagari

ततो लक्षं रुक्‍म्यगृह्णाद्‌ग्लहं तत्राजयद् बल: ।
जितवानहमित्याह रुक्‍मी कैतवमाश्रित: ॥ ३० ॥

Text

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!”

Devanagari

मन्युना क्षुभित: श्रीमान् समुद्र इव पर्वणि ।
जात्यारुणाक्षोऽतिरुषा न्यर्बुदं ग्लहमाददे ॥ ३१ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

तं चापि जितवान् रामो धर्मेण छलमाश्रित: ।
रुक्‍मी जितं मयात्रेमे वदन्तु प्राश्न‍िका इति ॥ ३२ ॥

Text

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.”

Purport

Rukmī undoubtedly had his friends in mind when he called for the witnesses to speak. But even as his witnesses prepared to aid their cheating friend, a wonderful event took place, as described in the next verse.

Devanagari

तदाब्रवीन्नभोवाणी बलेनैव जितो ग्लह: ।
धर्मतो वचनेनैव रुक्‍मी वदति वै मृषा ॥ ३३ ॥

Text

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.”

Devanagari

तामनाद‍ृत्य वैदर्भो दुष्टराजन्यचोदित: ।
सङ्कर्षणं परिहसन् बभाषे कालचोदित: ॥ ३४ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

नैवाक्षकोविदा यूयं गोपाला वनगोचरा: ।
अक्षैर्दीव्यन्ति राजानो बाणैश्च न भवाद‍ृशा: ॥ ३५ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

रुक्‍मिणैवमधिक्षिप्तो राजभिश्चोपहासित: ।
क्रुद्ध: परिघमुद्यम्य जघ्ने तं नृम्णसंसदि ॥ ३६ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

कलिङ्गराजं तरसा गृहीत्वा दशमे पदे ।
दन्तानपातयत् क्रुद्धो योऽहसद् विवृतैर्द्विजै: ॥ ३७ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

अन्ये निर्भिन्नबाहूरुशिरसो रुधिरोक्षिता: ।
राजानो दुद्रवर्भीता बलेन परिघार्दिता: ॥ ३८ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

निहते रुक्‍मिणि श्याले नाब्रवीत् साध्वसाधु वा ।
रक्‍मिणीबलयो राजन् स्‍नेहभङ्गभयाद्धरि: ॥ ३९ ॥

Text

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.

Devanagari

ततोऽनिरुद्धं सह सूर्यया वरं
रथं समारोप्य ययु: कुशस्थलीम् ।
रामादयो भोजकटाद् दशार्हा:
सिद्धाखिलार्था मधुसूदनाश्रया: ॥ ४० ॥

Text

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.

Purport

Even though Rukmiṇī was very dear to all the Dāśārhas, her brother Rukmī had constantly opposed and insulted Kṛṣṇa since Rukmiṇī’s wedding. Thus, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains, the associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa could hardly lament Rukmī’s sudden demise.

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Sixty-first Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī.”