Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.52 Summary

This chapter describes how Lord Balarama and Lord Krishna, running as if in fear, went to Dvaraka. Then Lord Krishna heard the message of Rukmini from the mouth of a brahmana and chose her as His wife.

King Mucukunda, shown mercy by Lord Sri Krishna, offered obeisances and circumambulated Him. The King then left the cave and saw that humans, animals, trees and plants were all smaller than when he had fallen asleep. From this he could understand that the age of Kali was at hand. Thus, in a mood of detachment from all material association, the King began worshiping the Supreme Lord, Sri Hari.

Sri Krishna returned to Mathura, which was still under siege by the barbarian army. He destroyed this army, collected all the valuables the soldiers had been carrying, and set off for Dvaraka. Just then Jarasandha arrived on the scene with a force of twenty-three akshauhinis. Lord Balarama and Lord Krishna, acting as if fearful, left Their riches aside and ran far away. Because Jarasandha could not appreciate Their true power, he ran after Them. After running a long way, Rama and Krishna came to a mountain named Pravarshana and proceeded to climb it. Jarasandha thought They had hidden inside a cave and looked all over for Them. Unable to find Them, he built fires on all sides of the mountain. As the vegetation on the mountain slopes burst into flame, Krishna and Balarama jumped off the peak. After reaching the ground unseen by Jarasandha and his followers, They returned to the Dvaraka fort, which floated within the sea. Jarasandha decided that Rama and Krishna had burned to death in the fire, and he took his army back to his kingdom.

At this point Maharaja Parikshit asked a question, and Sri Sukadeva Gosvami responded to it by beginning to narrate the history of the marriage of Lord Sri Krishna and Rukmini. Rukmini, the young daughter of Bhishmaka, King of Vidarbha, had heard of Sri Krishna's beauty, strength and other fine qualities, and she therefore made up her mind that He would be the perfect husband for her. Lord Krishna also wanted to marry her. But although Rukmini's other relatives approved of her marriage to Krishna, her brother Rukmi was envious of the Lord and thus forbade her to marry Him. Rukmi wanted her to marry Sisupala instead. Rukmini unhappily took up her duties in preparation for the marriage, but she also sent a trustworthy brahmana to Krishna with a letter.

When the brahmana arrived in Dvaraka, Sri Krishna properly honored him with ritual worship and other tokens of reverence. The Lord then asked the brahmana why he had come. The brahmana opened Rukmini's letter and showed it to Lord Krishna, who had the messenger read it to Him. Rukmini-devi wrote, "Ever since I have heard about You, my Lord, I have become completely attracted to You. Without fail please come before my marriage to Sisupala and take me away. In accordance with family custom, on the day before my marriage I will visit the temple of goddess Ambika. That would be the best opportunity for You to appear and easily kidnap me. If You do not show me this favor, I will give up my life by fasting and observing severe vows. Then perhaps in my next life I will be able to obtain You."

After reading Rukmini's letter to Lord Krishna, the brahmana took his leave so he might carry out his daily religious duties.

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Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari