Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 10
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupāda
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)
(see
also the
pdf for this chapter)
Chapter 54: The Marriage of Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī
10.54.1
śrī-śuka uvāca
iti sarve su-saḿrabdhā
vāhān āruhya daḿśitāḥ
svaiḥ svair balaiḥ parikrāntā
anvīyur dhṛta-kārmukāḥ
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus (speaking); sarve — all of them; su-saḿrabdhāḥ — greatly angered; vāhān — their conveyances; āruhya — mounting; daḿśitāḥ — wearing armor; svaiḥ svaiḥ — each by his own; balaiḥ — military force; parikrāntāḥ — surrounded; anvīyuḥ — they followed; dhṛta — holding; kārmukāḥ — their bows.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī 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 Kṛṣṇa.
10.54.2
tān āpatata ālokya
yādavānīka-yūthapāḥ
tasthus tat-sammukhā rājan
visphūrjya sva-dhanūḿṣi te
tān — them; āpatataḥ — in pursuit; ālokya — seeing; yādava-anīka — of the Yādava army; yūtha-paḥ — the officers; tasthuḥ — stood; tat — them; sammukhāḥ — directly facing; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); visphūrjya — twanging; sva — their; dhanūḿṣi — bows; te — they.
TRANSLATION
The commanders of the Yādava army, seeing the enemy racing to attack, turned to face them and stood firm, O King, twanging their bows.
10.54.3
aśva-pṛṣṭhe gaja-skandhe
rathopasthe 'stra kovidāḥ
mumucuḥ śara-varṣāṇi
meghā adriṣv apo yathā
aśva-pṛṣṭhe — on horseback; gaja — of elephants; skandhe — on the shoulders; ratha — of chariots; upasthe — on the seats; astra — of weapons; kovidāḥ — those expert in the use; mumucuḥ — released; śara — of arrows; varṣāṇi — rains; meghāḥ — clouds; adriṣu — upon mountains; apaḥ — water; yathā — 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.
10.54.4
patyur balaḿ śarāsāraiś
channaḿ vīkṣya su-madhyamā
sa-vrīḍm aikṣat tad-vaktraḿ
bhaya-vihvala-locanā
patyuḥ — of her Lord; balam — the army; śara — of arrows; āsāraiḥ — by heavy rains; channam — covered; vīkṣya — seeing; su-madhyamā — slender-waisted (Rukmiṇī); sa-vrīḍam — shyly; aikṣat — looked; tat — His; vaktram — at the face; bhaya — with fear; vihvala — disturbed; locanā — whose eyes.
TRANSLATION
Slender-waisted Rukmiṇī, seeing her Lord's army covered by torrents of arrows, shyly looked at His face with fear-stricken eyes.
10.54.5
prahasya bhagavān āha
mā sma bhair vāma-locane
vinańkṣyaty adhunaivaitat
tāvakaiḥ śātravaḿ balam
prahasya — laughing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; āha — said; mā sma bhaiḥ — do not be afraid; vāma-locane — O beautiful-eyed one; vinańkṣyati — will be destroyed; adhunā eva — just now; etat — this; tāvakaiḥ — by your (army); śātravam — 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."
10.54.6
teṣāḿ tad-vikramaḿ vīrā
gada-sańkarṣanādayaḥ
amṛṣyamāṇā nārācair
jaghnur haya-gajān rathān
teṣām — by them (the opposing kings); tat — that; vikramam — show of prowess; vīrāḥ — the heroes; gada — Gada, the younger brother of Lord Kṛṣṇa; sańkarṣaṇa — Lord Balarāma; ādayaḥ — and others; amṛṣyamāṇāḥ — not tolerating; nārācaiḥ — with arrows made of iron; jaghnuḥ — they struck; haya — horses; gajān — elephants; rathān — and chariots.
TRANSLATION
The heroes of the Lord's army, headed by Gada and Sańkarṣaṇa, 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.
10.54.7
petuḥ śirāḿsi rathinām
aśvināḿ gajināḿ bhuvi
sa-kuṇḍala-kirīṭāni
soṣṇīṣāṇi ca koṭiśaḥ
petuḥ — fell; śirāḿsi — the heads; rathinām — of those riding on chariots; aśvinām — of those riding horses; gajinām — of those riding elephants; bhuvi — to the ground; sa — with; kuṇḍala — earrings; kirīṭāni — and helmets; sa — with; uṣṇīṣāṇi — turbans; ca — and; koṭiśaḥ — 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.
10.54.8
hastāḥ sāsi-gadeṣv-āsāḥ
karabhā ūravo 'ńghrayaḥ
aśvāśvatara-nāgoṣṭra-
khara-martya-śirāḿsi ca
hastāḥ — hands; sa — with; asi — swords; gadā — clubs; iṣu-āsāḥ — bows; karabhāḥ — fingerless hands; ūravaḥ — thighs; ańghrayaḥ — legs; aśva — of horses; aśvatara — donkeys; nāga — elephants; uṣṭra — camels; khara — wild asses; martya — and humans; śirāḿsi — 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.
10.54.9
hanyamāna-balānīkā
vṛṣṇibhir jaya-kāńkṣibhiḥ
rājāno vimukhā jagmur
jarāsandha-puraḥ-sarāḥ
hanyamāna — being killed; bala-anīkāḥ — whose armies; vṛṣṇibhiḥ — by the Vṛṣṇis; jaya — for victory; kāńkṣibhiḥ — who were eager; rājānaḥ — the kings; vimukhāḥ — discouraged; jagmuḥ — left; jarāsandha-puraḥ-sarāḥ — headed by Jarāsandha.
TRANSLATION
Seeing their armies being struck down by the Vṛṣṇis, who were eager for victory, the kings headed by Jarāsandha were discouraged and left the battlefield.
10.54.10
śiśupālaḿ samabhyetya
hṛta-dāram ivāturam
naṣṭa-tviṣaḿ gatotsāhaḿ
śuṣyad-vadanam abruvan
śiśupālam — Śiśupāla; samabhyetya — approaching; hṛta — stolen; dāram — whose wife; iva — as if; āturam — perturbed; naṣṭa — lost; tviṣam — whose color; gata — gone; utsāham — whose enthusiasm; śuṣyat — dried up; vadanam — whose face; abruvan — they addressed.
TRANSLATION
The kings approached Śiśupāla, 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.
10.54.11
bho bhoḥ puruṣa-śārdūla
daurmanasyam idaḿ tyaja
na priyāpriyayo rājan
niṣṭhā dehiṣu dṛśyate
bhoḥ bhoḥ — O sir; puruṣa — among men; śārdūla — O tiger; daurmana-syam — depressed state of mind; idam — this; tyaja — give up; na — no; priya — of the desirable; apriyayoḥ — or the undesirable; rājan — O King; niṣṭhā — permanence; dehiṣu — among embodied beings; dṛśyate — is seen.
TRANSLATION
[Jarāsandha said:] Listen, Śiśupāla, O tiger among men, give up your depression. After all, embodied beings' happiness and unhappiness is never seen to be permanent, O King.
10.54.12
yathā dāru-mayī yoṣit
nṛtyate kuhakecchayā
evam īśvara-tantro 'yam
īhate sukha-duḥkhayoḥ
yathā — as; dāru-mayī — made of wood; yoṣit — a woman; nṛtyate — dances; kuhaka — of the showman; icchayā — by the desire; evam — in the same way; īśvara — of the Supreme Lord; tantraḥ — under the control; ayam — this world; īhate — endeavors; sukha — in joy; duḥkhayoḥ — 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.
10.54.13
śaureḥ sapta-daśāhaḿ vai
saḿyugāni parājitaḥ
trayo-viḿśatibhiḥ sainyair
jigye ekam ahaḿ param
śaureḥ — with Kṛṣṇa; sapta-daśa — seventeen; aham — I; vai — indeed; saḿyugāni — battles; parājitaḥ — lost; trayaḥ-viḿśatibhiḥ — twenty-three; sainyaiḥ — with armies; jigye — won; ekam — one; aham — I; param — only.
TRANSLATION
In battle with Kṛṣṇa I and my twenty-three armies lost seventeen times; only once did I defeat Him.
10.54.14
tathāpy ahaḿ na śocāmi
na prahṛṣyāmi karhicit
kālena daiva-yuktena
jānan vidrāvitaḿ jagat
tathā api — nonetheless; aham — I; na śocāmi — do not lament; na prahṛṣyāmi — do not rejoice; karhicit — ever; kālena — by time; daiva — with fate; yuktena — conjoined; jānan — knowing; vidrāvitam — driven; jagat — the world.
TRANSLATION
But still I never lament or rejoice, because I know this world is driven by time and fate.
10.54.15
adhunāpi vayaḿ sarve
vīra-yūthapa-yūthapāḥ
parājitāḥ phalgu-tantrair
yadubhiḥ kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ
adhunā — now; api — even; vayam — we; sarve — all; vīra — of heroes; yūtha-pa — of the leaders; yūtha-pāḥ — the leaders; parājitāḥ — defeated; phalgu — meager; tantraiḥ — whose entourage; yadubhiḥ — by the Yadus; kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ — protected by Kṛṣṇa.
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 Kṛṣṇa.
10.54.16
ripavo jigyur adhunā
kāla ātmānusāriṇi
tadā vayaḿ vijeṣyāmo
yadā kālaḥ pradakṣiṇaḥ
ripavaḥ — our enemies; jigyuḥ — have conquered; adhunā — now; kāle — the time; ātma — them; anusārīṇi — favoring; tadā — then; vayam — we; vijeṣyāmaḥ — shall conquer; yadā — when; kālaḥ — time; pradakṣiṇaḥ — 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.
10.54.17
śrī-śuka uvāca
evaḿ prabodhito mitraiś
caidyo 'gāt sānugaḥ puram
hata-śeṣāḥ punas te 'pi
yayuḥ svaḿ svaḿ puraḿ nṛpāḥ
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; prabodhitaḥ — persuaded; mitraiḥ — by his friends; caidyaḥ — Śiśupāla; agāt — went; sa-anugaḥ — with his followers; puram — to his city; hata — from the killed; śeṣāḥ — who remained; punaḥ — again; te — they; api — also; yayuḥ — went; svam svam — each to his own; puram — city; nṛpāḥ — kings.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus persuaded by his friends, Śiśupāla took his followers and went back to his capital. The surviving warriors also returned to their respective cities.
10.54.18
rukmī tu rākṣasodvāhaḿ
kṛṣṇa-dviḍ asahan svasuḥ
pṛṣṭhato 'nvagamat kṛṣṇam
akṣauhiṇyā vṛto balī
rukmī — Rukmī; tu — however; rākṣasa — in the style of demons; udvāham — the marriage; kṛṣṇa-dviṭ — the hater of Kṛṣṇa; asahan — unable to bear; svasuḥ — of his sister; pṛṣṭhataḥ — from behind; anvagamat — he followed; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; akṣauhiṇyā — by an entire akṣauhiṇī division; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; balī — powerful.
TRANSLATION
Powerful Rukmī, however, was especially envious of Kṛṣṇa. He could not bear the fact that Kṛṣṇa had carried off his sister to marry her in the Rākṣasa style. Thus he pursued the Lord with an entire military division.
10.54.19-20
rukmy amarṣī su-saḿrabdhaḥ
śṛṇvatāḿ sarva-bhūbhujām
pratijajñe mahā-bāhur
daḿśitaḥ sa-śarāsanaḥ
ahatvā samare kṛṣṇam
apratyūhya ca rukmiṇīm
kuṇḍinaḿ na pravekṣyāmi
satyam etad bravīmi vaḥ
rukmī — Rukmī; amarṣī — intolerant; su-saḿrabdhaḥ — extremely angry; śṛṇvatām — while they listened; sarva — all; bhū-bhujām — the kings; pratijajñe — he swore; mahā-bāhuḥ — mighty-armed; daḿśitaḥ — wearing his armor; sa-śarāsanaḥ — with his bow;
ahatvā — without killing; samare — in battle; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; apratyūhya — without bringing back; ca — and; rukmiṇīm — Rukmiṇī; kuṇḍinam — the city of Kuṇḍina; na pravekṣyāmi — I shall not enter; satyam — in truth; etat — this; bravīmi — I say; vaḥ — to all of you.
TRANSLATION
Frustrated and enraged, mighty-armed Rukmī, dressed in armor and wielding his bow, had sworn before all the kings, "I shall not again enter Kuṇḍina if I do not kill Kṛṣṇa in battle and bring Rukmiṇī back with me. I swear this to you."
10.54.21
ity uktvā ratham āruhya
sārathiḿ prāha satvaraḥ
codayāśvān yataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
tasya me saḿyugaḿ bhavet
iti — thus; uktvā — speaking; ratham — on his chariot; āruhya — climbing; sārathim — to his driver; prāha — said; satvaraḥ — quickly; codaya — drive; aśvān — the horses; yataḥ — to where; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; tasya — His; me — with me; saḿyugam — fight; bhavet — must be.
TRANSLATION
Having said this, he had mounted his chariot and told his charioteer, "Drive the horses quickly to where Kṛṣṇa is. He and I must fight.
10.54.22
adyāhaḿ niśitair bāṇair
gopālasya su-durmateḥ
neṣye vīrya-madaḿ yena
svasā me prasabhaḿ hṛtā
adya — today; aham — I; niśitaiḥ — sharp; bāṇaiḥ — with my arrows; gopālasya — of the cowherd; su-durmateḥ — whose mentality is most wicked; neṣye — I will remove; vīrya — in His power; madam — the intoxicated pride; yena — by which; svasā — sister; me — my; prasabham — violently; hṛtā — 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."
10.54.23
vikatthamānaḥ kumatir
īśvarasyāpramāṇa-vit
rathenaikena govindaḿ
tiṣṭha tiṣṭhety athāhvayat
vikatthamānaḥ — boasting; ku-matiḥ — foolish; īśvarasya — of the Supreme Lord; apramāṇa-vit — not knowing the dimensions; rathena ekena — with a single chariot; govindam — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; tiṣṭha tiṣṭha — stand and fight; iti — so saying; atha — then; āhvayat — he called.
TRANSLATION
Boasting thus, foolish Rukmī, 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!"
10.54.24
dhanur vikṛṣya su-dṛḍhaḿ
jaghne kṛṣṇaḿ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
āha cātra kṣaṇaḿ tiṣṭha
yadūnāḿ kula-pāḿsana
dhanuḥ — his bow; vikṛṣya — drawing; su — very; dṛḍham — firmly; jaghne — he struck; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; tribhiḥ — with three; śaraiḥ — arrows; āha — he said; ca — and; atra — here; kṣaṇam — a moment; tiṣṭha — stand; yadūnām — of the Yadus; kula — of the dynasty; pāḿsana — O corrupter.
TRANSLATION
Rukmī drew his bow with great strength and struck Lord Kṛṣṇa with three arrows. Then he said, "Stand here for a moment, O defiler of the Yadu dynasty!
10.54.25
yatra yāsi svasāraḿ me
muṣitvā dhvāńkṣa-vad dhaviḥ
hariṣye 'dya madaḿ manda
māyinaḥ kūṭa-yodhinaḥ
yatra — wherever; yāsi — You go; svasāram — sister; me — my; muṣitvā — having stolen; dhvāńkṣa-vat — like a crow; haviḥ — the sacrificial butter; hariṣye — I will remove; adya — today; madam — Your false pride; manda — You fool; māyinaḥ — of the deceiver; kūṭa — cheating; yodhinaḥ — 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!
10.54.26
yāvan na me hato bāṇaiḥ
śayīthā muñca dārīkām
smayan kṛṣṇo dhanuś chittvā
ṣaḍbhir vivyādha rukmiṇam
yāvat — while; na — not; me — my; hataḥ — killed; bāṇaiḥ — by the arrows; śayīthaḥ — you lie down; muñca — release; dārīkām — the girl; smayan — smiling; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dhanuḥ — his bow; chittvā — breaking; ṣaḍbhiḥ — with six (arrows); vivyādha — pierced; rukmiṇam — Rukmī.
TRANSLATION
"Release the girl before You are struck dead by my arrows and made to lie down!" In response to this, Lord Kṛṣṇa smiled, and with six arrows He struck Rukmī and broke his bow.
10.54.27
aṣṭabhiś caturo vāhān
dvābhyāḿ sūtaḿ dhvajaḿ tribhiḥ
sa cānyad dhanur ādhāya
kṛṣṇaḿ vivyādha pañcabhiḥ
aṣṭabhiḥ — with eight (arrows); caturaḥ — the four; vāhān — horses; dvābhyām — with two; sūtam — the chariot driver; dhvajam — the flagpole; tribhiḥ — with three; saḥ — he, Rukmī; ca — and; anyat — another; dhanuḥ — bow; ādhāya — taking up; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; vivyādha — pierced; pañcabhiḥ — with five.
TRANSLATION
The Lord struck Rukmī's four horses with eight arrows, his chariot driver with two, and the chariot's flag with three. Rukmī grabbed another bow and struck Lord Kṛṣṇa with five arrows.
10.54.28
tais tāditaḥ śaraughais tu
ciccheda dhanur acyutaḥ
punar anyad upādatta
tad apy acchinad avyayaḥ
taiḥ — by these; tāḍitaḥ — struck; śara — of arrows; oghaiḥ — floods; tu — although; ciccheda — broke; dhanuḥ — (Rukmī's) bow; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; punaḥ — again; anyat — another; upādatta — he (Rukmī) picked up; tat — that; api — also; acchinat — broke; avyayaḥ — the infallible Lord.
TRANSLATION
Although hit by these many arrows, Lord Acyuta again broke Rukmī's bow. Rukmī picked up yet another bow, but the infallible Lord broke that one to pieces as well.
10.54.29
parighaḿ paṭṭiśaḿ śūlaḿ
carmāsī śakti-tomarau
yad yad āyudham ādatta
tat sarvaḿ so 'cchinad dhariḥ
parigham — spiked iron bludgeon; paṭṭiśam — three-pointed spear; śūlam — lance; carma-asī — shield and sword; śakti — pike; tomarau — javelin; yat yat — whatever; āyudham — weapon; ādatta — he took up; tat sarvam — all of them; saḥ — He; acchinat — broke; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
Iron bludgeon, three-pointed spear, sword and shield, pike, javelin — whatever weapon Rukmī picked up, Lord Hari smashed it to bits.
10.54.30
tato rathād avaplutya
khaḍga-pāṇir jighāḿsayā
kṛṣṇam abhyadravat kruddhaḥ
patańga iva pāvakam
tataḥ — then; rathāt — from his chariot; avaplutya — leaping down; khaḍga — a sword; paṇiḥ — in his hand; jighāḿsayā — with the desire to kill; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; abhyadravat — he ran toward; kruddhaḥ — furious; patańgaḥ — a bird; iva — as; pāvakam — the wind.
TRANSLATION
Then Rukmī leaped down from his chariot and, sword in hand, rushed furiously toward Kṛṣṇa to kill Him, like a bird flying into the wind.
10.54.31
tasya cāpatataḥ khaḍgaḿ
tilaśaś carma ceṣubhiḥ
chittvāsim ādade tigmaḿ
rukmiṇaḿ hantum udyataḥ
tasya — of him; ca — and; āpatataḥ — who was attacking; khaḍgam — the sword; tilaśaḥ — into small pieces; carma — the shield; ca — and; iṣubhiḥ — with His arrows; chittvā — breaking; asim — His sword; ādade — He took; tigmam — sharp; rukmiṇam — Rukmī; hantum — to kill; udyataḥ — prepared.
TRANSLATION
As Rukmī attacked Him, the Lord shot arrows that broke Rukmī's sword and shield into small pieces. Kṛṣṇa then took up His own sharp sword and prepared to kill Rukmī.
10.54.32
dṛṣṭvā bhrātṛ-vadhodyogaḿ
rukmiṇī bhaya-vihvalā
patitvā pādayor bhartur
uvāca karuṇaḿ satī
dṛṣṭvā — seeing; bhrātṛ — her brother; vadha — to kill; udyogam — the attempt; rukmiṇī — Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī; bhaya — by fear; vihvalā — agitated; patitvā — falling; pādayoḥ — at the feet; bhartuḥ — of her husband; uvāca — spoke; karuṇam — pathetically; satī — saintly.
TRANSLATION
Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa ready to kill her brother, saintly Rukmiṇī was filled with alarm. She fell at her husband's feet and piteously spoke as follows.
10.54.33
śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
yogeśvarāprameyātman
deva-deva jagat-pate
hantuḿ nārhasi kalyāṇa
bhrātaraḿ me mahā-bhuja
śrī-rukmiṇī uvāca — Śrī Rukmiṇī said; yoga-īśvara — O controller of all mystic power; aprameya-ātman — O immeasurable one; deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat-pate — O master of the universe; hantum na arhasi — please do not kill; kalyāṇa — O all auspicious one; bhrātaram — brother; me — my; mahā-bhuja — O mighty-armed one.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Rukmiṇī 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!
10.54.34
śrī-śuka uvāca
tayā paritrāsa-vikampitāńgayā
śucāvaśuṣyan-mukha-ruddha-kaṇṭhayā
kātarya-visraḿsita-hema-mālayā
gṛhīta-pādaḥ karuṇo nyavartata
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tayā — by her; paritrāsa — in total fear; vikampita — trembling; ańgayā — whose limbs; śucā — out of sorrow; avaśuṣyat — drying up; mukha — whose mouth; ruddha — and choked; kaṇṭhayā — whose throat; kātarya — in her agitation; visraḿsita — disheveled; hema — golden; mālayā — whose necklace; gṛhīta — held; pādaḥ — His feet; karuṇaḥ — compassionate; nyavartata — He desisted.
TRANSLATION
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Rukmiṇī'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 Kṛṣṇa's feet, and the Lord, feeling compassionate, desisted.
10.54.35
cailena baddhvā tam asādhu-kārīṇaḿ
sa-śmaśru-keśaḿ pravapan vyarūpayat
tāvan mamarduḥ para-sainyam adbhutaḿ
yadu-pravīrā nalinīḿ yathā gajāḥ
cailena — with a strip of cloth; baddhvā — tying up; tam — him; asādhu-kāriṇam — the evil-doer; sa-śmaśru-keśam — leaving some of his mustache and hair remaining; pravapan — by shaving him; vyarūpayat — made him disfigured; tāvat — by then; mamarduḥ — they had crushed; para — opposing; sainyam — the army; adbhutam — extraordinary; yadu-pravīrāḥ — the heroes of the Yadu dynasty; nalinīm — a lotus flower; yathā — as; gajāḥ — elephants.
TRANSLATION
Lord Kṛṣṇa tied up the evil-doer with a strip of cloth. He then proceeded to disfigure Rukmī 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.
10.54.36
kṛṣṇāntikam upavrajya
dadṛśus tatra rukmiṇam
tathā-bhūtaḿ hata-prāyaḿ
dṛṣṭvā sańkarṣaṇo vibhuḥ
vimucya baddhaḿ karuṇo
bhagavān kṛṣṇam abravīt
kṛṣṇa — of Kṛṣṇa; antikam — the proximity; upavrajya — approaching; dadṛśuḥ — they (the Yadu soldiers) saw; tatra — there; rukmiṇam — Rukmī; tathā-bhūtam — in such a condition; hata — dead; prāyam — practically; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; sańkarṣaṇaḥ — Balarāma; vibhuḥ — the omnipotent; vimucya — releasing; baddham — the bound-up (Rukmī); karuṇaḥ — compassionate; bhagavān — the Lord; kṛṣṇam — to Kṛṣṇa; abravīt — said.
TRANSLATION
As the Yadus approached Lord Kṛṣṇa, they saw Rukmī in this sorry condition, practically dying of shame. When the all-powerful Lord Balarāma saw Rukmī, He compassionately released him and spoke the following to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
10.54.37
asādhv idaḿ tvayā kṛṣṇa
kṛtam asmaj-jugupsitam
vapanaḿ śmaśru-keśānāḿ
vairūpyaḿ suhṛdo vadhaḥ
asādhu — improperly; idam — this; tvayā — by You; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; kṛtam — done; asmat — for Us; jugupsitam — terrible; vapanam — the shaving; śmaśru-keśānām — of his mustache and hair; vairūpyam — the disfigurement; suhṛdaḥ — of a family member; vadhaḥ — death.
TRANSLATION
[Lord Balarāma said:] My dear Kṛṣṇa, 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.
10.54.38
maivāsmān sādhvy asūyethā
bhrātur vairūpya-cintayā
sukha-duḥkha-do na cānyo 'sti
yataḥ sva-kṛta-bhuk pumān
mā — please do not; eva — indeed; asmān — toward Us; sādhvi — O saintly lady; asūyethāḥ — feel inimical; bhrātuḥ — of your brother; vairūpya — over the disfigurement; cintayā — out of concern; sukha — of happiness; duḥkha — and unhappiness; daḥ — bestower; na — not; ca — and; anyaḥ — anyone else; asti — there is; yataḥ — since; sva — of his own; kṛta — action; bhuk — the sufferer of the reaction; pumān — 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.
10.54.39
bandhur vadhārha-doṣo 'pi
na bandhor vadham arhati
tyājyaḥ svenaiva doṣeṇa
hataḥ kiḿ hanyate punaḥ
bandhuḥ — a relative; vadha — being killed; arha — which merits; doṣaḥ — whose wrong-doing; api — even though; na — not; bandhoḥ — from a relative; vadham — being killed; arhati — deserves; tyājyaḥ — to be cast out; svena eva — by his own; doṣeṇa — fault; hataḥ — killed; kim — why; hanyate — is to be killed; punaḥ — again.
TRANSLATION
[Again addressing Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma 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?
10.54.40
kṣatriyāṇām ayaḿ dharmaḥ
prajāpati-vinirmitaḥ
bhrātāpi bhrātaraḿ hanyād
yena ghoratamas tataḥ
kṣatriyāṇām — of warriors; ayam — this; dharmaḥ — code of sacred duty; prajāpati — by the original progenitor, Lord Brahmā; vinirmitaḥ — established; bhrātā — a brother; api — even; bhrātaram — his brother; hanyāt — has to kill; yena — by which (code); ghora-tamaḥ — most terrible; tataḥ — therefore.
TRANSLATION
[Turning to Rukmiṇī, Balarāma continued: ] The code of sacred duty for warriors established by Lord Brahmā enjoins that one may have to kill even his own brother. That is indeed a most dreadful law.
10.54.41
rājyasya bhūmer vittasya
striyo mānasya tejasaḥ
mānino 'nyasya vā hetoḥ
śrī-madāndhāḥ kṣipanti hi
rājyasya — of kingdom; bhūmeḥ — of land; vittasya — of wealth; striyaḥ — of a woman; mānasya — of honor; tejasaḥ — of power; māninaḥ — those who are proud; anyasya — of something else; vā — or; hetoḥ — for the reason; śrī — in their opulence; mada — by their intoxication; andhāḥ — blinded; kṣipanti — they commit insult; hi — indeed.
TRANSLATION
[Again Balarāma addressed Kṛṣṇa:] 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.
10.54.42
taveyaḿ viṣamā buddhiḥ
sarva-bhūteṣu durhṛdām
yan manyase sadābhadraḿ
suhṛdāḿ bhadram ajña-vat
tava — your; iyam — this; viṣamā — biased; buddhiḥ — attitude; sarva-bhūteṣu — toward all living beings; durhṛdām — of those who have ill intentions; yat — that; manyase — you wish; sadā — always; abhadram — evil; suhṛdām — to your well-wishers; bhadram — good; ajña-vat — like an ignorant person.
TRANSLATION
[To Rukmiṇī Balarāma 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.
10.54.43
ātma-moho nṛṇām eva
kalpate deva-māyayā
suhṛd durhṛd udāsīna
iti dehātma-māninām
ātma — about the self; mohaḥ — the bewilderment; nṛṇām — of men; eva — only; kalpate — is effected; deva — of the Supreme Lord; māyayā — by the illusory, material energy; suhṛt — a friend; durhṛt — an enemy; udāsīnaḥ — a neutral party; iti — thus thinking; deha — the body; ātma — as the self; māninām — for those who consider.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Lord's Māyā makes men forget their real selves, and thus, taking the body for the self, they consider others to be friends, enemies or neutral parties.
10.54.44
eka eva paro hy ātmā
sarveṣām api dehinām
nāneva gṛhyate mūḍhair
yathā jyotir yathā nabhaḥ
ekaḥ — one; eva — only; paraḥ — the Supreme; hi — indeed; ātmā — Soul; sarveṣām — among all; api — and; dehinām — embodied beings; nānā — many; iva — as if; gṛhyate — is perceived; mūḍhaiḥ — by those who are bewildered; yathā — as; jyotiḥ — a celestial body; yathā — as; nabhaḥ — 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.
10.54.45
deha ādy-antavān eṣa
dravya-prāṇa-guṇātmakaḥ
ātmany avidyayā kḷptaḥ
saḿsārayati dehinam
dehaḥ — the material body; ādi — beginning; anta — and end; vān — having; eṣaḥ — this; dravya — of the physical elements; prāṇa — the senses; guṇa — and the primary modes of material nature (goodness, passion and ignorance); ātmakaḥ — composed; ātmani — on the self; avidyayā — by material ignorance; kḷptaḥ — imposed; saḿsārayati — 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.
10.54.46
nātmano 'nyena saḿyogo
viyogaś casataḥ sati
tad-dhetutvāt tat-prasiddher
dṛg-rūpābhyāḿ yathā raveḥ
na — not; ātmanaḥ — for the self; anyena — with anything else; saḿyogaḥ — contact; viyogaḥ — separation; ca — and; asataḥ — with that which is insubstantial; sati — O discriminating one; tat — from it (the self); hetutvāt — because of originating; tat — by it (the self); prasiddheḥ — because of being revealed; dṛk — with the sense of vision; rūpābhyām — and visible form; yathā — as; raveḥ — 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.
10.54.47
janmādayas tu dehasya
vikriyā nātmanaḥ kvacit
kalānām iva naivendor
mṛtir hy asya kuhūr iva
janma-ādayaḥ — birth and so on; tu — but; dehasya — of the body; vikriyāḥ — transformations; na — not; ātmanaḥ — of the self; kvacit — ever; kalānām — of the phases; iva — as; na — not; eva — indeed; indoḥ — of the moon; mṛtiḥ — the death; hi — indeed; asya — of it; kuhūḥ — 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."
10.54.48
yathā śayāna ātmānaḿ
viṣayān phalam eva ca
anubhuńkte 'py asaty arthe
tathāpnoty abudho bhavam
yathā — as; śayānaḥ — a sleeping person; ātmānam — himself; viṣayān — sense objects; phalam — the fruits; eva — indeed; ca — also; anubhuńkte — experiences; api — even; asati arthe — in that which is not real; tathā — so; āpnoti — undergoes; abudhaḥ — 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.
10.54.49
tasmād ajñāna-jaḿ śokam
ātma-śoṣa-vimohanam
tattva-jñānena nirhṛtya
sva-sthā bhava śuci-smite
tasmāt — therefore; ajñāna — out of ignorance; jam — born; śokam — the lamentation; ātma — yourself; śoṣa — drying up; vimohanam — and bewildering; tattva — of the truth; jñānena — with knowledge; nirhṛtya — dispelling; sva-sthā — reinstated in your natural mood; bhava — please be; śuci-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.
10.54.50
śrī-śuka uvāca
evaḿ bhagavatā tanvī
rāmeṇa pratibodhitā
vaimanasyaḿ parityajya