Chapter 61: Lord Balarāma Slays Rukmī

 

10.61.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

ekaikaśas tāḥ kṛṣṇasya

putrān daśa-daśābaāḥ

ajījanann anavamān

pituḥ sarvātma-sampadā

 

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.

 

10.61.2

gṛhād anapagaḿ vīkṣya

rāja-putryo 'cyutaḿ sthitam

preṣṭhaḿ nyamaḿsata svaḿ svaḿ

na tat-tattva-vidaḥ striyaḥ

 

gṛhāt — from their palaces; anapagam — never going out; vīkṣya — seeing; rāja-putryaḥ — daughters of kings; acyutam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; sthitam — remaining; preṣṭham — most dear; nyamaḿsata — 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.

 

10.61.3

cārv-abja-kośa-vadanāyata-bāhu-netra-

sa-prema-hāsa-rasa-vīkṣita-valgu-jalpaiḥ

sammohitā bhagavato na mano vijetuḿ

svair vibhramaiḥ samaśakan vanitā vibhūmnaḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.4

smāyāvaloka-lava-darśita-bhāva-hāri

bhrū-maṇḍala-prahita-saurata-mantra-śauṇḍaiḥ

patnyas tu śoḍaśa-sahasram anańga-bāṇair

yasyendriyaḿ vimathitum karaṇair na śekuḥ

 

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; anańga — 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.

 

10.61.5

itthaḿ ramā-patim avāpya patiḿ striyas tā

brahmādayo 'pi na viduḥ padavīḿ yadīyām

bhejur mudāviratam edhitayānurāga-

hāsāvaloka-nava-sańgama-lālasādyam

 

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; sańgama — 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.

 

10.61.6

pratyudgamāsana-varārhaṇa-pāda-śauca-

tāmbūla-viśramaṇa-vījana-gandha-mālyaiḥ keśa-prasāra-śayana-snapanopahāryaiḥ

dāsī-śatā api vibhor vidadhuḥ sma dāsyam

 

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.

 

10.61.7

tāsāḿ yā daśa-putrāṇāḿ

kṛṣṇa-strīṇāḿ puroditāḥ

aṣṭau mahiṣyas tat-putrān

pradyumnādīn gṛṇāmi te

 

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.

 

10.61.8-9

cārudeṣṇaḥ sudeṣṇaś ca

cārudehaś ca vīryavān

sucāruś cāruguptaś ca

bhadracārus tathāparaḥ

 

cārucandro vicāruś ca

cāruś ca daśamo hareḥ

pradyumna-pramukhā jātā

rukmiṇyāḿ nāvamāḥ pituḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.10-12

bhānuḥ subhānuḥ svarbhānuḥ

prabhānur bhānumāḿs 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

 

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.

 

10.61.13

vīraś candro 'śvasenaś ca

citragur vegavān vṛṣaḥ

āmaḥ śańkur vasuḥ śrīmān

kuntir nāgnajiteḥ sutāḥ

 

vīraḥ candraḥ aśvasenaḥ ca — Vīra, Candra and Aśvasena; citraguḥ vegavān vṛṣaḥ — Citragu, Vegavān and Vṛṣa; āmaḥ śańkuḥ vasuḥ — Āma, Śańku and Vasu; śrī-mān — opulent; kuntiḥ — Kuntī; nāgnajiteḥ — of Nagnajitī; sutāḥ — the sons.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sons of Nāgnajitī were Vīra, Candra, Aśvasena, Citragu, Vegavān, Vṛṣa, Āma, Śańku, Vasu and the opulent Kunti.

 

10.61.14

śrutaḥ kavir vṛṣo vīraḥ

subāhur bhadra ekalaḥ

śāntir darśaḥ pūrṇamāsaḥ

kālindyāḥ somako 'varaḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.15

praghoṣo gātravān siḿho

balaḥ prabala ūrdhagaḥ

mādryāḥ putrā mahāśaktiḥ

saha ojo 'parājitaḥ

 

praghoṣaḥ gātravān siḿhaḥ — Praghoṣa, Gātravān and Siḿha; 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, Siḿha, Bala, Prabala, Ūrdhaga, Mahāśakti, Saha, Oja and Aparājita.

 

10.61.16

vṛko harṣo 'nilo gṛdhro

vardhanonnāda eva ca

mahāḿsaḥ pāvano vahnir

mitravindātmajāḥ kṣudhiḥ

 

vṛkaḥ harṣaḥ anilaḥ gṛdhraḥ — Vṛka, Harṣa, Anila and Gṛdhra; vardhana-unnādaḥ — Vardhana and Unnāda; eva ca — also; mahāḿsaḥ pāvanaḥ vahniḥ — Mahāḿsa, Pāvana and Vahni; mitravindā — of Mitravindā; ātmajāḥ — sons; kṣudhiḥ — Kṣudhi.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mitravindā's sons were Vṛka, Harṣa, Anila, Gṛdhra, Vardhana, Unnāda, Mahāḿsa, Pāvana, Vahni and Kṣudhi.

 

10.61.17

sańgrāmajid bṛhatsenaḥ

śūraḥ praharaṇo 'rijit

jayaḥ subhadro bhadrāyā

vāma āyuś ca satyakaḥ

 

sańgrāmajit bṛhatsenaḥ — Sańgrāmajit 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

Sańgrāmajit, Bṛhatsena, Śūra, Praharaṇa, Arijit, Jaya and Subhadra were the sons of Bhadrā, together with Vāma, Āyur and Satyaka.

 

10.61.18

dīptimāḿs tāmrataptādyā

rohiṇyās tanayā hareḥ

pradyamnāc cāniruddho 'bhūd

rukmavatyāḿ mahā-balaḥ

putryāḿ tu rukmiṇo rājan

nāmnā bhojakaṭe pure

 

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.

 

10.61.19

eteṣāḿ putra-pautrāś ca

babhūvuḥ koṭiśo nṛpa

mātaraḥ kṛṣṇa-jātīnāḿ

sahasrāṇi ca ṣoḍaśa

 

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.

 

10.61.20

śrī-rājovāca

kathaḿ rukmy arī-putrāya

prādād duhitaraḿ yudhi

kṛṣṇena paribhūtas taḿ

hantuḿ randhraḿ pratīkṣate

etad ākhyāhi me vidvan

dviṣor vaivāhikaḿ mithaḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.21

anāgatam atītaḿ ca

vartamānam atīndriyam

viprakṛṣṭaḿ vyavahitaḿ

samyak paśyanti yoginaḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.22

śrī-śuka uvāca

vṛtaḥ svayaḿ-vare sākṣād

anaṇgo 'ṇga-yutas tayā

rājñaḥ sametān nirjitya

jahāraika-ratho yudhi

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; vṛtaḥ — chosen; svayaḿ-vare — in her svayaḿ-vara ceremony; sākṣāt — manifest; anańgaḥ — Cupid; ańga-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 svayaḿ-vara 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.

 

10.61.23

yady apy anusmaran vairaḿ

rukmī kṛṣṇāvamānitaḥ

vyatarad bhāgineyāya

sutāḿ kurvan svasuḥ priyam

 

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.

 

10.61.24

rukmiṇyās tanayāḿ rājan

kṛtavarma-suto balī

upayeme viśālākṣīḿ

kanyāḿ cārumatīḿ kila

 

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.

 

10.61.25

dauhitrāyāniruddhāya

pautrīḿ rukmy ādadād dhareḥ

rocanāḿ baddha-vairo 'pi

svasuḥ priya-cikīrṣayā

jānann adharmaḿ tad yaunaḿ

sneha-pāśānubandhanaḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.26

tasminn abhyudaye rājan

rukmiṇī rāma-keśavau

puraḿ bhojakaṭaḿ jagmuḥ

sāmba-pradyumnakādayaḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.27-28

tasmin nivṛtta udvāhe

kālińga-pramukhā nṛpāḥ

dṛptās te rukmiṇaḿ procur

balam akṣair vinirjaya

 

anakṣa-jño hy ayaḿ rājann

api tad-vyasanaḿ mahat

ity ukto balam āhūya

tenākṣair rukmy adīvyata

 

tasmin — when that; nivṛtte — was finished; udvāhe — the marriage ceremony; kālińga-pramukhāḥ — headed by the ruler of Kalińga; 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 Kalińga 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.

 

10.61.29

śataḿ sahasram ayutaḿ

rāmas tatrādade paṇam

taḿ tu rukmy ajayat tatra

kālińgaḥ prāhasad balam

dantān sandarśayann uccair

nāmṛṣyat tad dhalāyudhaḥ

 

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; kālińgaḥ — the King of Kalińga; 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 Kalińga laughed loudly at Lord Balarāma, showing all his teeth. Lord Balarāma could not tolerate this.

 

10.61.30

tato lakṣaḿ rukmy agṛhṇād

glahaḿ tatrājayad balaḥ

jitavān aham ity āha

rukmī kaitavam āśritaḥ

 

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!"

 

10.61.31

manyunā kṣubhitaḥ śrīmān

samudra iva parvaṇi

jātyāruṇākṣo 'ti-ruṣā

nyarbudaḿ glaham ādade

 

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.

 

10.61.32

taḿ cāpi jitavān rāmo

dharmeṇa chalam āśritaḥ

rukmī jitaḿ mayātreme

vadantu prāśnikā iti

 

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."

 

10.61.33

tadābravīn nabho-vāṇī

balenaiva jito glahaḥ

dharmato vacanenaiva

rukmī vadati vai mṛṣā

 

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."

 

10.61.34

tām anādṛtya vaidarbho

duṣṭa-rājanya-coditaḥ

sańkarṣaṇaḿ parihasan

babhāṣe kāla-coditaḥ

 

tām — that (voice); anādṛtya — disregarding; vaidarbhaḥ — Rukmī, Prince of Vidarbha; duṣṭa — wicked; rājanya — by the kings; coditaḥ — urged on; sańkarṣaṇam — 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.

 

10.61.35

naivākṣa-kovidā yūyaḿ

gopālā vana-gocarāḥ

akṣair dīvyanti rājāno

bāṇaiś ca na bhavādṛśāḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.36

rukmiṇaivam adhikṣipto

rājabhiś copahāsitaḥ

kruddhaḥ parigham udyamya

jaghne taḿ nṛmṇa-saḿsadi

 

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-saḿsadi — 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.

 

10.61.37

kalińga-rājaḿ tarasā

gṛhītvā daśame pade

dantān apātayat kruddho

yo 'hasad vivṛtair dvijaiḥ

 

kalińga-rājam — the King of Kalińga; 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 Kalińga, 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.

 

10.61.38

anye nirbhinna-bāhūru-

śiraso rudhirokṣitāḥ

rājāno dudravar bhītā

balena pańghārditāḥ

 

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.

 

10.61.39

nihate rukmiṇi śyāle

nābravīt sādhv asādhu vā

rakmiṇī-balayo rājan

sneha-bhańga-bhayād dhariḥ

 

nihate — being killed; rukmiṇi — Rukmī; śyāle — His brother-in-law; na abravīt — did not say; sādhu — good; asādhu — not good; vā — or; rukmiṇī-balayoḥ — of Rukmiṇī and Balarāma; rājan — O King; sneha — the affection; bhańga — 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.

 

10.61.40

tato 'niruddhaḿ saha sūryayā varaḿ

rathaḿ samāropya yayuḥ kuśasthalīm

rāmādayo bhojakaṭād daśārhāḥ

siddhākhilārthā madhusūdanāśrayāḥ

 

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.