Rukmīṇī Kṛshṇa Vivāha

Rukmīṇī, the daughter of King Bhīshmaka of Vidarbha, was Mahālakshmī herself, born on earth to be the queen of Kṛshṇa. The Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa tells of her marriage to Kṛshṇa in the Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, in Chapters 105 to 109. Her brother Rukmi wanted her to marry Śiśupāla. Kṛshṇa came to Kuṇḍina, the city of Bhīshmaka, and Balarāma drove off the enemies at the gate. The wedding then took place with Vedic rites. The same chapters also tell how Balarāma married Revatī. After the wedding, Sarasvatī spoke about the place of Rādhā.

Bhīshmaka, Rukmīṇī and the family quarrel (Chapter 105)

Bhīshmaka was the strong and righteous king of Vidarbha, and he ruled from the capital city Kuṇḍina. He had a daughter named Rukmīṇī. She was no ordinary person. She was Mahālakshmī herself, born on earth to be Kṛshṇa’s queen. The family purohita (priest) Śatānanda, the son of Gautama, advised Bhīshmaka to give Rukmīṇī to Kṛshṇa, the Parabrahman himself, and to no one else.

Rukmīṇī’s proud elder brother Rukmi was strongly against this plan. He was hostile to Kṛshṇa and dismissed him as a cowherd. He insisted that Rukmīṇī must marry Śiśupāla, the king of Cedi, who was his ally. Rukmi’s father protested, but Rukmi went ahead and began to prepare a svayaṃvara (a ceremony where the bride chooses her husband). He sent invitations to the kings of Aṅga, Kaliṅga, Magadha, Saurāshṭra and Mahārāshṭra, asking them to come to Kuṇḍina.

In her heart Rukmīṇī had long ago given herself to Kṛshṇa. She had no wish for any other man. She understood what her brother was planning, and she sent a message to Dvārakā through Śatānanda. In it she told of her trouble and of her devotion to Kṛshṇa.

Kakudmi, Revatī and Balarāma

Separately, Kakudmi, the king of Saurāshṭra, came to Mathurā looking for a husband for his daughter Revatī. This old king had once gone to Brahmaloka to ask Brahmā’s advice about a suitable husband for her. Time passes differently in Brahmaloka. While he was there, 27 yugas went by on earth. Brahmā told him: “All the kings you thought of are gone. But Balarāma, the avatāra of Śesha, is now on earth. Give Revatī to him.”

So Kakudmi came to Mathurā and offered his daughter Revatī to Balarāma, with a very large dowry. This marriage was completed before the journey to Kuṇḍina.

Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 105.

The battle at the gates of Kuṇḍina (Chapter 106)

Kṛshṇa came to Kuṇḍina with his company. Rukmi and his allies Śiśupāla, Śālva and Dantavakra met Kṛshṇa’s procession outside the city gates. They insulted him openly with harsh words. They called him unfit and a mere cowherd.

Balarāma grew angry. He took up his hala (plough) and his musala (club) and fell on the enemies. He destroyed their vehicles one after another, and the enemies ran away. Śatānanda then led Kṛshṇa in procession through the hundred gates of Kuṇḍina and into the middle of the city.

Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 106.

Bhīshmaka receives Kṛshṇa (Chapter 107)

Inside Kuṇḍina, all the women of the city came to see Kṛshṇa. They were full of wonder and joy. Kṛshṇa had a skin dark like a mass of cloud. He wore yellow silk and the Vaijayantī garland. A peacock feather was in his crown, the muraḷī (flute) was at his lips, and he was decorated with shining jewels (ratna). The women said to one another: “Rukmīṇī is truly the most fortunate of women.”

Bhīshmaka himself came forward and bowed to Kṛshṇa with deep respect. He performed the full royal pūjā:

• pādya, the washing of the feet
• arghya, the offering of water to the hands
• ācamana, water for sipping
• gandha, sandal paste
• pushpāñjali, an offering of flowers

He also gave Kṛshṇa gifts.

Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 107.

The wedding (Chapter 108)

The auspicious moment came. Rukmīṇī was golden in colour, with the shine of a hundred moons. She wore saffron clothes and a mālatīmālā (a garland of jasmine). She was brought forward with the proper rites.

She walked around Kṛshṇa seven times (pradakshiṇā) and bowed to him with the deepest devotion. Bhīshmaka wept with joy and with the grief of parting. He performed the kanyādāna, the giving of the daughter. With Vedic mantras and prayers for blessings on the couple, he placed Rukmīṇī’s hand in Kṛshṇa’s hand. Kṛshṇa accepted with the blessing “Svasti.” A dakshiṇā (gift) of five lakh suvarṇas (gold coins) was given. The wedding party then went back to Dvārakā with great joy.

Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 108.

The assembly after the wedding: Rādhā’s place (Chapter 109)

After the wedding, an assembly of divine women gathered. Pārvatī, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī, Rati, Rohiṇī and others were there. Rohiṇī asked Kṛshṇa to explain the places of Rādhā and Rukmīṇī.

Sarasvatī gave the answer. She said: “Rādhā lives for ever on Kṛshṇa’s vakshaḥsthala (the left side of his chest). She is the paramapriyā, the most beloved of all. Rukmīṇī is Kamala, Mahālakshmī herself. All other devīs are parts of Rādhā. The gopīs of Vṛndāvana are aspects of Rādhā’s own teja (radiance). Rukmīṇī is the pūrṇa-kamala (the full lotus), but Rādhā is the source of that lotus. As the fire is to the light of the lamp, so Rādhā is to Rukmīṇī.”

Rukmīṇī’s mother Subhadrā wept because she was parted from her daughter. The assembly broke up with everyone content and joyful.

Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 109.

Sources

• Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 105 (Bhīshmaka, Rukmīṇī, Rukmi, Kakudmi and Revatī)
• Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 106 (the battle at the gates of Kuṇḍina)
• Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 107 (Bhīshmaka receives Kṛshṇa)
• Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 108 (the wedding)
• Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janana Khaṇḍa, Chapter 109 (the assembly after the wedding)