Kṛshṇa’s Five Marriages (Bhāgavata Purāṇa)
Chapter 58 of the 10th Skanda of the Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa tells how Bhagavān Kṛshṇa took five more principal wives. This comes after his marriages to Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā and Jāmbavātī. The five are Kālindī, Mitravindā, Satyā (also called Nāgnajitī), Bhadrā and Lakshmaṇā. Each marriage came about in a different way. Kālindī, the daughter of Sūrya, did tapas (austerity) on the bank of the Yamunā and waited for Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. Mitravindā was taken from a svayaṃvara (a ceremony where the bride chooses) although her brothers stood against it. Satyā, from Kosala, was won when Kṛshṇa tamed seven fierce bulls. Bhadrā was given freely by her brothers of the Kekaya family. Lakshmaṇā, from Madra, was won when Kṛshṇa pierced the fish target at her svayaṃvara. The chapter also tells of the burning of the Khāṇḍava forest and of Kṛshṇa’s stay at Indraprastha with the Pāṇḍavas.
Kṛshṇa visits Indraprastha
Kṛshṇa went to Indraprastha with Sātyaki and others to see the Pāṇḍavas. When he arrived, the five brothers stood up together. They were like the five senses waking when the prāṇa (life breath) enters the body. They embraced him, and at his touch their sufferings melted away. Kṛshṇa bowed at the feet of Yudhishṭhira and Bhīma. He embraced Arjuna, and Nakula and Sahadeva bowed to him. Draupadī bowed to him shyly. Kuntī wept with joy and asked whether he had remembered her suffering family. At the wish of Yudhishṭhira, Kṛshṇa stayed four months at Indraprastha.
Kālindī, the daughter of Sūrya
One day Kṛshṇa and Arjuna went hunting in the forests along the Yamunā. After the hunt they came to the Yamunā to bathe. There they saw a beautiful young woman doing tapas on the riverbank. Kṛshṇa sent Arjuna to ask who she was. She answered:
“I am Kālindī, daughter of Sūryadeva. I am doing hard tapas to win Śrī Hari as my husband. I will accept no other. I have been living in this palace that my father built in the waters of the Yamunā, until the darśana of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa comes to me.”
Arjuna told Kṛshṇa her words, but Kṛshṇa already knew. Kṛshṇa helped her onto the chariot and brought her to Yudhishṭhira. In time, at a good moment, Kṛshṇa married Kālindī.
The burning of the Khāṇḍava forest and the new city of Indraprastha
During this stay the Pāṇḍavas asked Kṛshṇa for help. He had Viśvakarmā build a splendid city for them at Indraprastha. Then, to fulfil the wish of Agni, Kṛshṇa became the charioteer of Arjuna and guided him in burning the Khāṇḍava forest, which belonged to Indra. In thanks, Agni gave Arjuna gifts: the bow Gāṇḍīva, quivers that never ran empty, and armour that nothing could pierce. During the burning, Arjuna saved the builder Maya from the fire. As his gift in return, Maya built the Sabhā (assembly hall) of Indraprastha. This is the hall where Duryodhana later took water for floor and floor for water.
Mitravindā, won at a svayaṃvara
Mitravindā was the daughter of Rājadhidevī, who was a sister of Vasudeva. So she was a first cousin of Kṛshṇa. At her svayaṃvara her brothers Vinda and Anuvinda tried to block the marriage. They were rulers of Avantī and followers of Duryodhana. Kṛshṇa paid no attention to them. In full view of all the kings who had come, he took Mitravindā by force and left. She had already given her heart to him.
Satyā, also called Nāgnajitī: the seven bulls of Kosala
Nagnajit, the great and righteous king of Kosala, had a daughter named Satyā, also called Nāgnajitī. He had made a vow. Whoever could tame his seven fierce bulls would receive Satyā as his wife. The bulls had broken the bodies of many proud kings. They could not bear the smell of a hero, and no one had ever mastered them.
Kṛshṇa came to the capital, Ayodhyā, with a great army. Nagnajit received him with the highest honour and worship. He said that no man was more worthy of his daughter than Kṛshṇa. Satyā had done tapas for the grace of Kṛshṇa. When she saw him she was overcome, and she prayed silently that she might be his.
Kṛshṇa tightened his belt and made himself into seven identical forms. At the same moment he seized all seven bulls, tamed them, and tied them together with ease. Nagnajit gave his daughter with a huge dowry:
- ten thousand cows
- three thousand maidservants in fine clothes
- nine thousand elephants
- a hundred times as many chariots
- a hundred times as many horses
- a hundred times as many foot soldiers
Hostile kings attacked the wedding procession. Arjuna had come with Kṛshṇa, and he drove them away.
Bhadrā, given by her brothers
Bhadrā was the daughter of Śrutakīrti, who was a sister of Kṛshṇa’s father Vasudeva. Her family belonged to the Kekaya kingdom. Her brothers, led by Santardana, gave their sister to Kṛshṇa of their own free will, out of love for their family.
Lakshmaṇā and the fish target
Lakshmaṇā was the daughter of Bṛhatsena, the king of Madra. She was a woman of good signs and fine qualities. Her svayaṃvara needed a hit on a fish target that could be seen only by its reflection in water. This matsya-yantra (fish target) was the same as the test at the svayaṃvara of Draupadī. Of all the kings, only Kṛshṇa did it. He carried her away, as Garuḍa carried off the amṛta (drink of life), and married her.
Sources
- Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, 10th Skanda, Chapter 58