91 - Relurn of Pradyumna

Vyāsa said: 

1. Bhişmaka was the king of Kundina in the realm of Vidarbha. His son was Rukmin and his daughter was Rukmiņi. 

2. Krişhņa loved Rukmini and the lady of beautiful smiles loved him in return. Due to hatred, Rukmin did not give her to the discus-bearing lord. 

3. Urged by Jarasandha and Rukmin together, Bhīşmaka of great exploit gave Rukmiņi to Sisupala. 

4. Then for the purpose of marriage the kings led by Jarasandha, and Siśupāla went to Kundina the city of Bhişmaka. 

5. Surrounded by Balarama and other scions of the Yadu, Krişhna went to Kundina to witness the marriage of Sisupala, the king of Cedi. 

6-12. On the eve of marriage day Krishna abducted that virgin even as Rama and other kinsmen were opposed to it. Then the glorious Paundraka, Dantavaktra, Vidūratha, Sisupala, Jarasandha, Salva and other kings became infuriated. Allying themselves with Balarama and other leading scions of the family of Yadu they made earnest attempts to kill Krishna but they were defeated. Taking the vow - "Without killing Krişhņa in the battle I shall not re-enter Kundina", Rukmin rushed at Krishna to kill him. After killing his army fully equipped with elephants, horses, foot-soldiers and chariots the discus-bearing lord playfully hurled him on to the ground. 

After defeating Rukmin Krishna married Rukmini duly in accordance with the injunctions regarding Räkşasa type of marriage. The valorous Pradyumna, a part incarnation of cupid, of her. Sambara kidnapped him but he killed  Sambara. 

The sages said: 

13. How was that heroic one kidnapped by Sambara and how was Sambara killed by him? O highly intelligent one, narrate this divine anecdote to me.

Vyāsa said: 

14. On the sixth day after his birth, O brahmins, Kålasambara kidnapped Pradyumna from the lying-in-chamber thinking-"O this one will be my killer". 

15. Taking the boy with him he hurled him into the briny sea, infested with crocodiles, the awful abode of sparks that abounded in eddies and whirlpools generated by billows. 

16. As the boy fell down there a fish caught hold of him. Though burned by its gastric fire the boy did not die. 

17. O brahmins, this fish alongwith other fishes was caught by fishermen and offered to Sambara the most excellent one among the Asuras. 

18. His wife named Mayavati, the uncensured queen of his household, supervised over the work of cooks. 

19. When the belly of the fish was ripped open she saw an excessively splendid boy who was the first shooting sprout of the tree of cupid that had been burned. 

20. “Who is this? How did he happen to come into the belly of the fish?” 

Närada spoke to her:- 

Nārada said: 

21-22. This is the son of Krişhņa abducted from the lying in-chamber by Sambara who is capable of creating and annihilating the worlds. He was cast off into the ocean, was swallowed by a fish and now he has come under your control. O lady of good eyebrows, look after this jewel of a man confidently.

Vyāsa said: 

23-24. Informed thus by Närada she looked after the boy. Ever since the boyhood of the child she was fascinated by his excelling handsome features and overwhelmed by excess of love. O excellent brahmins, when he was embellished by extensive youthful features, that lady of graceful elephantine gait, became very much attached to him. 

25. Mayavati taught all the Mayās (illusory tricks) to the noble Pradyumna who was befitting her and in whom she had fixed her heart and the eyes. The lotus-eyed son of Krişhņa told her who was attached to him. 

Pradyumna said: 

26-31. Setting aside the emotions of a mother why do you behave like this in an entirely different manner?

Vyasa said: 

She told him - "You are not my son. Kalasambara kidnapped you, the son of Krishna. You were cast off into the ocean. You were obtained by me from the belly of a fish. Your mother is crying now but your beloved is extremely fond of you".

Vyāsa said: 

Thus informed Pradyumna challenged Sambara for a fight. With his mind turned turbulent due to fury the powerful one fought. After killing the entire army of that asura, Pradyumna, son of Krishna passed over seven Mäyás and employed the eighth one too. With that Mayā he killed Sambara. 

Then he returned to the city of his father accompanied by her: 

32. On seeing him present in the harem accompanied by Máyävatī, Krişhņa's wives had delightful ideas. The uncensured lady Rukmini said with her eyes fixed on him with affection. Rukmini said: 

33. This is the son of a fortunate lady. He is in the freshness of his youth. If my son Pradyumna were alive he would be of this age. 

34. O my beloved child, your mother is fortunate whoever she be, she is embellished by you. Or, considering from the way) my affection turns and from your physical features, it it clear that you are Krişhņa's son. 

Vyāsa said: 

35. In the meantime, Nārada came there along with Krishna. Delighted he said to the gentle lady Rukmini who was moving about in the harem: 

SriKrishna said: 

36. O lady of fine eyebrows, this is your son who has come here after killing Sambara by whom he had been abducted from your lying-in-chamber when he was but an infant boy. 

37. This Māyavati is the chaste wife of your son. She is not the wife of Sambara. May the reason thereof be heard. 

38. O Rukmiņi, when Cupid was killed, his wife eagerly waiting for his nativity, deluded Sambara by assuming an illusory form. 

39. In the course of enjoyment of conjugal and other pleasures, this lady of charming eyes showed only the splendid illusory form to the asura. 

40-42. Kāma has incarnated as your son. This is Rati his beloved wife. You need have no doubt about this. This is your splendid daughter-in-law.

Vyasa said: 

Then Rukmini and Keśava were fully delighted. The entire city said - “Well done, well done" On seeing Rukmiņi who was rejoiced by her long-lost son, every citizen of Dvāravati was surprised.