Rukmiṇī Sandeśa
Rukmiṇī Sandeśa · rukmiṇī-sandeśa, “the message of Rukmiṇī”
Rukmiṇī Sandeśa, “the message of Rukmiṇī“, is the secret message that Rukmiṇī, princess of Vidarbha, sent to Śrī Kṛshṇa through a trusted brāhmaṇa. It is in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 10, Chapter 52, which the text itself calls “Rukmiṇī sends a secret message to Śrī Kṛshṇa.” Śrī Śuka Maharshi tells it to King Parīkshit, and the brāhmaṇa speaks Rukmiṇī’s words in Dvārakā. In seven parts she tells Śrī Kṛshṇa that she has chosen him, asks him to carry her away before her marriage to Śiśupāla, and shows him how to do it. How Śrī Kṛshṇa then came and carried her away is told in the account of Rukmiṇī Haraṇa.
The setting
Rukmiṇī and her family
Śrī Śuka first says in brief that Śrī Kṛshṇa overcame Śiśupāla‘s kings, Śālva, Dantavakra and the others, before everyone, and married Rukmiṇī as Garuḍa won the amṛta. Parīkshit asks to hear the whole story, for the stories of Śrī Kṛshṇa are pure, sweet, take away pāpa, and are always new.
Bhīshmaka was king of Vidarbha. He had five sons, Rukmī the eldest, then Rukmaratha, Rukmabāhu, Rukmakeśa and Rukmamālī, and one daughter, Rukmiṇī, of great beauty. When visitors sang of Śrī Kṛshṇa’s beauty, valour, qualities and wealth, she listened, and decided that he alone was the husband for her. She was a treasure of intelligence, good fortune, generosity, beauty and good conduct, and Śrī Kṛshṇa too decided that she was the wife for him.
Her kinsmen wished to give her to Śrī Kṛshṇa. But Rukmī hated Śrī Kṛshṇa and set aside their wish. He meant to give his sister to Śiśupāla, king of Cedi. When Rukmiṇī learned of this, her mind was deeply troubled. She thought it over and at once sent a trusted brāhmaṇa to Śrī Kṛshṇa.
The brāhmaṇa at Dvārakā
The brāhmaṇa reached Dvārakā, and the gatekeepers let him in. He saw Śrī Kṛshṇa, the Purushottama, seated on a golden throne. Śrī Kṛshṇa is foremost among those who honour brāhmaṇas. He came down from his seat, gave the brāhmaṇa a seat, and worshipped him as the devas worship Śrī Kṛshṇa himself. When the brāhmaṇa had eaten and rested, Śrī Kṛshṇa sat by him, gently pressed his feet, and asked him:
“O crest-jewel of brāhmaṇas, is your mind content with what comes without much effort? Can you follow with ease the dharma the elders approve? A brāhmaṇa who is content and does not slip from his dharma gains all he wishes, and brings all good things to the world. Even Devendra, if not content, must wander from world to world, while one who has nothing, if content, lives happily. Again and again I bow to the knowers of the Veda who are content, firm in good conduct, do good to all beings, and are peaceful and free of ahaṅkāra.”
“Are you happy under your king? The king in whose land the people live happily is dear to me. Why have you come here, crossing the ocean that is hard to cross? Tell me, if it is not a secret. What can I do for you?”
Then the brāhmaṇa told him everything, and gave Rukmiṇī‘s words.
The message, in order
- “O Acyuta, you are the most beautiful in the three worlds. I have heard that your qualities, entering the heart through the ears, take away all burning. I have heard that for those with eyes, seeing you is the gaining of every purushārtha. My mind has put away shame and loves you.”
- “O Śrī Kṛshṇa, giver of moksha, best of men, in family, character, form, learning, age, wealth and radiance you alone are your own equal. You delight the minds of all people. What good, brave maiden of good family would not choose you when she comes of age? She would choose you alone.”
- “O Prabhu Kṛshṇa, so I have chosen you alone as my husband and have given you even my body and senses. Come and make me your wife. O lotus-eyed one, I belong to you, the hero. Do not let Śiśupāla, king of Cedi, come near and touch me, like a jackal taking the lion’s share.”
- “If I have worshipped the master of prakṛti by works of service like digging wells, by yajñas and yāgas, by gifts, niyamas and vratas, by pūjā of the devas, brāhmaṇas and gurus, and by bathing in tīrthas, then may Śrī Kṛshṇa, the brother of Gada, come and marry me. Do not let Śiśupāla son of Damaghosha, Śālva and the others touch me.”
- “O Śrī Kṛshṇa, you know no defeat. The hour of my wedding is tomorrow. Come secretly to Vidarbha with your army commanders. Overcome Śiśupāla king of Cedi, Jarāsandha king of Magadha and their armies. Your valour alone is my bride-price. Carry me off by force and marry me in the rākshasa way, a marriage won by strength.”
- “You may ask, ‘How can I marry you, who live in the inner palace, without killing your kinsmen?’ I will tell you the way. On the day before the wedding, the bride goes in a great procession to see the family devī. On that day she comes out of the inner palace and goes for darśana of Pārvatī Devī.”
- “O lotus-eyed Śrī Kṛshṇa, the mahātmās, like Umāpati Śiva, wish to bathe in the dust of your lotus feet to remove their ignorance. If I do not receive that grace of yours, I will give up my life, which is already thin with vratas and fasting. If not in this birth, then may your grace come to me even after a hundred births.”
The text gives no phalaśruti for the message.
The brāhmaṇa’s closing words
The brāhmaṇa said: “O ruler of the Yādavas, think on these secret messages I have brought, and at once do whatever must be done.”
Here the chapter ends. Śrī Kṛshṇa‘s answer and his journey to Vidarbha come in the next chapter, told in Rukmiṇī Haraṇa.
Source: Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 10, Chapter 52
Sources
- Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 10, Chapter 52