Book V. Chapter Xxvi
*
"The Vishnu Purana", translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, [1840],
p. 573
Chap. Xxvi.
Krishna carries off Rukmin: the princes who come to rescue her repulsed by Balarma. Rukmin overthrown, but spared by Krishna, founds Bhojakata. Pradyumna born of Rukmin.
Bhshmaka was king of Vidarbha, residing at Kundina 1. He had a son named Rukmin, and a beautiful daughter termed Rukmin. Krishna fell in love with the latter, and solicited her in marriage; but her brother who hated Krishna, would not assent to the espousals. At the suggestion of Jarsandha, and with the concurrence of his son, the powerful sovereign Bhshmaka affianced Rukmin to iupla. In order to celebrate the nuptials, Jarsandha and other princes, the friends of iupla, assembled in the capital of Vidarbha; and Krishna, attended by Balabhadra and many other Ydavas, also went to Kundina to witness the wedding. When there, Hari contrived, on the eve of the nuptials, to carry off the princess 2, leaving Rma and his kinsmen to sustain the weight of his enemies. Paundraka, the illustrious Dantavakra, Viduratha, iupla, Jarsandha, alya, and other kings, indignant at the insult, exerted themselves to kill Krishna, but were repelled by Balarma and the Ydavas. Rukmin, vowing that he would never enter Kundina again until he had slain Keava in fight, pursued and overtook him. In the combat that ensued, Krishna destroyed with his discus, as if in sport, the host of Rukmin, with all its horse, and elephants, and foot, and chariots, and overthrew him, and hurled him on the ground, and would have put him to death, but was withheld by the entreaties of Rukmin. "He is my only brother," she exclaimed, "and must not be slain by
p. 574
thee: restrain your wrath, O divine lord, and give me my brother in charity." Thus addressed by her, Krishna, whom no acts affect, spared Rukmn 3; and he (in pursuance of his vow) founded the city Bhojakata 4, and ever afterwards dwelt therein. After the defeat of Rukmin, Krishna married Rukmin in due form, having first made her his own by the Rkshasa ritual 5. She bore him the gallant Pradyumna, a portion of the deity of love. The demon Sambara carried him off, but he slew the demon.
Footnotes
573:1 Vidarbha is the country of Berar, and the name remains in the present city of Beder: the capital however, Kundinapur, is commonly identified with a place called Kundapur, about forty miles north-east of Amarvat (in Berar).
573:2 When she had gone forth from the city to worship Ambik: Bhgavata. Indrn, the wife of Indra: Hari Vana. Our text tells the circumstance more concisely than the others.
574:3 After depriving him of his eyebrows and hair. In the Bhgavata, Balarma also interferes in favour of Rukmin, and reproves Krishna for disfiguring him.
574:4 Of course this was somewhere in the neighbourhood of Kundina or Vidarbha, and is usually supposed to be situated on the Narmad.
574:5 That is, by violence: thus Manu; "The seizure of a maiden by force, whilst she weeps and calls for assistance, after her kinsmen and friends have been slain in battle, or wounded, and their houses broken open, is the marriage called Rkshasa." III. 33. According to the Bhgavata, Rukmin sends to invite Krishna to carry her off, and instructs him how to proceed.
"The Vishnu Purana", translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, [1840],
p. 573
Chap. Xxvi.
Krishna carries off Rukmin: the princes who come to rescue her repulsed by Balarma. Rukmin overthrown, but spared by Krishna, founds Bhojakata. Pradyumna born of Rukmin.
Bhshmaka was king of Vidarbha, residing at Kundina 1. He had a son named Rukmin, and a beautiful daughter termed Rukmin. Krishna fell in love with the latter, and solicited her in marriage; but her brother who hated Krishna, would not assent to the espousals. At the suggestion of Jarsandha, and with the concurrence of his son, the powerful sovereign Bhshmaka affianced Rukmin to iupla. In order to celebrate the nuptials, Jarsandha and other princes, the friends of iupla, assembled in the capital of Vidarbha; and Krishna, attended by Balabhadra and many other Ydavas, also went to Kundina to witness the wedding. When there, Hari contrived, on the eve of the nuptials, to carry off the princess 2, leaving Rma and his kinsmen to sustain the weight of his enemies. Paundraka, the illustrious Dantavakra, Viduratha, iupla, Jarsandha, alya, and other kings, indignant at the insult, exerted themselves to kill Krishna, but were repelled by Balarma and the Ydavas. Rukmin, vowing that he would never enter Kundina again until he had slain Keava in fight, pursued and overtook him. In the combat that ensued, Krishna destroyed with his discus, as if in sport, the host of Rukmin, with all its horse, and elephants, and foot, and chariots, and overthrew him, and hurled him on the ground, and would have put him to death, but was withheld by the entreaties of Rukmin. "He is my only brother," she exclaimed, "and must not be slain by
p. 574
thee: restrain your wrath, O divine lord, and give me my brother in charity." Thus addressed by her, Krishna, whom no acts affect, spared Rukmn 3; and he (in pursuance of his vow) founded the city Bhojakata 4, and ever afterwards dwelt therein. After the defeat of Rukmin, Krishna married Rukmin in due form, having first made her his own by the Rkshasa ritual 5. She bore him the gallant Pradyumna, a portion of the deity of love. The demon Sambara carried him off, but he slew the demon.
Footnotes
573:1 Vidarbha is the country of Berar, and the name remains in the present city of Beder: the capital however, Kundinapur, is commonly identified with a place called Kundapur, about forty miles north-east of Amarvat (in Berar).
573:2 When she had gone forth from the city to worship Ambik: Bhgavata. Indrn, the wife of Indra: Hari Vana. Our text tells the circumstance more concisely than the others.
574:3 After depriving him of his eyebrows and hair. In the Bhgavata, Balarma also interferes in favour of Rukmin, and reproves Krishna for disfiguring him.
574:4 Of course this was somewhere in the neighbourhood of Kundina or Vidarbha, and is usually supposed to be situated on the Narmad.
574:5 That is, by violence: thus Manu; "The seizure of a maiden by force, whilst she weeps and calls for assistance, after her kinsmen and friends have been slain in battle, or wounded, and their houses broken open, is the marriage called Rkshasa." III. 33. According to the Bhgavata, Rukmin sends to invite Krishna to carry her off, and instructs him how to proceed.
