116. An account of Rukshmi: Krishna takes away Rukshmini
VAISHAMPAYANA said:-In the meantime inorder to satisfy the king of Chedis the powerful Jarāsandha announced “a marriage with presents of gold coins and ornaments wil be celebrated between the king Shishupāla and Bhishmaka's daughter Rukshmini”.
And he then excited for battle the highly powerful Suvaktra the son of Dantavakra, an expert in illusious like unto the thousand-eyed deity, the highly powerful and energetic Sudeva, the master of one Akshouhini of soldiers,
and the son of Vāsudeva, the king of Poundra, the highly powerful son of Ekalavya, the son of Pandya king, the powerful king of Kalinga, the king Venudāri, an enemy of Krishana's,
Aushumān, Krātha, Shrutarvā, the kings of Kalinga and Gāndhara, the highly powerful Praghasa, the king of Kashi and others (I-8).
JANAMEJAYA said:-O foremost of the twice-born conversant with the Vedas, in what country and in whose family the effulgent king Rukshmi was born (9).
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Bidarbha, the son of royal saint Yādhava, constructed a city by name Bidarbhi, on the southern side of the mount Vindhya (10).
His highly powerful and energetic sons, Kratha and others became all kings of separate kingdoms and founded separate familes (11).
O king, of them the Vrishnis were born in the family of Bhima. Aushumān was born in Kratha's family and Bhishmaka, whom people call Hiranyaromā, the king of Deccan, was born in Kaishika's family.
The king Bhishmaka, who, living in the city of Kundina, used to govern the southern quarter presided over by Agastya, had a son by name Rukshmi and a daughter by name Rukshmini.
The highly powerful Rukshmi obtained divine weapons from Druma and Brahma weapon from Jamadagni's son Rāma.
He always used to boast before Krishna of wonderful deeds (12–15).
O king, Rukshmini was of matchless beauty on earth and therefore the highly effuigent Vāsudeva desired to possess her as soon as he heard of it (16).
Rukshmini too, hearing of Janārddana, endued with energy and strength, wished. “He only will be my husband” (17).
Filled with grief on account of Kansa's death and thinking “he is his enemy” the highly powerful Rukshmi did not confer Rukshmini on the highly energetic Krishna although he prayed for her (18).
The emperor Jarāsandha begged that maiden, of Bhishmaka of dreadful power, for the Chedi king Shishupāla, the son of Sunitha (19).
The king Vrihadratha, who formerly made the city of Girivraja in the province of Magadha, was the son of the Chedi king Vasu.
In his family was born the highly powerful Jarāsandha; and the Chedi king Damaghosha was also born in the same family (20-21).
Damaghosha begat on Vasudeva's sister Shrutashravā five sons of dreadful prowess, namely, Dashagriva, Raivahy, Upadisha and Bali.
They were all heroic, energetic, powerful and well-versed in the use of all sorts of weapons (22–23).
The king Sunitha handed over to Jarāsandha, born in his own family, his son Shishupāla, who brought him up just like his own son (24).
Inorder to please the highly powerful Jarāsandha, an enemy of the Vrishnis, under whose protection he was brought up the Chedi king Shishupāla quarrelled with them (25).
Kansa was Jarāsandha's son-in-law. On account of his being slain in the arena there took place a dissension between him and the Vrishnis for Krishna (26).
At that time the king of Magadha wanted Rukshmini from the powerful Bhishmaka for Sunitha's son Shishupāla. And he too promised to confer her on him (27).
Thereupon the emperor Jarāsandha, with Shishupāla and Dantavakra, started for Vidarbha.
And the intelligent Poundra-king Vāsudeva, the highly powerful kings of Anga, Banga and Kalinga followed him (28-29).
By going out in advance Rukshmini honored those kings and welcomed them to his city (30).
Inorder to please their father's sister Rāma and Krishna, with the mighty Vrishni car-warriors and their army, went to that city (31).
Kratha, the king of Kaishika received and duly welcomed those worshipful Yādhavas who lived outside the city (32).
On the day previous to that of the wedding, Rukshmini, gifted with all auspicious marks, after the performance of benedictory rites,
shining in her beauty and on a car drawn by four hourses and protected by soldiers, was going from her house to that of Indra inorder to worship Sachi (33–34).
Krishna saw, near the temple, Rukshmini, the best of beauties, like unto the burning flame of fire, as if she were the goddess of illusions descended on earth, or the goddess earth herself coming out of the nether region,
or the very goddess Shri (the goddess of prosperity) the foremost of damsels, gentle like the rays of the moon, and separated from her lotus, coming down on earth as his wife.
That damsel of dark-blue hue and large eyes, Rukshmini, was seated on a car. And though the gods even could not see her with their mind Krishna could see her.
Her lips, eyes and the corners were coppery, thighs, hips and breast were plump, her body was tall but thin and beautiful; her countenance was like the moon,
her nails were red; eye-brows were charming, hairs were curling and black and her beauty was highly picturesque. Her face was beautified by rows of equal and white teeth (35–40).
Seeing the beautiful Rukshmini, the foremost of damsels, clad in a blue raiment, matchless in the world at that time for her beauty, fame and grace
Krishna's desire grew powerful like fire to which clarified butter is offered and his mind was attracted by her.
Thereupon consulting with Rāma before the Vrishnis he made up his mind for stealing her away (41-43).
Thereupon as soon as Rukshmini came out of the temple after performing the puja, Janārddana assailed all her body guards and took her away by force to his own car (44).
Rāma too, uprooting a huge tree, began to send away the attacking enemies as guests to the house of Death (45).
According to the command of Baladeva the Dāshārhas too dressed themselves completely; and various cars with un furled flags, horses and elephants encircled Rāma.
Having entrusted the charge of that warfare with Rāma, Yujudhāna, Akrura, Viprithu, Gada, Kritavarma, Chakradeva, Sudeva,
the highly powerful Sārana, Nivrittashatru, the valiant Bhangakāra, Viduratha, Ugrasenā's son Kanka, Shatadyumna, Rājādhideva, Mridara, Prasena, Chitraka, Atidānta, Vrihaddurga, Shwaphalka,
Satyaka, Prithu and the other heroes of the Vrishni and Andhaka races, the powerful slayer of Madhu, Keshava speedily set out for Dwārakā with Rukshmini (46–52).
Armed with coats of mail the powerful Dantavakra, Shishupāla and Jarāsandha issued out in anger to kill Janārddana (52).
The highly powerful king of Chedi, too, went out with the kings of Anga, Banga, Kalinga, and Poundra and his mighty car-warrior brothers (53).
As the gods, headed by Vasudeva, fight with their antagonists, so the highly powerful Vrishnis, headed by Sangkarshana, gave them battle in anger (54).
In that great battle Satyaki, with six winged shafts, speedily pierced the highly powerful Janārddana, who attacked them (55).
When Akrura struck Dantavakra with nine arrows, Kārusha king wounded him in return with ten quick-coursing arrows (56).
Struck by Viprithu with seven shafts the powerful Shishupāla pierced him in return with eight (57).
Thereafter Gaveshana with six arrows, Atidānta with eight and Vrihaddurga with five pierced the king of Chedi.
He too, piercing each of them in return with five arrows, killed the four horses of Viprithu with four arrows (58-59).
The next moment sundering Vrihaddurga's head with Bhalla, the king of Chedi, the slayer of his enemies, sent Gaveshana's charioteer to the abode of Yama.
Leaving his car, the horses whereof were slain the energetic and the highly powerful Viprithu speedily got upon Vrihaddurga's car. And his charioteer, getting upon Gaveshana's. car, drove his quick-coursing steeds (60–62).
Thereupon the Yādavas, with bows and arrows in hands, angrily covered Sunitha with a downpour of shafts, who was dancing on the car (63).
Having pierced the breast of Dantavakra with arrows in the battle-field Chakradeva as sailed Praghasa with five arrows. He too was wounded by them both with ten shafts cutting to the very vitals.
Thereupon Shishupāla's brother Bali wounded Chakradeva with ten arrows and Viduratha with five.
Then the highly powerful Viduratha struck Bali with six sharpened arrows and himself was wounded in return with thirty arrows.
Having pierced Vasudeva's son with three arrows Kritavarma killed his charioteer and struck. down his standard.
Seeing it Poundra wounded him in return with six arrows and cut off his bow with his Bhalla.
Vivrittashatru pierced the king of Kalinga with sharpened arrows, and the king of Kalinga too, struck him, in return, on the shoulder with an iron club.
The valiant Kanka made his elephant fall upon that of the king of Anga and wounded his person with his club. Anga too assailed him with his arrows.
The mighty car-warriors Chitraka, Shwaphalka, and Satyaki struck the car-warriors of Kalinga, with winged arrows.
In the battle-field, Rāma hurled a tree in anger and killed with it the king of Banga, and his elephant.
Having slain the king of Banga the valiant Sangkarshana got upon his chariot and taking up a bow sent a number of Kaishikas to the abode of Yama with his dreadful arrows.
Thereupon having slain the great bow-men Kārushas with six arrows, and killed a hundred horses of the Magadha army that mighty-armed and powerful car-warrior ran towards Jarāsandha.
Beholding the holder of mace (Rāma) about to fall on him the king of Magadha cut him with three winged arrows. He too, wounding him in return with eight winged arrows, cut off with his Bhalla in anger his golden standard.
Thus there took place a terrible encounter between them both showering arrows on and striking each other resembling that between gods and demons.
Engaged angrily in conflict with one another, the elephant riders with the elephant riders, the car-warriors with the car-warriors, the cavalry with the cavalry, the infantry armed with spears, swords and armours with the foot-soldiers, they, cutting off their heads respectively, began to range in the battle-field.
There was heard like the cries of the birds the sound of the fall of swords and arrows on armours. The sound of bugles, conches, trumpets and flutes covered that of weapons and the twang of bows of the great warriors (64–81).
117. Rukshmi attacks Krishna and is defeated
VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Hearing that his sister had been carried away by Krishna Rukshmi, filled with anger, promised before Bhishmaka saying “I shall not return to the city of Kundina without slaying Krishna and bringing back Rukshmini” (1–2).
Saying this in anger the heroic Rukshmi get upon a car abounding in dreadful weapons and flags. And surrounded by a large army he speedily set out (3).
Bhishmaka’s sons, the foremost of car-warriors, Krātha, Angshuman
Shrutarvā, the valiant Venudāri, the kings of Deccan and other mighty car-warriors, headed by Krātha and Kaishika followed him (4-5).
Having wended a great distance in anger they saw Govinda with his beloved wife near the river Narmadā (6).
Having kept his army there proud Rukshmi, in order to fight a duel of cars, went to the slayer of Madhu and pierced him with sixty four sharpened arrows. Janārddana too wounded him in return with seventy arrows (7-8).
Although Rukshmi was very careful the highly powerful and valiant Mādhava cut off the standard of his car and the head of his charioteer from his body (6).
Seeing him in difficulty the kings of Deccan, bent upon killing him, encircled Janārddana (10).
The mighty armed Anshumāna struck him with ten arrows Shutarvā with five and Venudāri with seven (11).
Therupon when the energetic Govinda wounded the breast of Angshuman that king, in pain, sat down on his car (12).
Thereafter having slain with four shafts the four horses of Shrutarvā Mādhava cut down Venudāri's standard and and wounded his right arm (13).
The very next moment he wounded Shrutavā with five arrows who, in great-pain, sat down, holding the standard of the car (14).
While Vāsudeva began thus to make a downpour of arrows, all the mighty car-warriors, Krātha, Kaishika and others ran towards him (15).
Janārddana, in anger, cut off their arrows with his own. And although they were very careful he wounded them all (16).
Having wounded all those kings with sixty four arrows that highly powerful one ran towards other angry kings (17).
Beholding his army taking to their heels Rukshmi, filled with anger, wounded Keshava on the breast with five sharpened arrows, his charoteer with three such shafts and sundered his standard with a bent one (18-19).
Piercing in anger, Rukshmi with sixty arrows Keshava cut off his bow although he was very careful (20).
Taking up another such bow the energetic Rukshmi began to discharge celestial weapons for killing Keshava (21).
Counteracting his weapons with his own the highly powerful Mādhava again cut off his bow and car with three arrows (22).
Thus having his bow and car sundered the heroic and valiant king Rukshmi, taking up his sword and shield, jumped down from the car (23).
Beholding him thus leap down Keshava, in anger, cut off his sword which fell down on the battle-field and pierced his breast with three winged arrows (24).
Thereupon the mighty-armed king Rukshmi, resounding the whole earth, fell down unconscious like a mighty demon struck down by a thunderbolt (55).
Thereupon Keshava began to assail other kings with his arrows. They however, beholding Rukshmi fallen, took to their heels (26).
Beholding her brother lying down motionless on earth, Rukshmini, for his life, fell at Vishnu's feet (27).
Keshava took up her, embraced and consoled her. And then promising safety to Rukshmi he set out for his own city (28).
On the other hand having vanquished Jarāsandha and others, the Vrishnis, headed by Rāma, gladly set out for Dwarkā (29).
After the departure of the lotus-eyed Keshava Shutarvā came to the battle-field, placed Rukshmi on his own car and took him to his own city (30).
Being unable to bring back his sister and seeing his promise broken the haughty and sensitive Rukshmi did not like to enter into the city of Kundina (31).
For his residence he built another city in the province of Bidharbha which is celebrated on earth under the name of Bhojakata (32).
Residing in that city the highly powerful Rukshmi began to govern the southern districts and the mighty-armed king Bhishmaka lived in the city of Kundina (33).
When Rāma, with the Vrishni army, arrived at Dwārakā the powerful Keshavā duly espoused Rukshmini (34).
Thereupon as did Rāma lively happily with Sitā, as Purandara lived with Sachi, Puloma's daughter so he enjoyed in the company of his sweet partner (35).
That beautiful, good natured and chaste Rukshmini, endued with all ascomplishments, was the first wife of Krishna (36).
The powerful Mādhava begat on her ten sons—all mighty car-warriors, namely
the highly powerful Pradyumna, Chārudeshna, Sudeshna, Sushena, Charugupta, the valiant Charuvaha, Chāruvinda, Suchāru, Bhadracharu and Chāru, the foremost of the strong and a daughter by name Chārumati.
They were all masters of weapons, dreadful in battle and well read in religious lore and political science (37-39).
The mighty-armed Madhusudana married seven other beautiful and accomplished maidens born in high families, namely
Kālindi, Mitravindā, Satyā, the daughter of Nagnajita the king of Ayodhyā, Jāmvavati, the daughter of Jāmvavan,
Rohini capable of assuming forms at will, the good-natured daughter of Madra king, Lakshmanā of fair eyes and Satrājita's daughter Satyabhāmā.
Besides Gāndhāri, the daughter of Shavya, like unto an Apsarā in beauty, was his another queen.
Hrishikesha, of unlimited prowess, simultaneously married sixteen thousand maidens and enjoyed in their company simultaneously.
They were all used to luxuries and were honored with precious dresses and ornaments of all sorts as they desired.
And thousands of highly powerful and great sons, whom Mādhava begat on them, were all great car-warriors, endued with great strength, masters of all weapons and performers of sacrifices and religious rites (40-45).
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