Venue: Amravati, Nov 2003
Srimad Bhagvatam chapters 52 and 53 and in the middle of
chapter 52 there is pastime kidnapping of Rukmini. Rajo vaca King Pariksit was
very inquisitive to know, Sukhdev Goswami has made brief mention of “vaidarbhim
bhismaka-sutam” (S.B 10.52.16) Rukmini is daughter of King Bhismaka and as soon as topic of her
marriage came King Pariksit became inquires to know please tell me more! “rucirananam” Rukmini very sweet faced “rucirananam”. “krsnasyamita-tejasah bhagvan srorum icchami” (S.B 10.52.18) then the unlimited prowess
of the Lord. Sukhdev Gosami begins narration “rajasid bhismako nama” so then once upon a time there was a King Bhismaka
he was ruling state of kingdom called “vidarbhadhupatir
mahantasya pancabhavan putrah” he had 5 sons “kanyaika ca varanana” (S.B 10.52.21). He had one very beautiful
daughter, 5 brothers of Rukmini have been mentioned. Introduction to Rukmini “sopasrutya mukundasya
rupa-virya-guna-sriyah” (S.B 10.52.23).
Rukmini she used to
hear about rupa– form, beauty, virya, guna-qualities of Mukunda and result was “mene sadrsam patim” (S.B 10.52.23). I
would like to have person like him as my husband. And then Krishna also had
been hearing in Dwaraka about the intelligent Rukmini, the audarya – charitable,
magnanimous personality of Rukmini, her beauty and her character and in Dwaraka
Krishna also had made up his mind. I ever get wife I would like wife like this,
the description that I had been hearing about Rukmini. So both of them were all
set mind was set, mind was fixed. But there were difficulties; the eldest
brother Rukmi was not in favour of this marriage. He was big stumbling block
and Rukmini was thinking only Krishna could have solution. So she is “vicintyaptam dvijam kancit krsnaya
prahinod drutam” (S.B 10.52.26).
She appointed, designated a confidential Brahman gave him a
letter and send him to Dwaraka “dvarakam
sa samabhyetya” (S.B 10.52.27). So he reached Dwaraka and he also entered
the quarters were Krishna was sitting there “kancanasane” His asana was golden made up of gold “drstra brahmanya-devas tam avaruhya
nijasanat” (S.B 10.52.28). But when Brahman was at the door, arriving
Krishna got up from his golden asana to receive the Brahman and he was well
received, well fed, worshipped everything , everything was done appropriate as
if lord is called “ brahmanaya dev”
Lord who worships Brahman or to whom Brahman is worship able, he is called “brahmanaya dev” he gets the name like
that. So they how was the trip, how was everything all those formalities
Krishna says “kim kaeyam karavamate” (S.B 10.52.35). Is there anything I could do
for you sir dear Brahman? Brahman was not disclosing the purpose of his Dwaraka
visit. And immediately he pulled out the letter of Rukmini , Rukimini uvacha
and he read out the letter of Rukmini everything was in there self explanatory
and several verses letter from Rukmini
is here .
“sri-rukminy uvaca,
srutava gunan bhuvana-sundara srnvatam te, nirvisya karna-vivarair harato nga
tapam,rupam drsam drsimatam akhilartha-labhan, tvayy acyutanvisati cittam
apatrapam me” (S.B 10.52.37). So
these are words of Rukmini and anyone who hears “gunan” the qualities of you
“bhuvansundar” as they enter the
ears then “anga tapam” the whole fever of material existence “tapatraya” all goes down and so like that who else is there in this
world also equal you my Lord in vidya , knowledge wealth you are also of proper
sage , you are Narshima , lion amongst
men, “mano-bhiramam” you
give pleasure to mind like that she goes on and yes she mentions my marriage is
about to take place its matter of couple of days and you have to rush you have
to come personally and take me away, get me out of here. And so 1st she has
glorified Krishna and then made the proposal that he should accept her as his
wife for that he has to personally come, otherwise it will be too late. She
also mentions there is a tradition in our family that the bride goes to “kuldevi yatra” there will be Kuldevi
yatra and I will be going for dharshan of Kuldevi Ambika. So she is, Rukimini
is so clever so smart and certainly not less intelligent like women are
expected. That she also mentions yes please don’t visit are palace don’t enter
the palace because there will be certainly fight bloodshed my brother is not going
to spare you. So please find me so she is letting Krishna know as if Krishna can’t
think (laughs). But she also wants to say where could you meet me, meting point
fixed designated meting point has to be there. So you meet me I will be going
for dharshan of kuldevi ambika . After I am finished with pooja then on the way
back to palace you catch me, you will find me and that is there you come take
me away. Very smart right! Very smart she is again glorifying the Lord towards
the end. So after Brahman had read that letter from Rukmini “brahmana uvaca, ity ete guhya-sandesa” ”
(S.B 10.52.44).
You were asking me
what you could do. What Lord could do? So now I suppose it’s clear to you, what
you are expected to do as you are hearing this most confidential message letter
from Rukmini . “vaidarbhyahs as tu
sandesam, nisamya yadu-nandanah” (S.B 10.53.1) so as Lord had heard message with rapt
attention he might be hearing every single syllable letter of that letter, he had
in hearing great interest . So after he had finished hearing immediately he
took the hands of Brahman in his hands both hands, that is American culture, Vedic culture both hands means agreeing
yes yes agreement there I am with you we have same wavelength , we are together and I agree,
I am ready . And Sri Bhagavan uvacha so he had still his
hands he held the hands of Brahman then he is speaking he said you know “tathaham api tac-citto nidram ca na labhe”
(S.B 10.53.2). Rukmini had mentioned in her letter that my “cittam” “cittam
patram me” I am always going towards you, running to you. So Lord says
something to correspond with that you know same trouble with me I am only
thinking of Rukmini and no none else these days and you know may be littler
embarrassing but I admit that I can’t sleep at night time , I am disturbed I
get up , I am lying down on the bed but I am only thinking of Rukmini “tam anayisya unmathya rajanya” (S.B
10.53.3).
He says I am ready
something has to be done and he is giving indication that yes yes I am ready, I
fully agree with the statement if you wish I could sign the agreement or
treaty. Oh! Let’s not waste time doing that and immediately called him
charioteer Daruka, “rathah samyjyatam
asu” (S.B 10.53.4) quickly
get my chariot ready and yes sir. So Daruka immediately he left the place to
get everything ready then in few minutes time quickly he returned reporting to
the Lord yes my dear Lord chariot is ready and even the names of the horses
these are the names of the horses “saibya,
sugriva, meghapuspa, balahaka” your chariot is equipped with thee 4 horses,
chariot that is equipped ready to be pulled by the horses 1,2,3,4. These horses
it is ready my dear Lord. Pranjali folding hands he says “sammrsta-samsikta marga-rathya-catuspatham” (S.B 10.53.8) whole
town was well decorated, yes ready to go “aruhya
syandanam saurir dvijam aropya turna-gaih” (S.B 10.53.6) then Lord mounted
the chariot along with the Brahman, two persons and the charioteer 3 persons
are driving out, journey starts from Dwaraka “anartad eka-ratrena” (S.B 10.53.6). They left Dwaraka that time it
was known as Anartadesh, Anarta like this was Vidrabha that was Anarta not
anartha its anarta its name of a country where Dwraka was the capital. So Vidrabha
“vidarbhan agamad dhayaih” (S.B 10.53.6).
So left Dwaraka in the evening around sunset and when sun was rising in the
east, Lord was already where in Vidrabha, he was here in one night. “raja sa kundina-patih,
putra-sneha-vasanugah, sisupalaya svam kanyam dasyan karmany akarayat” (S.B
10.53.7). So King Bhismak was getting ready for the marriage and he was
doing so because he just couldn’t go against the wishes, the plan of his eldest
son, Rukmi he was bit attached “putra-sneha-vasanugah”.
Although we can’t compare Dhritrastra with this Bhismak, Dritrastra was
attached to Duryodhana and Duryodhana lot no, no this is not right thing to do
but he would end up doing so because he was attached to his son Duryodhana,
same thing here.
He is Rukmini’s father so we don’t want to , he is a devotee
he used to hear Narada Muni visiting, hearing about Krishna, Rukmini was
hearing the remnants Mahaprasad, original Katha then Mahakatha, She is over
hearing so he was a great devotee but unfortunately attached to his eldest son
and then he was just going ahead preparing for the marriage and there is a whole description how the town Kaundanyapur,
everyone here knows this town as Kundanyapur. Bhagavatam says Kundinapur 5000
yrs, Kundinapur has become known as Kaundanyapur this happens with lots of
names. So “sammrsta-marga-rathya-catuspatham”
(S.B 10.53.8) so whole town was well decorated nicely cleansed like these
ladies you see in India. First thing in the morning they do take care of
their body little bit then they clean
front of the house, goshala, cowshed and lot of time they mix, in Maharashtra this
tradition is also there, mix cow dung with the water make like a liquid, take
one bucket full of, after sweeping is
done, they sprinkle that cow dung mixed with water, gives nice fragrance, after
that is done they draw rangoli (maharaj asking the assembled devotees) you saw
that decoration while you were taking Prasad yesterday that was called rangoli.
So first sweeping then “sada” called
in Marathi very common then rangoli then puja. Sp like that cleansed and King Bhismaka
was not using ordinary water but rose water, water mixed with rose. Sometime
these kings, these ladies take bucket they used to engage elephants, elephants
taking rose water and sprinkling it, big big roads, they have to sprinkle with
rose water.
Whole town has to be fragrant. So what few buckets could do,
they required so many elephants, they are taking water and they are throwing
and has little fun there, entertainment. So “citra-dhvaja-patakabhis toranaih samalankrtam” (S.B 10.53.9). So flags
are there and toranaih see these
mango leaves, it’s also called toran
or welcome gates. Sometimes else where it is described sometimes they would
have so many flags all over the town that the citizens they would not be able
to see the sun, there would be shade allover because of the flags. So many
flags all round, different decorative flags. And dhupa, different agarbati
fragrance everywhere and different pujas, vidhivat everything is being done
perfectly no whimsical, no mental speculation, everything authorized as per
sastras. “bhojayitva” the Brahmans
are getting their bhojan they are very happy. So “vacayam” they are reading
different “mangalam vacayam”
different shuba what is that called? “svasti vachan” “svasti vachan” svasti
means auspiciousness. So to create auspiciousness different mantras are being
chanted all over the town. So all this is happening while the town is being decorated. “su-snatam su –datim kanyam krta-kautuka
managalam” (S.B 10.53.11).
“su-snatam” rukimi has taken her bath, special mentuion of bathing of the bride
on the day of her marriage big one it’s quite a affair with substances chandan
and haldi and then Abhishek like we do Abhishek of deities. So this bride gets
whole Abhishek that day ““su-snatam su
–datim” Sukhdev Goswami for some reason his attention is going to the teeth
of Rukimini, Rukmini “su-datim” nice arrangment of her teeth, nice teeth, “kanyam krta-kautuka managalam” and
everyone is appreciating her that day and everyone is admiring her. “bhusitam bhusanottamaih” and she is
decorated with best of the clothing and
“purohito” the priest purohit they are also chanting “atharva ved” knowledgbale “graham-santaye” in order to please
different planets, planetary systems, navagraha. So everyone is satisfied as a
result auspiciousness is created by chanting different mantras. Sri sri rukmini dwarkadish ki jai…………………….
So Brahmans they are getting charities they are going on
charity show and “hiranya” what are they getting? Brahman are getting gold and “rupya” silver, “vasamsi” clothes, “tilams ca” til sesame seeds, “guda mistritan” mixed with guda. “til guda ghya god –goda bola” is a
tradition even today in Maharashtra specially they mix til sesame seeds with
guda and they distribute that. So they were doing that and “dhenus” the cows
are being distributed and like that. So as this is all going on in
Kaundanyapur. Now Sukhdev Goswami describing what is happening with Sisupala,
where is he now? What is he doing? The bride had been described now he has to
describe bridegroom. So this “damaghosah
sutaya” son of damaghosh that is Sisupala, Sisupala’s father Damaghosh and
he is also, mantra chanting is going on wherever he is. And bridegroom he is
also dressing and then they live because they have to come to Kaundanyapur from
their “cedi-patih” name of his country is “cedi” and so they
live for Kaundanyapur and they have
little army with them (laughs). It’s not an easy thing they are also suspecting
that Krishna may drop in, we would be better ready. So they have a army “sainyah paritah kundinam yayan” (S.B 10.53.15) and he is
surrounded by the army Sisupala is walking in the middle , no no he is walking
he is in the chariot but all around him there is army. And whole thing is
moving in the direction of Kundinpur, probably passed through Amravati while
coming from the north, and others are coming also Salva, Jarasandha, Dantavakra, Viduratha, Paundraka see the big big
names they are all friends of Sisupala. They are also coming and “krsna-rama dviso” (S.B 10.53.18) they
are enemies of Krishna and Rama and they are all coming. Now first Kundinpur
scene was described, Sukhdev Goswami then described Sisupala and then he is on
the way to Kundinpur and then Dwaraka what is happening in Dwaraka “srutvaitad bhagvan ramo” as Balarama
got up in the morning then “kalaha-sankitah” he realized that oh! Krishna has gone to Kundinpur
so there could be friction between opposing parties “bhratr-sneha-pariplutah” Balarama his bhratr prema his love for his brother aroused in his heart. Bhratr
prema he became overwhelmed by that affection for his brother Krishna “dauji ka bhaiya Krishna kanhaiya”
dwarakadish. So “tvaritah kundinam
pragad” immediately he also left for Kundinpur with him he took “gajasva-ratha-pattibhih” caturangi sena
his sena his army consisted of elephant, horses, chariots and the army that is
walking 4 kinds. “bhisma-kanya vararoha,
kanksanty agamanam hareh” (S.B 10.53.22).
Now attention now to Rukmini as she had send Brahman, he had come not
back and this is the day of marriage now, it’s all set to go and “durbhagaya name dhata nanukulo mahesvarah”
(S.B 10.53.25) no one is in favor of me everyone is against, why is
mahesvarah, even “dvei va vimukhi gauiri
rudrani girija sati” no one is blessing me today. Where is Brahman? Where
is Krishna? Where is Dwarakadish? “evam
cintayati” like this bala, this balika Rukmini was thinking “govinda-hrta-manasa”all way thinking,
deprived of, be rapt of Krishna’s
association and presence. She was only thinking “nyamilayata kala-jna netre” closed her eyes and she is praying,
wondering what is going to happen next and “evam
vadhavaah pratiksantya govindagamanam nrpa” (S.B 10.53.27). Sukadev Goswami why this, so Rukmini was in
total anxiety, her left side thigh and “urur
bhujo” chest and netram eyes and ‘vama” this all leftside “asphura” was
trembling and by this was going on “atha
krsna-vinirdistah, sa eva dvija-sattamah, antahpura carim devim, raja-putrim
dadarsa ha” (S.B 10.53.28. so she saw the Brahman OH! She got the ray of
hope he is here, he is here finally at least Brahman is here. She was expecting
Krishna but at least Brahman is here “tam
agatam samajnaya vaidarbhi hrsta-mansa”
(S.B 10.53.31) so the good news Krishna is here he was not right there
but he was in the town that’s the point he made and now by this time Balarama
also had arrived, reached and Krishna and Balarama were in town an d as the
news spread of Krishna and Balaram’s arrival what happened? “vidarbha-pura-vasinah”
(S.B 10.53.36).
The residents of Vidarbha, please please pay attention to this see what has happened to
these “vidarbha-pura-vasinah”
residents of the Vidarbha “agatya”
all came running and listen to this now “netranjalibhih
papus tan-mukha-pankajam” (S.B 10.53.36). They were all taking darshan seen
Krishna so this description is that they
were filling up this cup little cups I have bigger cup, some have shallow cups
some have deep cups depending upon on your eyes position, so they would fill up
the cup with the beauty of Krishna and they were drinking the nectar. And then
drink like ISKCON devotees especially from America the west they like to drink
cup of sweet rice, after sweet rice everytime (laughs) they come with buckets,
Bhaktavatar’s cup is empty he is ready for another one. So they were filling up
the cups of the beauty. Sukadev goswami is describing like that “netranjalibhih papus tan-mukha-pankajam” filling
the cups and drinking the nectar, now as Rukmini she was now relaxed, she knew
how everything is going to work out as proposed or planned. So she got ready
and she is going to now Ambika mandir where we had gone yesterday and look at
this, Sukadev Goswami is describing he is talking of the 3 persons, “padbhyam” so Rukmini is walking so her feet are walking
not going on chariot, she is walking towards “bhavanyah pada-pallavam” (S.B 10.53.40) walking towards the feet
of bahvani, but she is thinking of someone else’s feet. She is thinking of feet
of “mukunda-caranambhjam” she is
only thinking of Lords’s lotus feet, although she is completing the formality
of going to Ambika, she is only thinking of Lord’s lotus feet. She is
surrounded by so many Brahmans and so many mantras are chanted and so many of
her girlfriends are right there.
They are all decorated and “gayantyas ca stuvantasca” (S.B 10.53.43) there all prayers are
being chanted and “asadya devi-sadanam”
she has reached, she has entered the devi
sadanam, residence of devi and she is praying now “bhuyat patir me bhagavan krsnas tad anumodatam” (S.B 10.53.46) I
want pati. I want husband Bhagvan Krishna, but Bhagvan Krishna “patir me bhuyat” similar prayers are Gopi’s prayers to Katyani
in Vrindavan, so she is praying so she has prayed like that and doing puja and
she is returning now “ambika-grhat”
she is returning, going back to the palace of her father. She knows this is the
meeting point now, so Rukmini is described here “deva-maya iva” the most beautiful specially crafted, specially
designed personality, body, the form “deva-mayam
iva dhira-mohinim” (S.B10.53.51). and now everyone knew after darshan of
Ambika, Rukmini would now be returning there is a designated path and on either
side of this path all these kings from all over the planets all over the world
Sisupal’s friends, they have lined up, they are all sitting on the chariots on
the back of elephants, horses and Rukmini the procession shobah yatra is
passing through the middle, Rukmini, the Brahmans and her friends, so it’s very
beautiful description of “kundala-manditananam”. She has earrings and as she is walking
they are moving how they are moving and she has thin waist, Rukmini has and
like that there is a description. “kuntala-sankiteksanam”
her face is partially covered with hair, her long, blackish, beautiful hair and
because she doesn’t want to really look at these fellows she is not interested
to show her face. So her face is kind of covered with hair and she has a veil.
In the west or modern times they don’t put that on. So they are watching, they
are watching and as they watch, so their minds are fixed and they lose external
consciousness, some of them are losing external consciousness, they are holding
the sword in the hand but (maharaja laughs) swords are slipping out of their
hands. Some are collapsing from the top of the elephants (laughs) this way that
way so as she is walking she is crushing them down by her beauty they were so
captivated and they didn’t realize they are sitting on the back of the horse,
then they are not able to do the balancing act they lost the consciousness. External
consciousness this is Sukadev Goswmi is describing and then ok we have 2 more
then comes Krishna Haribol………………………..
“ratham samaropya
suparna-laksanam” (S.S10.53.56) So chariot mounted with the flag bearing
symbol of Garuda, so Garuda flag and so
she saw the flag 1st and then she realized this must be him. And after few moments
she realized that was him, he came so swiftly and Krishna gave a helping hand
she was also very eager, she was kind of ready to jump. So little touch she was
next to the Lord and Lord must have blown his conch shell and she was swiftly
taken out of there. So Krishna is described as a lion all the assembled Sisupal
and company are like jackals. They were jackals Krishna just took away Rukmini
started heading towards Dwaraka Haribol…………………… so kidnapping took place then
more things happened battle happened in this area this area, this is the way to
Dwaraka right (maharaja asking Dwaraka ka rasta kaha hai? Devotees answering
gujarat). And then finally the marriage has taken place in Dwaraka, Rukmini Dwarakadish
marriage. So we have deities of Rukmini Dwarakadish.
Rukmini Dwarakadish
ki jai
Nitai Guar Premanande
Hari Haribol…………..
Comments