A Retelling of the Abduction of Rukmini by Lord Krishna
A Retelling of the Abduction of Rukmini by Lord Krishna
by Bikram Badyakar
A long time ago in India, Bhishmak was the king of Vidarbha. He had five sons and one daughter Rukmini. She was a very pretty woman and people considered her as goddess Laxmi. After hearing about the form, quality, and influence of Lord Krishna from almost all the guests who used to come to the king's palace in Vidarbha, she became a devotee of Lord Krishna and accepted him as her husband in her heart. Again, Lord Krishna understood that Rukmini, the daughter of Vidarbha raja, was unique in form, quality, intelligence, generosity, and gentleness. And he thought that Rukmini had all the qualities to be his wife. Seeing her daughter's affection for Krishna, Rukmini's parents decided that Krishna was the most suitable suitor for their daughter. But the problem was with Rukmini's elder brother Rukmi. He could not accept Krishna as his brother-in-law out of jealousy.
Out of affection for his son, Bhishmak excluded his daughter's coveted groom and nominated Rukmi's chosen tyrant Shishupal as his son-in-law. The wedding day was just in time. But Rukmini was not willing to accept this marriage in any way. Because she had given a place to Krishna in her heart as her husband. And she couldn't 't give that place to someone else. But her parents and brothers would no longer listen to her. So, Rukmini decided that she would write a love letter to Krishna and tell him everything. She wrote a letter and sent it to Krishna in Dwarka through the hand of a Brahmin. Arguably, it was the world's first love letter.
Rukmani sent a message to Shri Krishna:
“O, dear Krishna! You have been chosen as my husband. I cannot marry any other man except you. My father wants me to marry Shishupala against my wishes. The date of marriage was also decided. It is the custom of my family that the bride who is to be married before marriage has to go outside the city to visit the Girija temple. I have also go to Girija's temple to have a view of the goddess Girija in wedding clothes. I wish that you accept me as your wife. So please come on that day. If you don't come, I have no way except to give up my life.”
After reading Rukmani's message, Lord Krishna rode on a chariot and soon left for Vidharbhanagar. He had also put Rukmani's messenger Brahmin on the chariot. When Shri Krishna left, the whole incident fell in the ears of Balarama, brother of Krishna. He got worried about thinking that Shri Krishna had gone to Vidharbhanagar alone. So he also left for the city with the army of Yadavas.
Bhishmak did not lack anything for the marriage of his daughter in the kingdom. The joy of Rukmini's marriage seemed to be spreading everywhere. The whole state had been beautifully decorated. Damaghosh also appeared in Vidarbha with his son Shishupal. Jarasandh and some other friends of Shishupal came to that city. They wanted the marriage of Rukmini to end well. They were fierce opponents of Balarama and Sri Krishna.
Meanwhile, Rukmini began to await the auspicious arrival of Lord Krishna. But Lord Krishna had not yet reached even the Brahman also. Just when Rukmini was engrossed in thought, the Brahmin appeared. Rukmini became happy and went to the Brahmin. She wanted to know the whole matter. The Brahmin told the story and said that Lord Krishna had arrived in the city of Vidarbha. Princess Rukmini was overwhelmed with joy.
When king Bhishmak heard that Sri Krishna and Balarama had come, he treated them with due respect. In fact, King Bhismak had enough devotion to Lord Krishna. So he arranged for them to stay in a special room in his place.
When the people of the town came to know that Lord Krishna and Balram had also come to their town, they were exalted. They began to talk among themselves, how good it would be if Rukmini was married to Lord Krishna because he is the only worthy groom for her.
Rukmini was walking out of the Zenana and going to the temple of Goddess Ambika (Girija) With her mother and friends. She was keeping mounabrata ( a kind of vow where a person doesn’t speak anything for a certain time ). Therefore, she did not say anything. Rukmini entered the temple of Girija Devi. After praying and breaking the silence, she came out of the temple.
When princess Rukmini was going down the stairs of the temple with her friends, she was still thinking of Krishna in her mind. It was at this time that she saw Lord Krishna. Then just as Rukmini was about to get into the chariot, Lord Krishna rushed there and pushed her in his chariot and went towards Dwarka, the kingdom of Krishna.
When this news reached Shishupala's ears, he was furious. He pursued Shri Krishna along with his friends and their armies, but Balarama and his army stopped Shishupala and his army through a fierce battle. Balarama and his soldiers fought with great valor and destroyed the army of Shishupala. Then Rukmi (Rukmini's brother) also came to stop them with his army. But he was ruthlessly defeated by Balram.
After that Lord Krishna took Rukmani to Dwarka and duly married her. Though Shri Krishna has sixteen thousand wives, Rukmini is his close consort.
***
{Different scriptures have different versions of this particular story. I do not want to go for any kind of ill- honour to look down upon Lord Krishna, nor want to be controversial in any sense.}
About the Author:
Bikram Badyakar, a post-graduate student in the Dept. of Sanskrit at Visva Bharati University, is a contemporary poet who incorporates in his poetry - society, love, the human mind, religion, and so on in both English and Bengali languages.
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