śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus (speaking); sarve — all of them; su-saṁrabdhāḥ — greatly angered; vāhān — their conveyances; āruhya — mounting; daṁśitāḥ — wearing armor; svaiḥ svaiḥ — each by his own; balaiḥ — military force; parikrāntāḥ — surrounded; anvīyuḥ — they followed; dhṛta — holding; kārmukāḥ — their bows.

tān — them; āpatataḥ — in pursuit; ālokya — seeing; yādava-anīka — of the Yādava army; yūtha-paḥ — the officers; tasthuḥ — stood; tat — them; sammukhāḥ — directly facing; rājan — O King (Parīkṣit); visphūrjya — twanging; sva — their; dhanūṁṣi — bows; te — they.

aśva-pṛṣṭhe — on horseback; gaja — of elephants; skandhe — on the shoulders; ratha — of chariots; upasthe — on the seats; astra — of weapons; kovidāḥ — those expert in the use; mumucuḥ — released; śara — of arrows; varṣāṇi — rains; meghāḥ — clouds; adriṣu — upon mountains; apaḥ — water; yathā — as.

patyuḥ — of her Lord; balam — the army; śara — of arrows; āsāraiḥ — by heavy rains; channam — covered; vīkṣya — seeing; su-madhyamā — slender-waisted (Rukmiṇī); sa-vrīḍam — shyly; aikṣat — looked; tat — His; vaktram — at the face; bhaya — with fear; vihvala — disturbed; locanā — whose eyes.

prahasya — laughing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; āha — said; mā sma bhaiḥ — do not be afraid; vāma-locane — O beautiful-eyed one; vinaṅkṣyati — will be destroyed; adhunā eva — just now; etat — this; tāvakaiḥ — by your (army); śātravam — of enemies; balam — force.

teṣām — by them (the opposing kings); tat — that; vikramam — show of prowess; vīrāḥ — the heroes; gada — Gada, the younger brother of Lord Kṛṣṇa; saṅkarṣaṇa — Lord Balarāma; ādayaḥ — and others; amṛṣyamāṇāḥ — not tolerating; nārācaiḥ — with arrows made of iron; jaghnuḥ — they struck; haya — horses; gajān — elephants; rathān — and chariots.

petuḥ — fell; śirāṁsi — the heads; rathinām — of those riding on chariots; aśvinām — of those riding horses; gajinām — of those riding elephants; bhuvi — to the ground; sa — with; kuṇḍala — earrings; kirīṭāni — and helmets; sa — with; uṣṇīṣāṇi — turbans; ca — and; koṭiśaḥ — by the millions.

hastāḥ — hands; sa — with; asi — swords; gadā — clubs; iṣu-āsāḥ — bows; karabhāḥ — fingerless hands; ūravaḥ — thighs; aṅghrayaḥ — legs; aśva — of horses; aśvatara — donkeys; nāga — elephants; uṣṭra — camels; khara — wild asses; martya — and humans; śirāṁsi — heads; ca — also.

hanyamāna — being killed; bala-anīkāḥ — whose armies; vṛṣṇibhiḥ — by the Vṛṣṇis; jaya — for victory; kāṅkṣibhiḥ — who were eager; rājānaḥ — the kings; vimukhāḥ — discouraged; jagmuḥ — left; jarāsandha-puraḥ-sarāḥ — headed by Jarāsandha.

śiśupālam — Śiśupāla; samabhyetya — approaching; hṛta — stolen; dāram — whose wife; iva — as if; āturam — perturbed; naṣṭa — lost; tviṣam — whose color; gata — gone; utsāham — whose enthusiasm; śuṣyat — dried up; vadanam — whose face; abruvan — they addressed.

bhoḥ bhoḥ — O sir; puruṣa — among men; śārdūla — O tiger; daurmana-syam — depressed state of mind; idam — this; tyaja — give up; na — no; priya — of the desirable; apriyayoḥ — or the undesirable; rājan — O King; niṣṭhā — permanence; dehiṣu — among embodied beings; dṛśyate — is seen.

yathā — as; dāru-mayī — made of wood; yoṣit — a woman; nṛtyate — dances; kuhaka — of the showman; icchayā — by the desire; evam — in the same way; īśvara — of the Supreme Lord; tantraḥ — under the control; ayam — this world; īhate — endeavors; sukha — in joy; duḥkhayoḥ — and misery.

śaureḥ — with Kṛṣṇa; sapta-daśa — seventeen; aham — I; vai — indeed; saṁyugāni — battles; parājitaḥ — lost; trayaḥ-viṁśatibhiḥ — twenty-three; sainyaiḥ — with armies; jigye — won; ekam — one; aham — I; param — only.

tathā api — nonetheless; aham — I; na śocāmi — do not lament; na prahṛṣyāmi — do not rejoice; karhicit — ever; kālena — by time; daiva — with fate; yuktena — conjoined; jānan — knowing; vidrāvitam — driven; jagat — the world.

adhunā — now; api — even; vayam — we; sarve — all; vīra — of heroes; yūtha-pa — of the leaders; yūtha-pāḥ — the leaders; parājitāḥ — defeated; phalgu — meager; tantraiḥ — whose entourage; yadubhiḥ — by the Yadus; kṛṣṇa-pālitaiḥ — protected by Kṛṣṇa.

ripavaḥ — our enemies; jigyuḥ — have conquered; adhunā — now; kāle — the time; ātma — them; anusārīṇi — favoring; tadā — then; vayam — we; vijeṣyāmaḥ — shall conquer; yadā — when; kālaḥ — time; pradakṣiṇaḥ — turned toward us.

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; prabodhitaḥ — persuaded; mitraiḥ — by his friends; caidyaḥ — Śiśupāla; agāt — went; sa-anugaḥ — with his followers; puram — to his city; hata — from the killed; śeṣāḥ — who remained; punaḥ — again; te — they; api — also; yayuḥ — went; svam svam — each to his own; puram — city; nṛpāḥ — kings.

rukmī — Rukmī; tu — however; rākṣasa — in the style of demons; udvāham — the marriage; kṛṣṇa-dviṭ — the hater of Kṛṣṇa; asahan — unable to bear; svasuḥ — of his sister; pṛṣṭhataḥ — from behind; anvagamat — he followed; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; akṣauhiṇyā — by an entire akṣauhiṇī division; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; balī — powerful.

rukmī — Rukmī; amarṣī — intolerant; su-saṁrabdhaḥ — extremely angry; śṛṇvatām — while they listened; sarva — all; bhū-bhujām — the kings; pratijajñe — he swore; mahā-bāhuḥ — mighty-armed; daṁśitaḥ — wearing his armor; sa-śarāsanaḥ — with his bow; ahatvā — without killing; samare — in battle; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; apratyūhya — without bringing back; ca — and; rukmiṇīm — Rukmiṇī; kuṇḍinam — the city of Kuṇḍina; na pravekṣyāmi — I shall not enter; satyam — in truth; etat — this; bravīmi — I say; vaḥ — to all of you.

iti — thus; uktvā — speaking; ratham — on his chariot; āruhya — climbing; sārathim — to his driver; prāha — said; satvaraḥ — quickly; codaya — drive; aśvān — the horses; yataḥ — to where; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; tasya — His; me — with me; saṁyugam — fight; bhavet — must be.

adya — today; aham — I; niśitaiḥ — sharp; bāṇaiḥ — with my arrows; gopālasya — of the cowherd; su-durmateḥ — whose mentality is most wicked; neṣye — I will remove; vīrya — in His power; madam — the intoxicated pride; yena — by which; svasā — sister; me — my; prasabham — violently; hṛtā — abducted.

vikatthamānaḥ — boasting; ku-matiḥ — foolish; īśvarasya — of the Supreme Lord; apramāṇa-vit — not knowing the dimensions; rathena ekena — with a single chariot; govindam — to Lord Kṛṣṇa; tiṣṭha tiṣṭha — stand and fight; iti — so saying; atha — then; āhvayat — he called.

dhanuḥ — his bow; vikṛṣya — drawing; su — very; dṛḍham — firmly; jaghne — he struck; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; tribhiḥ — with three; śaraiḥ — arrows; āha — he said; ca — and; atra — here; kṣaṇam — a moment; tiṣṭha — stand; yadūnām — of the Yadus; kula — of the dynasty; pāṁsana — O corrupter.

yatra — wherever; yāsi — You go; svasāram — sister; me — my; muṣitvā — having stolen; dhvāṅkṣa-vat — like a crow; haviḥ — the sacrificial butter; hariṣye — I will remove; adya — today; madam — Your false pride; manda — You fool; māyinaḥ — of the deceiver; kūṭa — cheating; yodhinaḥ — of the fighter.

yāvat — while; na — not; me — my; hataḥ — killed; bāṇaiḥ — by the arrows; śayīthaḥ — you lie down; muñca — release; dārīkām — the girl; smayan — smiling; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; dhanuḥ — his bow; chittvā — breaking; ṣaḍbhiḥ — with six (arrows); vivyādha — pierced; rukmiṇam — Rukmī.

aṣṭabhiḥ — with eight (arrows); caturaḥ — the four; vāhān — horses; dvābhyām — with two; sūtam — the chariot driver; dhvajam — the flagpole; tribhiḥ — with three; saḥ — he, Rukmī; ca — and; anyat — another; dhanuḥ — bow; ādhāya — taking up; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; vivyādha — pierced; pañcabhiḥ — with five.

taiḥ — by these; tāḍitaḥ — struck; śara — of arrows; oghaiḥ — floods; tu — although; ciccheda — broke; dhanuḥ — (Rukmī’s) bow; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; punaḥ — again; anyat — another; upādatta — he (Rukmī) picked up; tat — that; api — also; acchinat — broke; avyayaḥ — the infallible Lord.

parigham — spiked iron bludgeon; paṭṭiśam — three-pointed spear; śūlam — lance; carma-asī — shield and sword; śakti — pike; tomarau — javelin; yat yat — whatever; āyudham — weapon; ādatta — he took up; tat sarvam — all of them; saḥ — He; acchinat — broke; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.

tataḥ — then; rathāt — from his chariot; avaplutya — leaping down; khaḍga — a sword; paṇiḥ — in his hand; jighāṁsayā — with the desire to kill; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; abhyadravat — he ran toward; kruddhaḥ — furious; pataṅgaḥ — a bird; iva — as; pāvakam — the wind.

tasya — of him; ca — and; āpatataḥ — who was attacking; khaḍgam — the sword; tilaśaḥ — into small pieces; carma — the shield; ca — and; iṣubhiḥ — with His arrows; chittvā — breaking; asim — His sword; ādade — He took; tigmam — sharp; rukmiṇam — Rukmī; hantum — to kill; udyataḥ — prepared.

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; bhrātṛ — her brother; vadha — to kill; udyogam — the attempt; rukmiṇī — Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī; bhaya — by fear; vihvalā — agitated; patitvā — falling; pādayoḥ — at the feet; bhartuḥ — of her husband; uvāca — spoke; karuṇam — pathetically; satī — saintly.

śrī-rukmiṇī uvāca — Śrī Rukmiṇī said; yoga-īśvara — O controller of all mystic power; aprameya-ātman — O immeasurable one; deva-deva — O Lord of lords; jagat-pate — O master of the universe; hantum na arhasi — please do not kill; kalyāṇa — O all auspicious one; bhrātaram — brother; me — my; mahā-bhuja — O mighty-armed one.

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; tayā — by her; paritrāsa — in total fear; vikampita — trembling; aṅgayā — whose limbs; śucā — out of sorrow; avaśuṣyat — drying up; mukha — whose mouth; ruddha — and choked; kaṇṭhayā — whose throat; kātarya — in her agitation; visraṁsita — disheveled; hema — golden; mālayā — whose necklace; gṛhīta — held; pādaḥ — His feet; karuṇaḥ — compassionate; nyavartata — He desisted.

cailena — with a strip of cloth; baddhvā — tying up; tam — him; asādhu-kāriṇam — the evil-doer; sa-śmaśru-keśam — leaving some of his mustache and hair remaining; pravapan — by shaving him; vyarūpayat — made him disfigured; tāvat — by then; mamarduḥ — they had crushed; para — opposing; sainyam — the army; adbhutam — extraordinary; yadu-pravīrāḥ — the heroes of the Yadu dynasty; nalinīm — a lotus flower; yathā — as; gajāḥ — elephants.

kṛṣṇa — of Kṛṣṇa; antikam — the proximity; upavrajya — approaching; dadṛśuḥ — they (the Yadu soldiers) saw; tatra — there; rukmiṇam — Rukmī; tathā-bhūtam — in such a condition; hata — dead; prāyam — practically; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; saṅkarṣaṇaḥ — Balarāma; vibhuḥ — the omnipotent; vimucya — releasing; baddham — the bound-up (Rukmī); karuṇaḥ — compassionate; bhagavān — the Lord; kṛṣṇam — to Kṛṣṇa; abravīt — said.

asādhu — improperly; idam — this; tvayā — by You; kṛṣṇa — O Kṛṣṇa; kṛtam — done; asmat — for Us; jugupsitam — terrible; vapanam — the shaving; śmaśru-keśānām — of his mustache and hair; vairūpyam — the disfigurement; suhṛdaḥ — of a family member; vadhaḥ — death.

mā — please do not; eva — indeed; asmān — toward Us; sādhvi — O saintly lady; asūyethāḥ — feel inimical; bhrātuḥ — of your brother; vairūpya — over the disfigurement; cintayā — out of concern; sukha — of happiness; duḥkha — and unhappiness; daḥ — bestower; na — not; ca — and; anyaḥ — anyone else; asti — there is; yataḥ — since; sva — of his own; kṛta — action; bhuk — the sufferer of the reaction; pumān — a man.

bandhuḥ — a relative; vadha — being killed; arha — which merits; doṣaḥ — whose wrong-doing; api — even though; na — not; bandhoḥ — from a relative; vadham — being killed; arhati — deserves; tyājyaḥ — to be cast out; svena eva — by his own; doṣeṇa — fault; hataḥ — killed; kim — why; hanyate — is to be killed; punaḥ — again.

kṣatriyāṇām — of warriors; ayam — this; dharmaḥ — code of sacred duty; prajāpati — by the original progenitor, Lord Brahmā; vinirmitaḥ — established; bhrātā — a brother; api — even; bhrātaram — his brother; hanyāt — has to kill; yena — by which (code); ghora-tamaḥ — most terrible; tataḥ — therefore.

rājyasya — of kingdom; bhūmeḥ — of land; vittasya — of wealth; striyaḥ — of a woman; mānasya — of honor; tejasaḥ — of power; māninaḥ — those who are proud; anyasya — of something else; vā — or; hetoḥ — for the reason; śrī — in their opulence; mada — by their intoxication; andhāḥ — blinded; kṣipanti — they commit insult; hi — indeed.

tava — your; iyam — this; viṣamā — biased; buddhiḥ — attitude; sarva-bhūteṣu — toward all living beings; durhṛdām — of those who have ill intentions; yat — that; manyase — you wish; sadā — always; abhadram — evil; suhṛdām — to your well-wishers; bhadram — good; ajña-vat — like an ignorant person.

ātma — about the self; mohaḥ — the bewilderment; nṛṇām — of men; eva — only; kalpate — is effected; deva — of the Supreme Lord; māyayā — by the illusory, material energy; suhṛt — a friend; durhṛt — an enemy; udāsīnaḥ — a neutral party; iti — thus thinking; deha — the body; ātma — as the self; māninām — for those who consider.

ekaḥ — one; eva — only; paraḥ — the Supreme; hi — indeed; ātmā — Soul; sarveṣām — among all; api — and; dehinām — embodied beings; nānā — many; iva — as if; gṛhyate — is perceived; mūḍhaiḥ — by those who are bewildered; yathā — as; jyotiḥ — a celestial body; yathā — as; nabhaḥ — the sky.

dehaḥ — the material body; ādi — beginning; anta — and end; vān — having; eṣaḥ — this; dravya — of the physical elements; prāṇa — the senses; guṇa — and the primary modes of material nature (goodness, passion and ignorance); ātmakaḥ — composed; ātmani — on the self; avidyayā — by material ignorance; kḷptaḥ — imposed; saṁsārayati — causes to experience the cycle of birth and death; dehinam — an embodied being.

na — not; ātmanaḥ — for the self; anyena — with anything else; saṁyogaḥ — contact; viyogaḥ — separation; ca — and; asataḥ — with that which is insubstantial; sati — O discriminating one; tat — from it (the self); hetutvāt — because of originating; tat — by it (the self); prasiddheḥ — because of being revealed; dṛk — with the sense of vision; rūpābhyām — and visible form; yathā — as; raveḥ — for the sun.

janma-ādayaḥ — birth and so on; tu — but; dehasya — of the body; vikriyāḥ — transformations; na — not; ātmanaḥ — of the self; kvacit — ever; kalānām — of the phases; iva — as; na — not; eva — indeed; indoḥ — of the moon; mṛtiḥ — the death; hi — indeed; asya — of it; kuhūḥ — the new moon day; iva — as.

yathā — as; śayānaḥ — a sleeping person; ātmānam — himself; viṣayān — sense objects; phalam — the fruits; eva — indeed; ca — also; anubhuṅkte — experiences; api — even; asati arthe — in that which is not real; tathā — so; āpnoti — undergoes; abudhaḥ — the unintelligent; bhavam — material existence.

tasmāt — therefore; ajñāna — out of ignorance; jam — born; śokam — the lamentation; ātma — yourself; śoṣa — drying up; vimohanam — and bewildering; tattva — of the truth; jñānena — with knowledge; nirhṛtya — dispelling; sva-sthā — reinstated in your natural mood; bhava — please be; śuci-smite — O you whose smile is pure.

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Lord; tanvī — slender-waisted Rukmiṇī; rāmeṇa — by Balarāma; pratibodhitā — enlightened; vaimanasyam — her depression; parityajya — giving up; manaḥ — her mind; buddhyā — by intelligence; samādadhe — composed.

prāṇa — his life air; avaśeṣaḥ — remaining only; utṣṛṣṭaḥ — expelled; dviḍbhiḥ — by his enemies; hata — destroyed; bala — his strength; prabhaḥ — and bodily effulgence; smaran — remembering; virūpa-karaṇam — his disfigurement; vitatha — frustrated; ātma — his personal; manaḥ-rathaḥ — desires; cakre — he made; bhoja-kaṭam nāma — named Bhojakaṭa; nivāsāya — for his residence; mahat — large; puram — a city.

ahatvā — without killing; durmatim — evil-minded; kṛṣṇam — Kṛṣṇa; apratyūhya — without bringing back; yavīyasīm — my younger sister; kuṇḍinam — Kuṇḍina; na pravekṣyāmi — I will not enter; iti — such; uktvā — having spoken; tatra — there (in the same place where he had been disfigured); avasat — he took up residence; ruṣā — in anger.

bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; bhīṣmaka-sutām — the daughter of Bhīṣmaka; evam — thus; nirjitya — defeating; bhūmi-pān — the kings; puram — to His capital; ānīya — bringing; vidhi-vat — in accordance with the injunctions of the Vedas; upayeme — married; kuru-udvaha — O protector of the Kurus.

tadā — then; mahā-utsavaḥ — great rejoicing; nṝṇām — by the people; yadu-puryām — in the capital of the Yadus, Dvārakā; gṛhe gṛhe — in each and every home; abhūt — arose; ananya-bhāvānām — who had exclusive love; kṛṣṇe — for Kṛṣṇa; yadu-patau — the chief of the Yadus; nṛpa — O King (Parīkṣit).

narāḥ — the men; nāryaḥ — women; ca — and; muditāḥ — joyful; pramṛṣṭa — polished; maṇi — their jewels; kuṇḍalāḥ — and earrings; pāribarham — wedding gifts; upājahruḥ — they respectfully presented; varayoḥ — to the groom and the bride; citra — wonderful; vāsasoḥ — whose dress.

sā — that; vṛṣṇi-purī — city of the Vṛṣṇis; uttambhita — upraised; indra-ketubhiḥ — with festive columns; vicitra — variegated; mālya — having flower garlands; ambara — cloth banners; ratna — and jewels; toraṇaiḥ — with archways; babhau — appeared beautiful; prati — in every; dvāri — doorway; upakḷpta — arranged; maṅgalaiḥ — with auspicious items; āpūrṇa — full; kumbha — waterpots; aguru — scented with aguru; dhūpa — with incense; dīpakaiḥ — and lamps.

sikta — sprinkled; mārgā — its streets; mada — a secretion that flows from the foreheads of excited elephants; cyudbhiḥ — exuding; āhūta — invited; preṣṭha — beloved; bhū-bhujām — of the kings; gajaiḥ — by the elephants; dvāḥsu — in the doorways; parāmṛṣṭa — handled; rambhā — by plantain trees; pūga — and betel-nut trees; upaśobhitā — beautified.

kuru-sṛñjaya-kaikeya-vidarbha-yadu-kuntayaḥ — of the members of the Kuru, Sṛñjaya, Kaikeya, Vidarbha, Yadu and Kunti clans; mithaḥ — with one another; mumudire — they took pleasure; tasmin — in that (festivity); sambhramāt — out of excitement; paridhāvatām — among those who were running about.

rukmiṇyāḥ — of Rukmiṇī; haraṇam — about the kidnapping; śrutvā — hearing; gīyamānam — which was being sung; tataḥ tataḥ — all over; rājānaḥ — the kings; rāja-kanyāḥ — the kings’ daughters; ca — and; babhūvuḥ — became; bhṛśa — extremely; vismitāḥ — amazed.

dvārakāyām — in Dvārakā; abhūt — there was; rājan — O King; mahā-modaḥ — great joy; pura-okasām — for the inhabitants of the city; rukmiṇyā — with Rukmiṇī; ramayā — the goddess of fortune; upetam — joined; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; śriyaḥ — of all opulence; patim — the master.