Book 10: Fifty-two Chapter (Latter Half)
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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 52: Verses 41-44
Duly reaching (all alone) the territory of Vidarbha (the city of Kundinapura, the capital of the rulers of Vidarbha) incognito at a time when the marriage is going to take place the following day, 0 invincible Lord ! and (then), surrounded by the generals of Your army and completely crushing the (combined) forces of Sisupala (the ruler of Cedi) and Jarasandha (the king of Magadha), marry me perforce according to the system prevalent among the Raksasas[1], winning me as a prize of valour. If You urge (in protest), "How can I marry you without killing your relations (who are sure to resist any attempt on My part to take you by force), living as you do within the four walls of the gynaeceum (and therefore under the tutelage of your gurdians)?", I (hereby) tell You beforehand the means (of securing me without spilling the blood of my relations). On the eve of marriage a grand procession will be taken out to (the shrine of) Goddess Ambika (our family deity), in which the young bride has to go out (of the palace) to see Goddess Parvati (the Daughter of Himavan, the king of mountains). If (however) I do not secure Your grace, 0 lotus-eyed Lord--a bath in the dust of whose lotus-feet great souls like Lord Siva (the Spouse of Lima) seek to obtain for dispelling their darkness (of ignorance)-l shall lay down my life, (already) withered through fasting, (each time I am reborn) in the hope that the grace may be secured (even) through (say) a hundred births. The Brahmana concluded : These are the secret messages brought by me (and delivered to You), 0 Sri Krsna (the adored of the Yadus) I Considering them, whatever is worth doing in this connection may be done without delay. Thus ends the fifty-second discourse, bearing on the subject of Rukmini s wedding, in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.
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References
- ↑ Our scriptures have recognized as many as eight different types of marriage. They are :- 1. The Arsa type, in which the bridegroom has to present a pair of cows to the bride's father before marriage- 'अदायार्षस्तु गोद्वयम्' (Yajnavalkya-Smrti 1.59; cf. Manusmrti III. 53). 2. The Asura type, in which the bride's father accepts large sums of money from the bridegroom as a price for the girl- 'आसुरो द्रविणादानात्' (vide Y.S., I. 61; cf. M.S. III. 31) 3. The Brahma type, in which the bride's father gives. away the girl after duly adorning her according to his means-'विवाह आहूय दीयते शक्त्यलंकृता' (Y.S., 1.58; cf. M.S. Ill. 27). 4.The Paisaca type, in which the girl is ravished while asleep, intoxicated or deranged-'सुप्तां मत्ता प्रमत्तां वा रहो यत्रोपगच्छति' (M.S., ill. (34). 5. The Daiva type, in which a girl is given away to a priest officiating at a sacrificial performance-'यज्ञस्थ ऋत्विजे दैव:' (Y. S. 59). 6. The Gandharva type, in which a pair is allowed to marry by mutual consent alone without ceremonies and without consulting relations -'गान्धर्व: समयान्मिथ:' (Ibid., 1.61). 7. The Raksasa type, in which a girl is taken away by force after vanquishing formidable opponents-'राक्षसो युद्धहरणात् ' (I bid.). 8. The Prajapatya type, in which a girl is given away, without receiving any present from the bridegroom, on the express understanding that the two will practise virtue together-'सहोभौ चरंता धर्ममिति वाचानुभाष्य च। कन्याप्रदानं...........'CM. S., Ill. 30; cf. Y.S.,i. 60).