Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 10 Chapter 53:49-57

Book 10: Fifty-three Chapter (Latter Half)

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 53: Verses 49-57 The aforesaid (Brahmana) ladies gave her a part of the offerings made to the Goddess (as a token of Her grace) and added their own blessings. The bride (for her part) bowed to them as well as to the Goddess and accepted the offerings made. Then, terminating her vow of silence, she came out of the (main) shrine of Goddess Ambika (the Divine Mother), holding tightly by the hand a maid-servant with her own hand brilliant with jewelled rings. Smitten with love kindled (in their breast) by her, the illustrious warriors assembled (there) felt bewildered to behold the princess, who was possessed of a shapely (slender) waist and had not yet attained puberty, and who had a girdle of jewels thrown about her hips and in whom signs of womanhood were (just) manifesting themselves, whose (charming) countenance was graced with ear-rings and whose eyes were moving as though afraid of her curly locks (that overhung her face), who had a bright smile playing on her lips and whose teeth- white as jasmine buds-looked red due to the lustre of her lips, cherry as a ripe Bimba . fruit (being transferred to them when she smiled), who possessed the gait of a female swan and was walking with her feet shining by the splendour of brilliant jingling anklets and who cast her spell (even) on heroes as though she were the very Maya (enchanting potency) of the Lord. Stupefied to perceive Rukmini, who under the pretext of going out in a procession (to the temple) had (all the time) been offering her loveliness to Sri Krsna, the aforesaid kings-whose mind was captivated by her winsome smiles and bashful glances and who had (unconsciously) dropped their weapons-(themselves) fell to the ground, mounted as they were on elephants and horses as well as in chariots. Eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the Lord at that time and therefore slowly moving as aforesaid her feet, that resembled a pair of mobile lotus buds, and removing her (flowing) locks (off her eyes) with her left hand fingers, the princess coyly looked with the corners of her eyes at the kings arrived (on the occasion) and (while doing so) espied Sri Krsna (the immortal Lord). Sri Krsna snatched away the princess even as she sought to mount her chariot, unmindful of His adversaries (Sisupala, Jarasandha and others), who stood gazing, and, having comfortably seated her in His (own) chariot bearing the emblem of Garuda (the carrier of Lord Visnu), and setting at naught the whole host of Ksatriyas (present there), Sri Krsna (the Spouse of Laksmi) then slowly departed (to Dwaraka) alongwith others headed by Balarama, even as a lion would carry off its game from the midst of jackals. His proud adversaries, who were (all) under the domination of Jarasandha, did not brook that discomfiture (of theirs) and (consequent) loss of reputation. (They said to one another), "Fie upon us in that our glory, although we continued to wield our bow and were as good as lions, has been snatched away by cowherds, who are no better than deer." Thus ends the fifty-third discourse, entitled "The Lord carries away Rukmini", in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.