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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 61: Verses 28-40
Ignorant though he is of dice-playing, as a matter of fact, 0 king, great is his addiction to it." Thus advised, Rukmi invited Bala and played at dice with him. In that game Balarama made a wager (successively) of one hundred, one thousand and ten thousand gold coins; Rukmi, however, won them all. Showing his teeth on that occasion, the ruler of Kalinga very loudly laughed at Balarama (the wielder of a plough), who (however) resented it. Then Rukmi made a bet of one Iakh and Balarama won this time. Resorting to cunningness, Rukmi (however) said, "I have won." Like the sea on a full moon, Balarama (the glorious one) was (now) agitated with anger. His eyes, which were naturally red, began to glow with rage and he made a wager of a hundred million gold coins. According to the laws of gambling Balarama won that too. Taking recourse to deceit Rukmi (however) said, "I have won. Let these umpires arbitrate on this point." A voice from the heavens thereupon declared that the bet was rightfully won by Balarama alone; Rukmi is surely telling a lie when he says with his tongue alone (and not from his heart) that he has won.
Ignoring that voice, Rukmi, who was instigated by wicked kings and prompted by his own death, spoke mockingly to Balarama (as follows):- "Being keepers of cows roaming in woods, you do not know the game of dice. Kings (alone) play at dice and sport with arrows, not men like you." Insulted thus by Rukmi and ridiculed by kings, Balarama flew into a rage and, lifting up an iron bar, killed him (even) in that festive assembly. Quickly seizing the ruler of Kalinga, who had laughed at him with open teeth (and had now taken to his heels), (even) at the tenth step, Balarama smashed those teeth. With their arms, thighs and heads broken, and bathed in blood, when struck with the iron bar by Balarama, other kings fled in terror. For fear of estranging the goodwill of either Rukmini or Balarama, the Lord did not make any favourable or adverse comment on His brother-in-law, Rukmi, having been killed. Having comfortably seated Aniruddha alongwith his newly-wedded wife in an excellent chariot, Balarama and the other Dasarhas, who looked upon Sri Krsna (the Slayer of Madhu) as their asylum, and who had all their objects accomplished; drove from Bhojakata to Dwaraka.
Thus ends the sixty-first discourse entitled "Rukmi killed (by Balarama) during the wedding of Aniruddha" in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.
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