Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.52.41
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRukmiṇī Places Her Hope in Kṛṣṇa's Valor
“O unconquerable one, tomorrow when my marriage ceremony is about to begin, You should arrive unseen in Vidarbha and surround Yourself with the leaders of Your army. Then crush the forces of Caidya and Magadhendra and marry me in the Rākṣasa style, winning me with Your valor.”
What the purport teaches
- Rukmiṇī's royal upbringing gave her a brilliant grasp of political affairs. She advises Kṛṣṇa to enter the city alone and unnoticed, then surround Himself with His military commanders.
- She asks the unconquerable Lord to crush the opposing forces and marry her in the Rākṣasa style, winning her with His valor.
- Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī compares the coming fight to the Lord's churning of the ocean to extract the goddess Lakṣmī. Rukmiṇī, the goddess of fortune, would be gained amid the coming turbulence.
Try this today
In a brief prayer, name one difficulty and express your trust in Kṛṣṇa's strength.
Ask yourself
How does Rukmiṇī combine thoughtful planning with confidence in Kṛṣṇa?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.