Chapter 36: A Letter of Love
As the sun sunk further into the horizon, Rukmini wept in
despair. Just two days. She had just two days to prevent her doom. She had
tried to make her other brothers understand, but they were all in favour of
Rukmi, and had merely said, "It is not your place to argue with the Emperor
Jaraasandha's wishes Rukmini!"
Krsna! I wish that you
knew of my sorry plight! I wish you arrived here on Lord Garuda like you came
to my Svayamvara! I wish there was a way out of this situation!
Just as the horizon turned pink with the last rays of the
sun, Rukmini heard a song. A melodious song, sung by someone with a soothing
voice, slowly but surely extinguishing her worries. As the song neared her, she
felt her hopes rising. The song became clearer as it neared:
"Narayana Hari Narayana Hari Narayana Hari Narayana!" sang
the singer. The very words were divine and auspicious, a good sign. She looked
out of her balcony, looking for the source of the song. And there she saw a
brahmana, dressed in white, carrying a Tambura in his hand and singing to ease
the worries of the world. He had a pleasant smile on his face and his eyes were
closed in ecstasy. She looked towards Sumukhi and Kamala, who had also arrived
to see who sang so beautifully.
"Surely the praises of Nrayana shall usher in good fortune
for you, dear sakhi! Take heart in this song!"
"Narayana Hari Narayana Hari Narayana Hari Narayana!"
continued the brahmana, walking towards her palace. Rukmini wasted no time. She
rushed outside her palace and fell at the feet of the Brahmana. "Pranams, Oh Great
Saint! I am Rukmini, the Princess of Vidarbha! Welcome to my humble dwelling!"
The brahmana placed his hand on her head. "May you have good
fortune, child!" he said; he then saw her tear-stricken face. "What has
happened, my child? You look anguished."
Rukmini shook her head, turning to her sakhis. Sumukhi took
up the thread. "Oh Vipra! Our sakhi Rukmini desires to wed Lord Krsna, the
jewel of the Yadava dynasty! But she is being forced, against her wishes, to
wed Prince Shishupala, the son of King Damaghosha of Chedi."
The Brahmana nodded. "Who will force such a gentle and
loving soul such as your princess into this act?"
"It is her brother, Oh Mahodaya. Prince Rukmi has been
influenced by the Emperor Jaraasandha to accept this proposal."
"And so you have no way of informing anyone about this
situation? Does Krsna know about your love for him, child?"
Rukmini glanced at the brahmana's kind face. "I never had
the opportunity to express my feelings, Mahodaya. He, unfortunately, is unaware
of my plight."
"Then do not tarry! Make haste! I shall myself carry your
message to Krsna! Tell me what is to be told, and I shall do the needful!" the
brahmana said in an urgent tone.
Rukmini was astonished. She looked at the brahmana, then
bowed to him and ushered him inside her apartments, where she hurriedly
searched for some parchment to write her message. With shaky hands, wiping away
her tears from time to time, she poured out her feelings to Krsna in the
letter, as the brahmana watched patiently. Finally, she entrusted the letter in
his hands and bowed to him, saying, "I shall be ever in your debt, Oh
Mahodaya."
"Do not feel so, my child. We are all the children of
Narayana. It is he who you must thank. I shall return with Krsna's reply!" And
he once again began chanting, "Narayana Hari Narayana Hari Narayana Hari
Narayana!" and walked towards the palace gates, where, to the astonishment of
Rukmini, Sumukhi and Kamala, he vanished into thin air.
***
Krsna sat on his couch, looking at the moonlit sky. The
gopikas had incarnated themselves into his future wives, fulfilling his
beloved's promise to him. He smiled, thinking of how Rukmini, influenced by
Chandravali's mad love for him, would have taken steps she normally would have
not taken so soon. As he looked down at his city, its denizens retiring for the
day, he heard someone appear within his chambers.
Turning, he saw the brahmana, carrying what appeared to be -
ah. He rushed to the brahmana and fell at his feet, saying, "Welcome, Oh
Mahatman, to my humble chambers in this city of Dvaravati! It is due to saints
like you that this world prospers. Your arrival in my abode is a mark of the
arrival of Mahalakshmi to Dvaraka!"
The brahmana smiled, understanding Krsna's subtle pun. He
blessed Krsna and accepted the offerings of Arghya, Padya and Achamaneeya
(Water to wash his hands, his feet, and to satisfy his thirst) offered to him.
Seating himself on the throne Krsna offered him, he said,
"Pranams, Oh Lion of the Yadavas. I apologise for arriving directly in your
chambers, and at this hour of night, but the situation was such that I could
not avoid my manner of arrival! The princess of Vidarbha, Rukmini by name, has
been forced by her brother Rukmi to marry Prince Shishupala, your cousin
brother. But the princess has confessed to me that she desires to wed you
alone. She has sent a letter for you to read. If you may," he said, extending
Rukmini's letter to Krsna.
Krsna shook his head. "No Mahodaya! You are the one who has
witnessed the sorrow of Princess Rukmini! It is only fitting that you convey
her message to me!"
Glad at heart, the brahmana opened the letter, and began to read.
[quote]
Salutations to Lord Krsna of the Yadava Dynasty.
Let Auspiciousness Befall both the reader and the listener.
Shrutva Gunan Bhuvanasundara Shrnvataam Te Nirvishya Karna
Vivaraih Harato Angataapam|
Rupam Drishaam Dhrishimataam Akhilaartha Laabham
Tvayyachyutaavishati Chittam Apatrapam Me||
"Hearing of your qualities, Oh Most Beautiful Lord, which
once heard, enter one's ears and thereby eliminate all distress of the mind,
and having seen your beauty, which fulfils all the desires of those who behold
you, I have shamelessly fixed you in my mind."
Kaa Tvaa Mukunda Mahati Kula Sheela Rupa Vidya Vayo Dravina
Dhaamabhih Aatmatulyam|
Dheera Patim Kulavati Na Vrneeta Kanyaa Kaale Nrsimha
Naraloka Manobhiraamam||
"Oh Mukunda, you are equal only to yourself in your great
lineage, character, beauty, knowledge, age, wealth and abode! Oh Lion among
Men! Oh Charmer of the world! Which bold, royal and wise girl would not choose
you at the right time in the form of her husband?"
Tan Me Bhavaan Khalu Vrtah Patih Angajaayaam Atmaarpitascha Bhavato Atra Vibho Vidhehi|
Maa Virabhaagam Abhimarshatu Chaidya Aarad Gomaayuvat
Mrgapateh Balim Ambujaksha||
"Therefore, Oh Lord, I have chosen you as my husband, and
offered myself to you! Oh Lotus Eyed One, let not the Prince of Chedi steal me,
Thy Heroic Property, like a jackal steals the kill of a lion!"
Poorteshta Datta Niyama Vrata Deva Vipra Guru Archanaadibhir
Alam Bhagavaan Pareshah|
Aaraadhito Yadi Gadagraja Etya Paanim Grhnaatu Me Na
Damaghoshasuta-aadayo Anye||
"If I have sincerely performed my worship, vows, charity,
rituals and sacrifices, and honoured properly the devas, brahmanas and my
elders, then let Lord Krsna, the elder brother of Gada, take my hand in
marriage, and never the son of Damaghosha or anyone else contesting for me!"
Shvo Bhaavani Tvam Ajitodvahane Vidarbhaat Guptah Sametya
Prtanaapatibhih Pareetah|
Nirmathya Chaidya Magadhendra Balam Prasahya Maam
Raakshasena Vidhina Udvaha Veerya Shulkaam||
"Oh Unconquerable Lord! During my marriage ceremony tomorrow,
you must arrive unseen, aided by your companions, and having churned the ocean
of the armies of Shishupala and Jaraasandha, carry me away in the style of
marriage of the Rakshasas!"
Antahpura-antarachareem Anihatya Bandhun Tvaam Udvahe Katham
Iti Pravadaami Upaayam|
Purve Dyurasti Mahati Kuladeva Yatra Yasyaam Bahih
Navavadhuh Girijaam Upeyaat||
"Oh Lord, you must be thinking, How will I marry you, who are within the princess' quarters, without
killing your relatives?' I shall tell you the solution. On the first day of
marriage, there is a great procession, where the new bride goes to worship our
family deity, Goddess Girija, whose temple is outside the palace boundary."
Yasyaanghri Pankaja Rajah Snapanam Mahaanto Vaanchanti Uma
Patir-iva Atmatamo'pahatyai|
Yarhi Ambujaksha Na Labheya Bhavat Prasadam Jahyaam Asoon
Vratakrshaan Shatajanmabhih Syaat||
"Great souls like Lord Shiva, the husband of Devi Uma, bathe
in the dust of your lotus feet to destroy their inner ignorance! Oh lotus eyed
one, if I am unable to obtain your presence, I shall give up my life, weakened
by austerities, even hundred such
lifetimes if necessary."
Yours Lovingly,
Rukmini
[/quote]
Krsna looked at the brahmana with tearful eyes. Then he rose
swiftly, grasped the brahmana's hand, hurriedly scribbled a note for Balarama
and rushed to the stables, where he yoked his horses Shaibya, Sugriva,
Meghapushpa and Valahaka to his chariot. He awoke his charioteer Daruka, and
said in hurried tones, "Daruka. We have to reach Kundinapura before morning."
Daruka nodded and rushed to the chariot, taking up the
reins. Then, after ensuring that the brahmana had comfortable ascended the
chariot, Krsna followed suit. The chariot sped off into the moonlight night.
***
Balarama awoke by the slight commotion he had heard from
Krsna's chambers. He got out of his bed and grabbing his pestle, silently
walked towards the chamber. He pulled back the curtains and peered inside. The
chamber was empty.
Curious, he looked around and found a small piece of
parchment lying on a stand near Krsna's bed. Under torchlight, he read the
scribbled words that obviously belonged to Krsna:
[quote]
Dear Dau, Ravana still wants to marry Sita. I am going to
kidnap her.
[/quote]
Edited by Surya_krsnbhakt - 7 years ago
comment:
p_commentcount