! Hare Krishna !

RUKMINI MANGALAM PART 1

• HG Radheshyam Prabhu Jee
We call it Rukmini Mangalam. We call it. So, the purpose of why I am beginning these
type of classes I wanted to share with you in a few minutes. We are back in 95 to
probably 2003-2004, 7-8 years we used to have the Bhāgavatam study circles where we
used to finish some times 30-40 pages in one class where many devotees used to come
and probably, we used to finish 20-30 sections of Bhāgavatam very beautifully.

Studying Bhāgavatam with śradda cures the ills of the heart

So, within the pages of Bhāgavatam, itself it is mentioned what happens when one studies
Bhāgavatam. There is one verse it says.
yatredyante kathā mrishtās
trishnāyāh praśamo yatah
nirvairam yatra bhūteshu
nodvego yatra kaścana
[SB 4.30.35]

“One who develops eagerness to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it says that person

becomes free from envy, insecurity and competitive mentality.”

One who develops eagerness to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it says that person becomes
free from envy and envy, insecurity, competitive mentality. One becomes peaceful that
way and he becomes free from udvega also. nirvairam yatra bhūteshu- how one becomes
free from envy is also very beautifully explained. Imagine some body is lifting 80
pounds. Then you will want to beat him lifting 90 pounds. Some body is lifting 140
pounds. You may want to lift 150 pounds and that type of competition goes on in this
world between people. But Krishna lifts Govardhana hill and everybody gives up the
competitive mentality because there is no use competing with Krishna. And that is how
one gives up envy. See this is the beauty of hearing the pastimes of Krishna. Like Krishna
is dancing with the gopīs in rasa dance at the age of 8. In India, many people draw
Krishna as if He is 24 or 25. When Krishna danced with the gopīs what was His age? Just
8 years old. But at the age of 7, He lifted the Govardhana hill. But at the age of 5 years
“Śrila
and Prabhupāda
7 months said-
not even if somebody
6 years, want on
He danced to the
do hoods
rāsa dance with hundreds
of Kālīya nāg. So inand
the
thousands of gopīs then first they have to dance on the hoods of Kālīya. And while
doing so, they have to smile also. They cannot be in anxiety.”
Bhāgavatam, it is mentioned when Krishna was dancing on the hoods of Kālīya, Kālīya
had not 1 or 2 hoods. It had hundreds of hoods. And He was dancing on the top of those
heads of Kālīya moving from one head to another jumping and dancing, performing a
beautiful Bharata nātyam. You ask any young beautiful girl Bharata nātyam with all the
dress when she goes for ārangetram on a Dias, you ask her whether she would like to do
dance on the snake hoods because snake hoods are very slippery and they are also
constantly moving. Who can dance on such a moving platform and slippery platform and
Krishna dint have to bother about where I am going to keep my foot next. Not only that
while dancing very beautifully, He was also smiling. So Śrila Prabhupāda said- if
somebody want to do rāsa dance with hundreds and thousands of gopīs then first they
have to dance on the hoods of Kālīya. And while doing so, they have to smile also. They
cannot be in anxiety.

So, in this way, when we read the pastimes of Krishna by awakening our affection for
Krishna, attraction for Krishna and greatness of Krishna, sweetness of Krishna our heart
will become filled with the juice of Krishna Consciousness which will completely help us
to rise above the cut throat competitive mentality of this material world where.. and one
can experience deep peace and joy knowing well that the whole world is moving at the
God’s will and whatever I deserve everything is offered to me at the right time. So this is
one thing. nirvairam yatra bhūteshu he says. Then he says na udvego yatra kaścana.
udvega means anger, agitation. See somebody says something. It may slightly disturb us
or if somebody physically hurts us then we become agitated, then we become angry and
develop hatred. These are all of increasing degrees. People maintain vengeful attitude in
the mind and look at each other wanting to harm or harm the other person by harbouring
malice. So this kind of mentalities will be uprooted by hearing Krishna katha. It’s not that
one may never become angry. Even if you become angry, it will be very superficial
anger. It will not go deep into the heart because if the anger goes deep into heart that
becomes a disease also- psychological disease. If somebody has a psychological disease
of too much hatred, we should tell them to study Bhāgavatam. By studying Bhāgavatam,
na udvego yatra kaścana. See somebody is trying to chant Nāma Jap. But if they have
vengeful attitude they may think of such and such person and the chanting will be
spoiled. You know but if one is hearing Krishna katha, one’s heart will become like a
child, like innocent children, you see, they don’t have vengeance towards anybody. So
the beauty of studying Bhāgavatam sincerely with śradda is that it cures the ills of the
heart.

“If somebody has a psychological disease of too much hatred, we should tell them to
study Bhāgavatam.”
Glory of studying Bhāgavatam
So Parīkshit Mahārāj himself says the glory of studying Bhāgavatam.

yac-chrinvato 'paity aratir vitrishnā

sattvam ca śuddhyaty acirena pumsah
bhaktir harau tat-purushe ca sakhyam
tad eva hāram vada manyase cet
(SB 10.7.2)

“By hearing Śrimad Bhāgavatam the arati will go away.”

These are the benefits he is telling yat shrinvato apaity aratir- by hearing Śrimad
Bhāgavatam the arati will go away. Rati means attraction. Arati means if somebody is
hearing some class and they are going to sleep. But if they continue hearing again and
again that sleep will also go away. Arati will also go away he says. sattvam ca śuddhyaty.
Because the heart will be purified. When heart is unclean, you know, that is why we feel
sleepy. When the heart is unclean that is why we feel greed, anger, illusion, lust and all
these things. So, sattvam ca śuddhyaty the heart will be purified- he says. And acirena
pumsah- very quickly. And then he says bhaktir harau- for Lord Hari bhakti will be
awakened. Bhakti bhāvana will awaken which means studying Bhāgavatam will also help
in improving the quality of our chanting also. bhaktir harau tat-purushe ca sakhyam.
And, we will make friendship with the devotees of the Lord, those who are Krishna’s
devotees. So, these are all the benefits mentioned in hearing Śrimad Bhāgavatam.

“When heart is unclean, that is why we feel sleepy while hearing and we feel greed,
anger, illusion, lust and all these things.”

While here, we have to develop rati for Krishna

So, we all have taken to this path of Krishna Consciousness so naturally. We want to
awaken rati for Krishna, affection for Krishna. Because some times in the early stages of
spiritual life, we think Krishna Consciousness means, you know, I do some chanting, at
the end of my life I will go to the doors of Spiritual World and Krishna will open the door
with a key and I can go inside and relax in the easy chair or something. People think like
that. Spiritual life doesn’t work that way. While here we have to develop attraction for
Krishna. Otherwise what we will do there if we go there? Isn’t it? So, that attraction,
affection has to be developed while here. Just like, the parents are attracted to a child, like
a man and woman are attracted to each other that type of attraction has to awaken in our
heart. Only then, when that attraction awakens then only we can go to Spiritual World.
Isn’t it? Like, now when one boy had come here to our temple, he was asking- “what is
this? The pujari is offering the cloth. You know he is taking a chāmar and doing like this.
Doing different thing. What is this?” He asked. I said- this is ārati. So what we’ll
understand by ārati? Then I explained to him- pancha mahā bhūtam. You know
everything we are offering to Lord back. We have taken from Him, we are offering to
Him. But still he could not understand. But I told him a simple example- imagine you are
sitting in a park and the most awaited your girlfriend comes to the park and she has
perspiration on her face. She is saying- can you please give me kerchief. Will you not
give her? You’ll give her a kerchief or you take a fan and do this for her. Is it not true?
Ya. Why not? Why not? And, that way you can understand.

“My dear Lord Krishna! Let my attraction for you awaken in my heart”
This is the example Rūpa Goswāmi gives. Yuvatīnām yathā yūni yūnām ca yuvatau
yathā/ mano 'bhiramate tadvan mano me ramatām tvayi. He is telling- My dear Lord
Krishna! Just as a young boy is attracted to a young girl in this world and they become
mad for each other for some time. After marriage they will turn that attention to a child.
You will see that. But similarly, let my attraction for you awaken in my heart- he says.
We have such attraction. Like iron when it is covered by dirt and dust, when you throw it
from the top on a table like this, it will not even make a proper sound. It may make a
sound like that, it may make a sound. But you clean the mud and everything then it will
make the metallic sound. Is it not true? Similarly, we also... we don’t feel so much
attraction for Krishna at the moment because we become covered over by so many
impurities. But when those impurities are removed then that attraction can be awakened.
So, this way we want to read Bhāgavatam and reawaken our attraction for Krishna.

“We want to read Bhāgavatam and reawaken our attraction for Krishna.”
So this Chapter 52, 53, 54- There are 3 chapters in which we have this beautiful chapter
on Rukmini and her marriage with Krishna. So in this 52 nd Chapter you will find in the
beginning.. So you can now show the ślokas. So amazingly, the Chapter is Rukmini’s
message to Krishna but it begins with one special section text 5 to 14 in this Chapter 52
text 5 onwards. So it’s Krishna līla. It may appear human but it is transcendental. There
are 6 points we learn from here. This is from text No. 5 to 14. So we begin with text 5.

Om namo bhagavate väsudeväya. (Every one repeats)

“If one hears Bhāgavatam regularly, all that is troublesome to our heart will get
destroyed.”
So these 2 prayers which we say every morning- these verses give an assurance that if
one hears Bhāgavatam regularly, the result is nashta-prāyeshv abhadreshu [SB 1.2.18] all
the.. All that is troublesome to our heart will get destroyed. See what is troublesome to
our heart? Hankering for things which you do not have. Afraid of losing things which we
have. This kind of thing and also some exchanges of mental insults. So this kind of things
are troublesome to the heart. And, they will all be evaporated by hearing Śrimad
Bhāgavatam which brings us closer to the lotus feet of Krishna. And, then Prabhupāda
used to say- we don’t have a vague idea of God. But we have a clear cut idea of God.
And, then Prabhupāda quoted this verse- krishnāya vāsudevāya [SB 1.8.21] You know
Krishna is the son of Vasudev. Many Krishnas may be there in this world who are sons of
Vasudev and then it is said devakī-nandanāya ca [SB 1.8.21] He is son of Devaki also.
How many boys have you seen whose mother’s name is Devaki, father’s name is
Vasudev? In case you have seen anybody other than Krishna then he says nanda-gopa-
kumārāya [SB 1.8.21] he says later on He accepted Nanda Bābā and Yaśoda as foster
mother and father. And He is always surrounded by cows. He is pleasure giver to the
cows. nanda-gopa-kumārāya govindāya namo namah [SB 1.8.21] So whenever we hear
pastimes of Krishna in the beginning you always find Krishna’s greatness is explained
before explaining His sweetness. Because if sweetness is explained first we are likely to
take Krishna for granted. So Krishna’s greatness is explained. Let us go to the text No. 23
sorry text No. 5. This is Chapter 52. You all can repeat after me.

“Whenever we hear pastimes of Krishna- you always find Krishna’s greatness is

explained before explaining His sweetness. Because if sweetness is explained first,
we are likely to take Krishna for granted.”
bhagavān punar āvrajya
purīm yavana-veshtitām
hatvā mleccha-balam ninye
tadīyam dvārakām dhanam
[SB 10.52.5]
 Yaa.. Here it says Krishna defeated the yavana whose name was Kālayavana. And then
from here you find Lord returned to Mathura which was surrounded by Kālayavana and
his army. And He destroyed that army very easily. And then He loaded all the valuables
and everything, the ornaments and gold, silver everything in the bullock carts and
everything and chariots and everything they were supposed to be taken to Dvārakā.

Jarāsandha attacks Krishna for the 18th time

nīyamāne dhane gobhir

nribhiś cācyuta-coditaih
ājagāma jarāsandhas
trayo-vimśaty-anīka-pah
[SB 10.52.6]

See when this wealth was being carried at that time what happened? Jarāsandha appeared.
See this is another demon. Earlier Kālayavana appeared and you all know the previous
Chapter that Mucukunda upākhyān where Lord led Kālayavana into the Gupha,
Mucukunda Gupha and Kālayavana was finished. Then Mucukunda offered wonderful
prayers to Krishna and then Krishna came out of the Gupha and then now here He is
taking all valuables and moving and suddenly another Rākshasa appeared, Jarāsandha
appeared. This is not the first time he is appearing. Several times, 17 times he has been
defeated by Krishna. Now you may ask why Krishna is defeating him 17 times without
killing. As every time Krishna saw Jarāsandha coming with an army He would kill
everybody other than Jarāsandha, so that he can go and bring some more asuras with him.
See he was acting like an agent and bringing more and more asuras. Because if He will
finish him how will the other asuras come? So, Krishna used him as a tool to bring.
That’s why Krishna would finish everybody and send Jarāsandha away. So this is the 18 th
time. Jarāsandha is coming again. We can learn how to be hopeful in life from
Jarāsandha. (Laughing) He never gives up hope over and over. So in this way, Jarāsandha
is appearing with 23 akshauhinīs. You can imagine it’s a huge army. And here what
Krishna is doing you see.

Krishna, the Ranachora

 vilokya vega-rabhasam This is text No. 7.
vilokya vega-rabhasam
ripu-sainyasya mādhavau
manushya-ceshtām āpannau
rājan dudruvatur drutam
[SB 10.52.7]

Vilokya means to see, to glance upon. vilokya vega- rabhasam- He saw the fierce waves
of the enemy army 23 akshauhinī army- huge army coming. Ripu means enemy. ripu-
sainyasya mādhavau it is said. Mādhavau means plural. Who are the 2 mādhavās? We
have only heard of one Rādhā Mādhav in Mayapur. Who is the mādhavau? Mādhavau
means Krishna and Balarām. So when Krishna- Balarām saw the army of Jarāsandha,
what They did? manushya-ceshtām āpannau. This is the 1st point here. So I will tell you 6
points. The 1st point is manushya-ceshtām āpannau he says. They adapted a behavior like
a human being. Āpannau means to accept. Rājan, O king Parīkshit! He is telling to
Parīkshit. Śukadeva Gosvāmī is telling. dudruvatur drutam they ran away very quickly.
Drutam means quickly. Dudruvatur means run fastly. Run. So dudruvatur drutam. They
left the battle and they ran away. See in Bhagavad-gītā Krishna only said yuddhe ca api
palāyanam. A Kshatriya should never run away from battle field. But here He Himself is
running. So if somebody runs away from the battle field what would you understand? Ya.
People would call him a coward no? In those days when a warrior would go to a battle
and return to palace the queens would first open the window and ask him- show the arrow
where is it? Is it in the front or back? If arrow is in the front they will allow them entry.
Otherwise no entry. Go back. You cannot come if it is, if the arrow is in the back side
which is a sign of a coward. Is it not true? So, nobody would dare to run away from the
battle field if he is a great hero. Then why did Krishna- Balarām run away from there?
You see the Lord’s activities are often mysterious for the faithless. But for those who are
faithful all these great mysteries of His pastimes will be opened and revealed for them.
To understand why the Guru Parampara, Vaishnava sampradāy you will see that.

“You see the Lord’s activities are often mysterious for the faithless. But for those
who are faithful all these great mysteries of His pastimes will be opened and revealed
for them.”
Imagine once Tata gets 30-40 relatives to his home. Yearly once all the relatives come for
a gathering at home. So they want to have some fun for a week together. They eat
different type of dishes, they made tour around to different type of, you know, hill
stations and everything. So, at that time Tata has told them- today evening we are going
to have a special drama. You all should watch it. And all are watching drama. In that,
they are wondering who the actor are. So in that drama they see a beggar with tattered
clothes and disheveled hair and you know, crying tears with arms begging like this and
that moves everybody to tears and everybody is stunned who is this person and after the
drama is over, all are talking the best role was the beggar, beggar’s role. So how much it
really moved our heart seeing that beggar in the drama and then finally when Tata comes
back to sit with the audience asking which part of the drama you liked and then he
reveals the secret to them that beggar was me only. I only acted as a beggar just to please
all of you. So in this way, sometimes when somebody plays a role as having beard,
moustache everything you can’t even know who he is in the drama. Correct? Once you
open the mouth people find out this must be that fellow. Hearing the voice, otherwise it’s
difficult to say who is who. So now Tata- is he poverty stricken beggar, penniless
beggar? Or that he is taking the role of a beggar? Why is he taking the role of a beggar?
Haa.. Just to please his relatives and friends. So to touch their hearts and then when they
come to know that this is our man only and that really gives some great joy.
Similarly, Krishna for His devotees sometimes for their pleasure He performs this kind of
pastimes where He is running away from battle field. Everybody knows He need not run
away. 17 times He defeated Jarāsandha. And why should He run away 18 th time? Isn’t it?
So in this way, manushya-ceshtām āpannau it is said. Adapting the behavior of an
ordinary human being Krishna- Balarām- they ran away. When anybody else reads this
verse who is not a devotee they will get some suspicion. May be, you know, Krishna-
Balarām are afraid of the big army which Jarāsandha brought. If any of you have such a
doubt you can wait and watch the next few verses. Text No 8.

vihāya vittam pracuram

abhītau bhīru-bhīta-vat
padbhyām palāśābhyām
celatur bahu-yojanam
[SB 10.52.8]

See vihāya means to give up. vihāya vittam pracuram- lot of gold, silver, diamond
ornaments were there in those bullock carts. He gave it all up. vihāya vittam pracuram
and what He did? Abhītau- He was not fearful. Bhīru- coward. bhīta-vat- like a coward
who is very afraid He pretended like that. But actually He is abhītau. Abhītau means not
fearful. They both are not fearful but They pretended to be fearful. Just like when I was a
small kid.. Hey! How old are you? He is 11. May be I was still smaller, maybe I was
about 7 or so. So sometimes my father would keep the hand on the table like this and I
am supposed to pound the hand like this. So he would take away the hand. You know like
this he would take away the hand. But sometimes you know when I start crying he will
keep the hand, so I can hit him. Right. But several times when he wins, then I would raise
my hand like this, you know, you are tricking me like this. And he would pretend to be
fearful. Do you think father is fearful? Whether you would do like that he is not fearful.
But he is pretending to be fearful. Similarly, Krishna Balarām- what are They doing?
Abhītau- They are not fearful. But bhīru bhīta-vat so they are pretending to be fearful.
For what? For pleasing the devotees. When devotees are picturising in their mind Krishna
Balarām are running away, they have a good laughter. You just see these 2 fellows what
kind of amazing fellows They are? You know, Balarām actually is Lord Ananta. Actually
all the planets which have the Gurutva ākarshan with which all the planets are held that
original Śakti comes from Balarām only. He can hold all the universes on His hoods as
Ananta Śesa. So, who can make Him fearful? And Krishna is the source of that Balarām
also. How can He be fearful of anybody? So, They are just doing this drama. abhītau
bhīru-bhīta-vat is the second point. First one is manushya-ceshtām āpannau. 2nd one is
abhītau bhīru-bhīta-vat. And then the 3 rd point is here padbhyām. Padma means lotus.
padbhyām palāśābhyām. They both when They were running Their feet were pinkish like
lotus and very soft and tender. Although They were running in the Jungle, the both
brothers- Krishna- Balarām-They were running in the Jungle. So, as soon as we hear in
the Śastra lotus feet of somebody, that lotus feet means it’s Krishna’s only. Like our
Mucukunda is telling Krishna in the Gupha- my dear Lord! When I looked at
Kālayavana, I burnt him, my eyes could burn him down, now when I am looking at You,
my eyes have lost their tejas. I am not able to and you know, my eyes have lost their
shine. And Your body is so tender and delicate like a lotus and Your feet are also like a
lotus. And You are standing on the lotus. So Mucukunda prays like that. So that lotus feet
is Krishna’s. So that description is also something that proves that Krishna is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead here. padbhyām palāśābhyām and celatur bahu-
yojanam. Bahu-yojanam means long distance They ran. And very fastly also. dudruvatur
drutam- very fastly They ran. Ok when all of you think about it you are running very
fastly and that to from say here to Nigdi you run so far. So what would you observe in
yourself when you run so fast so long? You will become tired but also you will breathe
heavily no. Hhhh.. Hhhh.. Hhhh.. like that you breathe heavily and very fastly also. And
very tired you will be sweating also. And then what happened to Jarāsandha? We will see
in the next verse- 9.

palāyamānau tau drishtvā

 māgadhah prahasan balī
anvadhāvad rathānīkair
īśayor apramāna-vit
[SB 10.52.9]

See palāyamānau tau drishtvā. Tau means plural again. palāyamānau tau drishtvā-
Seeing that this two Lords running away fastly. prahasan balī. Hasan means laugh.
prahasan means laugh loudly Ha Ha Ha Ha… There was laughing the king at both of
them very and he was showing to all the soldiers just see these fellows and then he told
the soldiers come on everybody, board the chariot, we will chase after them and he ran
behind also. See if a soldier is running behind a running away soldier what do you call
him? A soldier is running away another soldier is running behind him to attack him. What
do you call? He is also counted as a coward. Because if somebody is running cowardly
you chase after him you become another coward also. You only can attack people who
are confronting you. But this fellow is chasing after thinking that Krishna Balarāma are
running, I will chase after Them. anvadhāvad rathānīkair- He took rathas and he ran. See
Krishna Balarāma are running bare foot and what should our Jarāsandha do? He also
should run bare foot no. But what is he taking and running? Chariot. Is it proper? If you
fight with Gadha, I should fight with Gadha. If you use sword, I should use sword. If you
use no weapons you are nirāyudha pāni, then I also would be without any weapons. But
he is not following the codes. Krishna- Balarām are running without any chariot and he is
taking a chariot and chasing behind. And then last line says the 4th point here īśayor. Īśa
means Supreme Lord. Īśayoh means plural. Both Krishna-Balarām are Supreme Lords.
apramāna-vit. vit means to know. Apramāna vit he could not estimate that these two
Personalities are God Themselves. Correct? Krishna- Balarām are none other than God
Themselves. Apramāna-vit- samething happened to Pūtana also.

-kamsena prahitā ghorā

pūtanā bāla-ghātinī
śiśūmś cacāra nighnantī
pura-grāma-vrajādishu
[SB 10.6.2]
When Pūtana, see pūta means pure, na means not. So, Pūtana means one who came with
no pure intention. She was actually a witch, could decorated herself like Lakshmi very
attractively. And there is vivid description Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī gives how beautiful
she looked with long flowing hair and her face like a moon, her eyes like lotus petals and
she had a shining disposition and she was wearing colourful dresses and jewellery and
everything. When she walked it appeared Lakshmi is entering into the Vraja and all the
Gopīs looked at her and thought may be Lakshmi has come in looking for her husband
Narayana who has come as Krishna. Thought like that. But then when she came she
entered the palace of Nanda Bhavan. And Yaśoda was keeping Krishna on her lap.
Seeing Pūtana she handed over Krishna to her. Yaśoda thought I cannot give love to my
child as much as she can give, how beautiful she looks. Because sometimes we will see in
India the child is lifted by many mothers. You have seen? Many times in India you will
find because of the intimacy in Indian families many people call the neighbors child and
keep on their lap also and they caress them, they feed them. Something it’s very common
in India not that people think of only their own child. So that’s why nobody mind that but
when she picked up and kept Krishna on her lap, same word is used- apramana vit. She
was not aware of who is this Person she is taking. And keeping the baby she thought He
is a baby. But this Baby has all the Brahmānda inside His belly. That type of baby. When
Krishna was dancing on Kālīya everybody was happy. They were all enjoying the sight
of Krishna’s dance except one person. Who is that? Why Kālīya was suffering? Because
that person who carries the Brahmānda in His belly, was dancing on his head. You can
imagine how much heavy the dance must be, thudding must be. So apramāna vit means it
is said she could not estimate the power of Krishna when she kept Krishna on her lap.
That’s what it is. Similar word is said here. Apramāna vit. So this fellow Jarāsandha did
not know who Krishna Balarām are. īśayor apramāna-vit. This is the 4th point which
confirms Krishna’s Supremacy.
10th Verse:
pradrutya dūram samśrāntau
tuńgam āruhatām girim
pravarshanākhyam bhagavān
nityadā yatra varshati
[SB 10.52.10]

See pradrutya dūram samśrāntau. After running a long distance both Krishna Balarām
are apparently tired. They are just as you have sweat you are tired and you are breathing
heavily. But immediately what They did? tuńgam āruhatām girim- They climbed a huge
mountain. So this itself is very contradictory. If you ran a long distance and are very
tired. Will you want to climb a mountain? Who will want to climb a mountain after
running a long distance? You will look for relaxing somewhere under a tree or
something. But these 2 fellows They climbed up the mountain very fastly. It is said and
the name of that mountain is Pravarshana mountain and Jarāsandha chased after Them
and then he found They climbed at the top and he cannot chase after Them anymore. So
he gave up. But not only he gave up, he wanted to somehow or other finish Krishna
Balarām. So what he did? He set fire to the whole mountain by putting oil all around and
he set the mountain on fire, so that the whole mountain will burn. Krishna Balarām will
be burnt to ashes. That was his idea.
See Text No. 12, Go to Text No. 12, Ok Text No 11 purport is important. Somebody can
read it. Text No. 11 purport. Take the mike, give the mike to him.
.
(A Devotee reads: Clearly we are observing one of the Supreme Lord's transcendental
pastimes. Although the Bhāgavatam states that the two Lords, Krishna and Balarāma,
were "exhausted," even in Their so-called exhausted state They were able to quickly
climb a high mountain and shortly thereafter jump off it to the ground. It would be
unwise and illogical to ignore the whole picture the sages are giving us here..)
Actually somehow the sound is not clear for me. For all of you is it clear? It’s clear. It’s
coming nicely? Yah.. Please go ahead.

“Clearly we are watching the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the midst of His
spiritual pastimes; we are not observing an ordinary human being.”
(Devotee continues to read:
and instead try to pick apart isolated descriptions. Clearly we are watching the Supreme
Personality of Godhead in the midst of His spiritual pastimes; we are not observing an
ordinary human being. Lord Krishna and Lord Balarāma were still quite young men when
this pastime took place, and one can easily see in these descriptions how They must have
been enjoying Themselves, eagerly fleeing from the somewhat ridiculous King
Jarāsandha, racing up a mountain, jumping off and totally befuddling the constantly
failing demon, who somehow or other never lost confidence in himself. Seen without
envy or quarrelsomeness, the Lord's pastimes are immensely entertaining.)
“Seen without envy or quarrelsomeness, the Lord's pastimes are immensely
entertaining.”
Yah.. So this is very beautiful purport. So although the two Lords Krishna and Balarām
They were apparently exhausted, even in that exhausted state, They could climb up such
a high mountain and then what They did? Text No. 12 says

tata utpatya tarasā

dahyamāna-tatād ubhau
daśaika-yojanāt tuńgān
nipetatur adho bhuvi
[SB 10.52.12]

See dasha eka-yojanāt tuńgān. An 11 yojanas which means almost 90 miles high from
that hight. daśaika-yojanāt means 90 miles high mountain. From there nipetatur- They
jumped off, adho means down, bhuvi means.. what is bhuvi? Bhuvi- the ground. From
there jumped off to the ground. Show that ppt no. Put that picture Krishna Balarām
jumping off. Ahh.. See this one. Like this, They jumped off. If somebody jumps off like
this what you think is likely to happen? Next somebody must have taken them to
orthopedic department, isn’t it, to repair their broken bones. Correct? But if you see
immediately see the next verse it says

alakshyamānau ripunā
sānugena yadūttamau
sva-puram punar āyātau
samudra-parikhām nripa
[SB 10.52.13]

See alakshyamānau ripunā- without being seen by the enemy Jarāsandha. sa anugena
yadūttamau- together along with Their followers They and the Yadus. Uttamau- the 2
excellent Lords. sva-puram punar āyātau- They came back to Their own place, Dvārakā-
it is said. So there is no mention of any fracture or anything. Isn’t it? No going to hospital
and how many months They were admitted. There is no information. Go back to the
picture. Krishna Balarām jumping- very beautiful scene. So, modern times they have this
Superman, Heeman, Sheeman, Batman all these. Isn’t it? So, they have this Bat man
“God does first and then man only imitates after that and that too his imitation is poor
imitation.”
jumping from one building to another and chipking that you know glewing themselves to
the building and then from that he would jump like a Bat man. So such kind of men are
only in- you find in the kind of movies for the children. Why children are fond of this
kind of things? Because the Supreme Lord has such super natural abilities. He can fly. He
can jump off and still not have fracture. Sometimes there is a whole movie on Superman.
Correct no? One Superman was acting in a movie. But in the course of acting, he is
supposed to stop a train, fastly moving train. Sometimes they use some tricks in making
this movies. But somehow he fractured his leg and he was truly in the hospital for 6
months. Then he had to go to orthopedic section. So Superman- people want to see some
Superman in this world- somebody doing extra ordinary activity because God has super
natural abilities. He can do such kind of things. But when you read about Batman or
Superman or Heeman and all these things, these are not purifying to the heart.

Like we have this Harry Potter now which is popular around the world. People read
volume after volume after volume of Harry Potter. So how this boy is being saved from
his uncle, from the different evil spirits send by the uncle and all that is described. They
have imitated the pastimes of Krishna because Krishna’s uncle is Kamsa and he was
sending Aghāsura, Bakāsura, Pūtana everybody. So, Harry Potter people have imitated
the same pastime. So, they want to imitate Krishna and make money. But the original
copies.. the original copies are all created by God only. Man only imitates. If you see that
man saw the anthill and then he designed the refrigerator after that based on that cooling
principle. Similarly, man saw the flying eagles, then he designed the aero plane shape,
aerodynamic shape. Similarly, you’ll find God did first everything else. God does first
and then man only imitates after that and that too his imitation is poor imitation.

“On one hand, the Lord enacts His pastimes in the way that entertains the devotees’
heart and increase their love for Him. At the same time, these pastimes purify the
heart of the devotees.”

So the pastimes of the Lord mentioned in the scriptures like Mahā Bhāratha, Rāmāyana,
Bhāgavatam - these pastimes are heard, these are purifying to the heart. On one hand, the
Lord enacts His pastimes in the way that entertains the devotees’ heart and increase their
love for Him. At the same time, these pastimes purify the heart of the devotees. And Lord
can do such kind of things and they are inimitable pastimes by anybody. If somebody
says I want to dance with gopīs, then you tell him to jump off from the Pravarshana
mountain- 90 miles high building- let us see. If you are alive, then we will think about
your dance. Is it not true? So people want to only imitate one side of the Lord, why not to
imitate completely? Why only imitate part of His pastime try the other pastime also. So,
in this way, it’s very beautiful this beautiful pastime which we read now.

“Why only imitate part of His pastime try the other pastime also.”
You had your hand up Rāma dās Prabhu. Yah..
Question: Prabhu Jee, you are mentioning that Lord Krishna every time left Jarāsandha so
that he can bring many more asuras. But in this particular pastime we see that Krishna
and Balarām.They didn’t kill asuras. So how do we appreciate this?
Answer: That is because He had another important business, to attend to Rukmini. That’s
why. That was more important than this one. See that is why I told you who is a person
who will leave the battle and go. This shows Krishna’s renunciation. One of the 6
opulences of Krishna is what? Renunciation. Yah. Like you know that is why the Lord’s
devotees are also like the Lord. Like when Rūpa Nārāyana came to Vrindāvan and said to
Rūpa Goswami, Sanātana Goswami- I am a dig-vijay pandit, either you defeat me in
debate or you give this patra, pramāna patra, you give me a certificate that you have been
defeated by me. So Rūpa Goswami, Sanātana Goswami thought why to waste time with
this fool, let us give him a letter. Take it. Ok, ok you are a great soul. You have defeated
us. Take it. Correct na? They dint care. They were so renounced. They dint think about
what will the people in the world think about us that we have given a letter to Rūpa
Nārāyan like this. They dint think like that. They were renounced. Similarly, Krishna also
when came to know Rukmini is sending a letter to Dvārakā now with a brāhmana and I
will have to go, to attend to fetch Rukmini which is coming in the next chapter. Next
Chapter. So, He walked out of the battle field very coolly not bothering about what will
the people in world say about me. But the devotees of the Lord know the Lord’s position.
So they celebrate Him as Ranchor Roy. When the Lord leaves the Rana Bhumi and goes
He is celebrated as Ranchor Roy. When anybody else runs, he will be called as a Coyor-
coward, coward big man. Correct no? When Lord steals butter, you know, He is
celebrated as Mākhan chor and if some thief comes and steals one of the chappals-
chappal chor , he will get a chappal beating also.
“When Lord steals butter, He is celebrated as Mākhan chor and if some thief comes
and steals one of the chappals- chappal chor , he will get a chappal beating also. ”

You know.. Prabhupāda says a police will remove the belt and give a whip to a thief. But
when Krishna steals butter, He is celebrated as Mākhan chor. Correct no? The reason is
ultimately everything belongs to Him only. See when a great person performs this type of
acts they are very endearing to the hearts of the relatives like I told you the Tata story.
Tata is not a beggar. But he can play the role of a beggar just to please his relatives, just
for fun. Similarly, Krishna can perform līlās like this and He is so renounced, He doesn’t
care for the public opinion. Devotees understand and He is proving also on the other
hand, incase non-devotees suspect His behavior, He jumps off from the mountain and
shows them I am not like you. Correct na? He is showing them. So that way anybody
who approaches His pastimes can easily get the doubts dispelled. One can understand
Krishna’s greatness.
Question: Prabhu Jee! One more thing. Regarding this Dvāraka, it is mentioned that all
the persons they were taking all the valuables to Dvāraka. Yah.. and also..)
Answer: You know this will happen in any battle. Whenever there is a battle between two
countries, the winning team gets all the valuables- the golden chariots and all the
ornaments and everything after the battle is over. This is typical in Bhāgavatam. You will
find in many other sections also. Ya.
Question: We hear that Krishna when He created Dvāraka then He shifted everybody
there.
Yes.
Q: so but here we see that..
A: This is Mathura. From Mathura to Dvāraka They are going. Yes. Previous verse, it is
said, He was in Mathura.
Q: So this is what I want to understand. Because so Krishna shifted everybody during the
night itself.
A: Ya. Correct. These are Yadus who are with Him in the battle in Mathura, who are all
with Krishna when Kālayavana was attacking that time. So following Kālayavana is
Jarāsandha- next team has come to fight.
Ok.
So, now we will go to text No. 14
so 'pi dagdhāv iti mrishā
manvāno bala-keśavau
balam ākrishya su-mahan
magadhān māgadho yayau
[SB 10.52.14]
Sah api dagdhāh- he thought. He thought both these two fellows Krishna, Balarām have
become dagdha means- They got burnt away. He thought like that. Iti mrishā. mrishā
means he thought in illusion that They are burnt. Manvāno bala-keśavau. manvāno
means he thought that Bala and Keshava. Bala is Balarām and Keshava is Krishna. balam
ākrishya su-mahan magadhān māgadho yayau- So he withdrew his 23 akshauhinī senas
and then he returned back to Magadha Kingdom. So he went back. He thought that I have
finished Them. He was thinking foolishly. Now we are entering into the pastime here.
The next verse Text No. 15. Balarām got married to Raivati. That is already discussed, is
over. Now Text No. 16 we are going.
Although ātmā rām and āpta kām, why does the Supreme Lord marry Rukmini?

bhagavān api govinda

upayeme kurūdvaha
vaidarbhīm bhīshmaka-sutām
śriyo mātrām svayam-vare
śriyo mātrām svayam-vare
[SB 10.52.16]

“Krishna is God, He is ātmā rām, self-satisfied in Himself. He is āpta kām- He has no

desires to be fulfilled like us.”
See bhagavān api- although Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead even He
married it is said. upayeme. Upayeme means to marry. Why that word bhagavān api is
used? Somebody may have a question. You know Krishna is God, He is ātmā rām, self-
satisfied in Himself. He is āpta kām- He has no desires to be fulfilled like us. In this
world why do people marry? To become happy. Correct no? They think that right now
my heart is very hard, I am feeling some loneliness, emptiness. If I marry, if a woman
comes, may be she will fill up my life with some joy, with her company I may feel more
happy and then we both will give birth to a child and that child will speak some broken
words and I’ll feel more happiness. So man generally makes a plan like that in the mind.
So in this way and also there is another reason why a person marry not only due to
loneliness, there are some desires also in one’s mind. In young age, in teenage, one has
many dreams like one has a dream job, one has a dream girl, one has a dream
opportunity, so many dreams they harbor. So there are many dream desires in one’s heart
because we are ordinary living entities. We may have such dream desires and one may
want to fulfill those dreams. But as far as Lord Krishna is concerned He has no such
dreams. He is the source of everything. He has no desires. He is āpta kām and He is ātmā
rām also. He is always satisfied and then why He wants to marry? We say Krishna is
Shadaishwarya Pūrna. We say no. That is why bhagavan api- he says. The word api
means even though Krishna is God- he says. And He is also called Govinda. The word is
used. You know that famous verse. All of you repeat.

jayati jayati devo devakī-nandano 'sau

jayati jayati krishno vrishni-vamśa-pradīpah
jayati jayati megha-śyāmalah komalāńgo
jayati jayati prithvī-bhāra-nāśo mukundah
[CC Madhya 13.78]

Very beautiful verse. jayati jayati devo devakī-nandano 'sau- that Krishna is the son of
Devaki and Vasudev. And then He is the vrishni-vamśa-pradīpah- He is like the lamp
light of for the Vrishni vamsh. He has made the Vrishna vamsh shine by His appearance
in that Vrishni vamsh. And also megha-śyāmalah komalāńgo. His every limb of His body
is tender like a lotus flower and His colour is bluish. So He is shyāmala varna. jayati
jayati megha-śyāmalah komalāńgo. And then he says jayati jayati prithvī-bhāra-nāśo
mukundah. The prithvī is bearing, facing a lot of bhāra. Bhāra means burden. What is that
burden? Is it due to the big mountains and oceans? The burden is due to the atheists,
those who are against God. Asuras. So He has come to remove the prithvī-bhāra-nāśo- it
is said to remove the burden of the earth. So He has come to destroy the asuras. Like we
say
paritrānāya sādhūnām
vināśāya ca dushkritām
[Bg 4.8]

“One meaning of the word Govinda is one who gives pleasure to cows, another
meaning is one who gives pleasure to the senses of His devotees and another meaning
is one who gives pleasure to the earth.”
So, that is why He is called Govinda. See the Govinda has many meanings. One meaning
of the word Govinda is one who gives pleasure to cows, another meaning of the word
Govinda is one who gives pleasure to the senses of His devotees, like devotees feel great
joy. When you eat Prasad, you all feel joy. So that’s why Krishna is called Govinda. With
His Prasadam He is putting you in bliss or similarly when you see the darśan of Śrī
Rādhā Vrindāvanchandra, you feel joy. So He gives great joy to our eyes. When you hear
a beautiful Hare Krishna kīrtan and dancing, you feel joy. So He is called Govinda.
Govinda means one who gives great pleasure to the hearts of His devotees also. Another
meaning of the word Govinda means one who gives pleasure to the earth. Why? Because
He is removing the burden on the earth. That’s one reason. There is the more intimate
reason by putting His lotus feet on earth He gives great pleasure to earth also. There is a
beautiful verse in the 1st canto of Bhāgavatam.
kā vā saheta viraham purushottamasya
premāvaloka-rucira-smita-valgu-jalpaih
[SB 1.16.35]
She is telling Bhūmi, Bhū māta- She is telling, my dear Lord! kā vā saheta viraham-
how can I tolerate Your separation now? O Purushottama! She is telling premāvaloka-
Your loving glances and Your beautiful smiles. premāvaloka-rucira-smita-valgu-jalpaih-
and Your sweet words that You spoke to all the devotees in Dvāraka and Vrindāvan- the
whole world is ringing with the sound. And she says that You are putting Your lotus feet
on the earth in Dvāraka also and in Vrindāvan also. When You are in Dvāraka
Vrindāvanvāsis will cry, when You are in Vrindāvan Dvārakavāsis will cry. But I never
cried because Your foot will always be on Bhūmi either here or there. But now that You
are leaving to Spiritual World. I am also feeling viraha like that she is telling. Because
Bhūmi is also one of the consorts of the Lord. Bhū Devi and Sri Devi- you know they
both are Lord’s consorts. So, in this way He gives pleasure to Bhūmi also. So that is why
it is said bhagavan api Govindah. Upayeme- that Lord got married to Rukmini.

“Lord’s marriage is also a pastime. He marries simply for pastime.”

Now, why does the Lord marry? Lord’s marriage is also a pastime. He marries simply for
pastime. Just like, Krishna went to deliver all the Kings who were kept in the jail by
Jarāsandha. When He defeated Jarāsandha, He liberated all those Kings and then those
Kings were very happy. They were all suffering for years together. Now they all went
back and became Kings in their own places. Then Krishna opened a jail and delivered
how many girls? 16000 of them. When they all came out then Krishna said now you are
all liberated. Now go back to your parents. They were saying we cannot go back. Why?
Because nobody will marry us. We have been already brought by this evil minded
Rakshasa, Jarāsandha. Now nobody will marry us. Then Krishna said what I can do for
you. They said better you marry us. Krishna said no problem, immediately accepted. Can
anybody accept 16000 girls ready to marry you? Some body can marry also. But
Prabhupāda says if you have to satisfy all of them even if you are going to be with them
one one day also you will get to meet one of them in how many days? 16000 divided by
400. How much it comes to? One day in how many years? Ya.. In 40 years once. That
means you can meet your wife only twice in your life time. Only 2 days you can meet
your wife. But Krishna dint have this trouble. He married all of them, no problem. Not
only marrying is a problem but who will give them sari and golden ornaments, silver.
You have to give them one one flat also. Not flat bungalow, means palace. Is n’t it? Can
you imagine giving each of them a building, giving them sari, giving them ornaments,
giving them Prasād and earning a salary and giving them your company also. Is it
humanly possible? Ya.. When Krishna does it you can just fold your palms and say only
Lord can do that- you say. And what Krishna would do? Each wife in Dvāraka thought
that Krishna is only with me and in fact the wives thought that He is very henpecked
husband. He never leaves my palace. They were going and telling other queens I don’t
know this fellow is so attached to me. He stays only with me, He never comes to all of
you. And Krishna wouldn’t say a reply. He would just smile as if He is staying only with
them. But do you think He was only with one queen? He had expanded Himself into each
of the palaces.
When Nārada Muni went to Dvāraka, Krishna would enter a palace and Krishna was
playing some dice game with Rukminī and immediately He got up from the bench and
offered namaskār to Nārada and said O great sage! Welcome, Welcome. Please take your
seat. He would wash his feet, He would speak to him and then Nārada would go to the
second palace. There Krishna was in the swing with another queen. They both were
swinging. And when Krishna saw, immediately He got up and came, O great sage
Nārada! Please come and take your seat. Nārada said are.. He looks like the same fellow.
He is again inviting me here. Isn’t it? Third palace he went. Krishna was sitting on the
back of a horse and practicing sword fighting going in the horse. Again He got up the
horse and offered namaskār and welcomed Nārada there. The 4 th palace Krishna was
doing some yajña. In the 5th palace He was serving food to the brāhmanas. He was
serving. In the 6th palace He was giving away charity- gold and silver and cows.
Whenever Nārada entered He would behave as if He is meeting for the first time. And
after finishing the 16000 palaces Nārada dint speak a word to anybody. He was so
stunned. And last palace when he went, Nārada couldn’t keep himself controlled. He
said, my dear Lord! Every time I come, You receive me as if You are meeting me for first
time. It’s very amazing, Your behavior. And Krishna laughed and said- see Nārada! I am
the propounder of religious principles, I am the practitioner of religious principles. And I
am the enforcer of religious principles. In this way, I myself live and show the world how
an ideal Grihastha should live. So in each of the palace I show the same behavior to you,
so that the queens, servants and everybody will learn how to receive a tapasvi or how to
receive a devotee of the Lord. So then Nārada said now my dear Lord! I will go in the
Bhū loka now and tell everybody what all I saw. Such beautiful sight. So, in this way,
this is Krishna’s pastime.
“Krishna said- Nārada! I am the propounder of religious principles, I am the
practitioner of religious principles. And I am the enforcer of religious principles. In
this way, I myself live and show the world how an ideal Grihastha should live. ”
See some souls love Krishna so intensely. They want to serve Him. So Krishna accepts
them as His queens and they can be in the abhimān that I am queen of Krishna. Some
living beings want to become friend of Krishna. Some living entity wants to become a
cow of Krishna and be caressed by Krishna. Some living entity wants to become mother
of Krishna and show vatsalya. So whichever soul wants to become whatever in serving
Krishna, Krishna allows them. Ok! You want to see me as a child, I will come as a child.
You want to see me as a lover, I will become your lover. You want to see me as a friend,
then you be Arjuna and I’ll be Krishna. You see.. So, in this way the Lord is the Supreme
reciprocator of love like in rāsa dance.

“The Lord is the Supreme reciprocator of love.”

One amazing part you will see in rāsa dance- when one gopī is closing eyes and doing a
hand like this, Krishna is also doing like this. You saw that? And another gopī is doing
like this, Krishna is also doing. If she is doing like this, He will also do like that. You
have seen that? Another gopī is clapping hands and He is also turning around and
clapping hands. Any of you have seen rāsa dance picture? Whatever the gopīs doing
Krishna is doing the same thing. This is called reciprocation. Isn’t it? He is reciprocating
with everybody in the way they want to serve Him. You want to serve me as a mother, I
will become your child. I’ll become such a naughty and expert child that I’ll thoroughly
please your heart. So, in this way Krishna pleases His devotees who have practiced
devotional service for millions of years and now they became purified souls. In the pure
stage, He gives Himself like this. So that’s why it’s said bhagavān api Govinda upayeme
kurūdvaha- he says.
“He is reciprocating with everybody in the way they want to serve Him. In the pure
stage, He gives Himself.”

And then the word vaidarbhīm. She is called Vaidarbhi, why? She was born in Vidarbha,
in Maharashtra only, in Amarāvati, you know close to Nāgpur, 3 hours from Nāgpur is
Vidarbha. So, she is called Vaidarbhi. bhīshmaka-sutām Her father’s name was
Bhishmaka and who was she? śriyo mātrām svayam-vare. O that’s very important. śriyo
mātrām means She was the topmost prakasha of Śrīmati Rādhā Rāni. Ya, She is Shakti of
Krishna. She is actually like Lord is Śaktiman and She is Supreme Śakti. It is not that she
is marrying Him for the first time. In the Spiritual world, Rukmini is one of the topmost
of 5 queens of Krishna. But when she comes here she is born in another place and
Krishna is in Dvāraka. Then, Their marriage is reenacted in this world. This is the beauty
of the Lord’s pastimes. See the Śakti and Śaktiman are for some time separated causing
pain to the hearts of all devotees like Sīta was taken to Lanka, Rām was searching for her.
Then, They are reunited in pattābhishek again- like that. So, They are brought back
together. Devotees feel great joy to keep Them on the āsana and decorate Them, shower
flowers upon Them and celebrate festival for Them. So this kind of Śakti and Śaktiman
coming together is actually the central theme of all the scriptures.

You will find, if you remember we were seeing this beautiful Bālāji drama. See Krishna
only comes as Śrīnivās and then you know His mother Yaśoda become Vakulā Devi. One
day when He was sitting in His house, Śrīnivās suddenly He heard the sound of elephant.
The elephants made a sound and then He told His mother may be some elephant is
roaring and He heard some female sounds screaming also. So He came out because that
Padmāvati along with her associates she had gone to the Jungle to see the Vana śobha. So
when she was seeing suddenly the elephant came and all the sakhīs and Padmāvati they
all became frightened. So when Śrīnivās comes there, He drove over the elephant and the
elephant went in another direction and Padmāvati’s friends they all thanked Him for
doing that. But the story dint end there. Then He was looking at Padmāvati and
Padmāvati was looking at Him and all the sakhīs understood. Hey! This young boy,
young man, He is looking at our princess. They immediately told Him- Hey! What are
You staring at our princess? We are going to go back. And then they said. Then He
continued to speak. They said if you speak any more we will take stones and pelt stones
at You. So Śrīnivās told them o sakhīs! You are all protectors of Padmāvati. So whatever
you are saying is appropriate behavior but as far as the language of love is concerned,
you have no information. Since I have fallen in love with this girl Padmāvati, I have lost
control of my mind- He said. That’s why I am eager to get married to her. And then they
spoke some strong words to Him and they took away Padmāvati with them. But then
Padmāvati was again looking at Him. See this kind of pastimes they deeply touch the
hearts of devotees. Why because Padmāvati and Lord Śrīnivās- They are eternal
associates. They are eternally connected. This is not some romantic affairs between boy
and a girl we see in this world. If a boy and girl look at each other, become attracted- love
at first sight. Then many times marriage also doesn’t take place. Parents stop it. But
sometimes, even the marriage takes place when they die, you know, the boy may go to
America and the girl may go to Australia. Next life they get separated. Although they say
janam janam ke sāthi and all people say but the souls go to different places.

“Padmāvati and Lord Śrīnivās- They are eternal associates. They are eternally
connected. This is not some romantic affairs between boy and a girl we see in this
world.”
The example is given in the Bhāgavatam.
yathā prayānti samyānti
sroto-vegena bālukāh
samyujyante viyujyante
tathā kālena dehinah
[SB 6.15.3]
“Śaktiman and Śakti- Their connection is eternal. When They come here, that love is
very natural love and that romance is real romance.”
It is said- in a river, sometimes the leaves fall from a tree. They are all come together.
They go to some distance and then they separate never to meet again. Similarly, in one
family, one is called mother soul, father soul, son soul, daughter soul, dog soul. In one
family, 4- 5 of them come together and then they move for 70, 80 or 100 years and they
get separated. You go your way. Your mother goes her way, father goes his way.
Everybody is carrying the prārabdha karma. They all are born in different places. Correct
no? Whereas the Śaktiman and Śakti- Their connection is eternal. When They come here
that love is very natural love and that romance is real romance, if you see. So, Śrīnivās
looking at Padmāvati and the love awakening in the heart is a spiritual phenomenon and
Their relationship is completely pure unlike the relationship of the material world.

“Śrīnivās looking at Padmāvati and the love awakening in the heart is a spiritual
phenomenon and Their relationship is completely pure unlike the relationship of the
material world.”
Like you hear about Lord Rāmachandra. He is entering Mithila along with Vishvāmitra
and Lakshman on either side. Rām is walking. Just a day before marriage. And then
suddenly Lord Rām’s eyes turned to the side of a garden and in that garden mother Sīta-
she is plucking flowers with her associates. They are all laughing, joking and they are all
plucking the flowers. Suddenly, Sīta also turned to the Road’s side and Their eyes meet
each other Rām and Sīta for a moment. Ha.. Mother Sīta is like stunned. Oh.. Who is this
Personality? She doesn’t know. Actually she knows. But that’s the beauty of these
pastimes that when the Lord comes in this world, He behaves just like any other human
being in order to increase the sweetness of pastime.

“The Lord behaves just like any other human being in order to increase the sweetness
of pastime.”
Otherwise imagine if Rām looked at Sīta and said- Hey Sīta! You and Me are eternally
associated only. Come with Me now. I will put you in my pocket and take you now. Then
there is no charm in the pastime. Isn’t it? So Lord Rām is also stunned seeing her but
Lord Rām is thinking who is this beautiful young girl? I don’t know why but when I see
her it is so charming and then maybe this is Sīta. He is guessing. And then Sīta’s friends
are asking Sīta- Hey Sīta! Where are you seeing? And then Sīta turns away her face and
goes away. In her heart of hearts, Lord Rām’s beautiful form is imprinted. Similarly, in
Rām’s heart, Sīta’s smiling beautiful face like a moon it’s imprinted. And Lord Rām is
thinking and then Rām cannot say anything to anybody. How can I tell anything to
Lakshman and pās me Guru Jee Vishvāmitra also. Lord Rām doesn’t say anything. He
just keeps in His heart. And when He goes to the sabhā, He doesn’t know what the sabha
“These pastimes
is. Vishvāmitra of the
takes Him andLord
tellsmarrying
Him thatisyou
very deartotobreak
have the hearts of devotees.
the bow and marry” Sīta.
And when Sīta takes the garland and comes in the crowd of big big Kings with big
moustaches, she is searching- He is that person there whom I saw in the garden in the
morning. She is praying very strongly, O Lord! Let me let that person.. she is searching
sure enough Rām is sitting there. Then she is praying let nobody be able to break the bow
except that one person and that’s what happens also. So in this way these pastimes of the
Lord marrying is very dear to the . hearts of devotees.

If you see the 5 queens of Krishna married to each other, how they got married to
Krishna. Satyā is telling how she got married. Kālindi is telling how she got married.
Like that different different queens are saying. So this is very similar to devotees sharing
with each other how I came to Krishna Consciousness. So you all share with your friends,
how you like, how many of you are eager to know somebody how they came to KC. And
this is very similar to that. Queens are all telling- do you know how Krishna got me?
How Krishna brought me back to His lotus feet. So they are all, that whole chapter is like
that in Bhāgavatam. We will read. So similarly, even the living entities rejoice in sharing
how they got again connected to their eternal master Krishna, what to speak of the
queens. They are all nitya sidda parikar. They are all very intimate associates of the Lord,
like Rukmini is the universal mother. Rukmini and Krishna- They are the original Śakti
and Śaktiman. So one should know that marriage of These Personalities is not ordinary
marriage. In fact, the marriage of boys and girls in this world is actually done to some
small degree following in the footsteps of Rukmini, Krishna marriage. That is the original
copy of the marriage. In this world, the living entities are also alert to marry although one
living being is in male body and one is in female body and the marriage is done as a
temporary varnaśrama principle. But eternally we are all one jāti only. What jāti? Prakriti
Jāti. Nobody is purusha in this world. Krishna is the only Purusha. So all souls- for them
Krishna is the Pati. Sātvatām pati. So in this way this verse ends here śriyo mātrām
svayam-vare. So here he is saying like this bhagavan api Govindah upayeme kurūdvaha.
Ya.. Let’s go to text No. 19. Ok text No 18.

“Nobody is purusha in this world. Krishna is the only Purusha. So all souls- for them
Krishna is the Pati. Sātvatām pati.”

The Supreme Lord married Rukminī in the Rākshasa style

Text No 18 translation it says King Parīkshit said: The Supreme Lord married Rukminī,
the beautiful-faced daughter of Bhīshmaka, in the Rākshasa style — or so I have heard.
What is this Rākshasa style marriage? We may have rākshasena vidhānena upayema iti
śrutam- he says. So Rākshasa style doesn’t mean somebody becomes a Rākshasa or a
Rākshasa took away somebody. It’s not like that. Rākshasa style means a King would
come to a certain place where the girl is going to svayamvara or something. He can.. Of
course the very first condition is the girl should want to marry the man. If she doesn’t
want to marry the man, nobody will take her away. Similarly, the man also should be
eager to marry her. That is also another condition. Now the Kshatriya would come, take
her and put her in the chariot and look around-is there anybody who wants to confront me
and who were willing to confront he would fight them, then defeat them, perish them off.
Often there would be no murder in such kind of things. Sometimes soften exchange of
weapons and fighting will happen, but sometimes killing may also happen, if the fight is
fierce. And then he would go away. This is called Rākshasa style marriage.
There are more than 7 types of marriages. Gāndharva marriage. Like you know,
Gāndharva marriage is love marriage but how the love marriages take place that is also a
great science. In the vedic times, if you see.. Rishyanta is going in the jungle. Suddenly
he has seen Shakuntala. I mean he is going somewhere, his head is turning around and
seeing her in the bushes and he is developing attraction for her and he is closing his eyes
and meditating on his ancestors, his great grandfather, grandfather, father everybody. I
come in a pure lineage, pure family. How I can look at a woman and say that I want to
marry her. She has to be a Kshatrāni. She cannot be a brāhmanic girl but this Shakuntala
is wearing a dress which makes her look like a sādvi. Sādvi means like a saintly girl. She
looks like a brāhmana’s girl, you see, a brāhmana girl and how can my mind became
attracted to her? I come in such a Vamsh by which we will never look at any woman with
a desire to enjoy because we see every woman as a mother but if my mind is attracted to
her she has to be a Kshatriyā’s girl and then what he said is happened to be true. She was
whose daughter? Vishvāmitra’s daughter because she was born to Vishvāmitra and
Menaka. Can you imagine? This also purity of love marriages. Can you imagine?
Nowadays when people talk of love marriage- anybody can run away with anybody. But
Rishyanta’s love was of course it was He also thought of his ancestors even while falling
in love. So this is called Gāndharva marriage.
Like for example, Devahūti is getting married to Kardama Muni. The first person who
thought about that marriage possibility was Devahūti only because Devahūti heard from
Nārada Muni in the court about the glories of Kardama Muni. So, immediately attraction
came in her heart and Prabhupāda says in those days when a girl wants to marry a boy,
she won’t go to the boy and both of them will run away. They won’t do that. The girl
would go to the great grandmother or grandmother or somebody like that and go and say
that- that particular boy I am very attracted. Then the grandmother will tell her don’t
worry. I will do the needful now, you keep quiet. Then grandmother would take her
horoscope, take the boy’s horoscope, make a match. When the match happens, she will
call her son and say my dear son! I have seen a very good match for your daughter. See
this and the father will say really ma? You have seen? Thank you very much and father
will doesn’t know anything. After that immediately the marriage will happen. The only
two people know about it is who? The girl and the grandmother. Only they two know
about it. So this was all done very decently in the vedic times. And in case, the
grandmother saw the match, it was not matching properly, she will call the granddaughter
and say dekho. It’s not matching. Keep quiet. Forget about him. Now you can marry
somebody else because your attraction is very superficial mental attraction. Superficially
you are attracted, when you marry you will cry. Don’t marry him- she would tell. And the
story would end there. So in this way, Devahūti fell in love but she dint have a
grandmother because her mother and father were the first human beings created by
Brahma. No grandmother. Isn’t it? Of course she can go to the Brahma Ji, grandfather
and Saraswati. She dint go. Instead, she told her mother Shata Rūpa. Then Shata Rūpa
told Svayambhuva manu. Svayambhuva Manu was a very noble great King. He said if
daughter is happy when marrying him, let us check. So they went to the jungle. And then
there was a talk and Kardama Muni said if you want me to marry her I will take sannyas
as soon as I give her a son, he said. And then when heard Svayambhuva Manu was
shocked. He turned to Shata Rūpa. What you say? Because a husband would never make
a decision without consulting with wife and Shata Rūpa looked at who? Devahūti. My
dear daughter are you ready for this? This fellow is putting a big condition and Devahūti
was determined. She said go ahead, no problem. She told mother. Then Shata Rūpa said
go ahead, no problem. This is the system of marriage, if you see. Although Devahuti
loved Kardama Muni, this is the way love marriage was executed if you see in the vedic
times. So, even though 7 types of marriage have their respective rules and regulations to
be followed. So, this is called Rākshasa style marriage. rākshasena vidhānena.
See text No.19. So Parīkshit is asking, My lord, I wish to hear how the immeasurably
powerful Lord Krishna took away His bride while defeating such kings as Māgadha and
Sālva. Please read the purport, just 3 line purport. Read it. Text No 19 purport. No, No.
Mike is coming here.

( Devotee reads: We should not think that Śrī Krishna was actually afraid of Jarāsandha.
In the very next chapter we will find that Śrī Krishna easily defeats Jarāsandha and his
soldiers. Thus we should never doubt the supreme prowess of Lord Krishna.)

Ya.. Correct. That’s why the pastime we saw Krishna- Balarām jumping off Pravarshana
mountain.

“We should never doubt the supreme prowess of Lord Krishna.”

Glory of Krishna katha
Text No. 20 talks about the glory of Krishna katha.

brahman krishna-kathāh punyā

mādhvīr loka-malāpahāh
ko nu tripyeta śrinvānah
śruta-jño nitya-nūtanāh
[SB 10.52.20]

“By hearing the Krishna katha- It increases our piety, spiritual piety.”

Ya. He is telling, O brāhmana! Krishna katha. By hearing the Krishna katha what
happens? It’s punyā. It increases our piety, spiritual piety. Mādhvīr- it is very sweet also
to hear Krishna katha. Loka- mala apahāh- the contamination in the whole world can be
removed by the pastimes of Krishna. So when Krishna performs romantic activities by
hearing it, our Chitta becomes śudda. Whereas if you hear about the romance of some
cinema actors and actresses, our chitta becomes aśudda, impure. Correct no?

“When Krishna performs romantic activities- by hearing it, our Chitta becomes
śudda, whereas if you hear about the romance of some cinema actors and actresses,
our chitta becomes aśudda, impure.”
Like in America, one cinema actress married 27 times and changed her partners. Out of
that 4 times she married the same man, 4 different times also. So now who- there are so
many newspapers you know giving information about this NEWS means north, east,
“People
west, south.generally
From 4 buy the newspaper,
directions they bringread
theitnews.
and sell it away,meaning
Another whereasof Bhāgavatam-
newspaper is
you put flowers and you keep it in Pūja room, every day you take it and
NEW along with that they attach the ‘S’ also. So, is it new? If it is so new, where read it. This
do you
find a newspaperisafter a read between
difference on the day? It goes tovsrubbish.
the scriptures ” into shops. It
It is thrown
the newspaper.
becomes stale. It has no value- newspapers. So, people generally buy the newspaper and
get some money and sell it away. Whereas Bhāgavatam you put flowers and you keep it
in Pūja room, every day you take it and read it. It’s not like newspaper. You read it and
throw it away. Isn’t it? So this is difference between the scriptures vs the newspaper.

That’s why he says here nitya-nūtanāh, the word he is using. nūtan means new, nitya-
nūtanāh- the Krishna katha is ever fresh. Every day it is fresh. You will see. See this has
a deeper purport also. If a devotee is sincerely practicing spiritual life, that devotee will
never get tired in devotional service. The enthusiasm, the impetus for chanting and
hearing and Harinam sankīrtan and rendering seva will go on increasing for a devotee. If
the devotees KC is sincerely practiced, it will be ever fresh and when will it become
boring, stale, tired and people seeking the neck out of the window and looking for
something else to do other than KC. That means one’s practice is not done on a spiritual
platform.

“Nitya-nūtanāh- the Krishna katha is ever fresh. Every day it is fresh.”

“If a devotee is sincerely practicing spiritual life, that devotee will never get tired in
devotional service.”
For example you cut the branch of a tree and put it here, bring it here and keep. Within 3-
4 days it will dry up because it is cut off from the tree. But the same branch if it is in the
tree, it will always be fresh. Similarly, one who is connected to Krishna through
devotional service he will find devotional service ever fresh, nitya-nūtanāh. But one
whose devotional service is cut off from Krishna and it’s simply a cosmetic. When
religion becomes a cosmetic show simply to show others that I am also a pious, religious
person that becomes very dry over a period of time. Clear no? So that’s why he says here
śruta-jño means one who is hearing the topic with enthusiasm, one is listening. So these
are the benefits he is telling. Glory of Krishna katha. Ya. Ok now Parīkshit has requested
can you please tell me about this Krishna- Rukmini marriage.

“When religion becomes a cosmetic show simply to show others that I am also a
pious, religious person that becomes very dry over a period of time.”
So he is beginning here.

śrī-bādarāyanir uvāca
rājāsīd bhīshmako nāma
vidarbhādhipatir mahān
tasya pancābhavan putrāh
kanyaikā ca varānanā
[SB 10.52.21]

You see. There is a great King whose name was Bhīshmaka. He was ruling Vidarbha. He
had 5 sons- pancha pancābhavan putrāh. He had 5 sons and 1 daughter of lovely
countenance. In next verse 22, you will find the word rukma repeating several times.

rukmy agrajo rukmaratho

rukmabāhur anantarah
rukmakeśo rukmamālī
rukminy eshā svasā satī
[SB 10.52.22]

Why the word rukma rukma here? They were all having fair colour- all of them. So they
were 4. First born person’s name was Rukmi. Agrajah- first born, and then Rukma ratha,
Rukma bahu, Rukma kesha, Rukma mali- these are the 4 brothers following him. Rukma
ratha, Rukma bahu and Rukma kesha, Rukma mali. So 1+4 totally 5 brothers and
rukminy eshā svasā- she was a sister of those 5 of them. Satī- she was of saintly
character. Rukmini.

One has to ensure that hearing is happening regularly and attentively, to awaken
attraction for Krishna
 sopaśrutya mukundasya
rūpa-vīrya-guna-śriyah
grihāgatair gīyamānās
tam mene sadriśam patim
[SB 10.52.23]

“Mukunda means that Lord who makes even mukti appear insignificant.”
Ya.. Sā means she, Sā upaśrutya- she had heard before. About whom? Mukundasya- she
had heard about the glorious pastimes of Lord Mukunda. Mukunda means that Lord who
makes even mukti appear insignificant. Mukti ko bhi kunchit karnevale ko Mukunda
bolte hai. So in this way, Lord Mukunda’s glory she heard- rūpa-vīrya-guna-śriyah- she
heard about Krishna’s form- how He looks like, vīrya means His power prowess, guna-
His qualities, śriyah- His opulences- about these things she heard. From whom? From
Nārada who would come to the court and describe. In this way, she has been hearing
regularly. See in those days great sages like Nārada would travel across the globe talking
the pastimes. As soon as, Krishna lifts Govardhana hill the whole world will get the
news. He will go around and speaks the glory through poetry and talks and how Krishna
killed Aghāsur, Bakāsur, Pūtana everything. Nārada would travel around and distribute
the news and how Krishna performs sweet pastimes in Vraj. So she was hearing about
Krishna. grihāgatair gīyamānāh. So as the Nārada travels from one place to another he
would keep on singing. tam mene sadriśam patim. At that time she made up, she decided
that I will accept Him as my husband. He would be a perfect husband for her. Ya. By
hearing the beauty, prowess, transcendental character and opulence of Mukunda from
visitors like Nārada to the palace who sang His praises, Rukminī decided that He would
be the perfect husband for her. Ya, you see.. In those days not only Nārada and
Vaishnavas would discuss even Jarāsandha, Kamsa, Śiśupāl they also would discuss
about Krishna. Sometimes they may have 3-4 hours meeting also. In this way they also
would talk about Krishna. But how was that talk concluding. They would say- bahut
sundar to hai lekin badā badmāsh hai. They would say like that- aray us se savadhan
rahna padega. They would say that because Krishna is very attractive, so opulent, so they
even had a suspicion that Krishna may marry away Rukmini and go away. So they talked
about Krishna out of desire to kill Him- asuras, all these Rākshasas. Whereas Nārada and
Vaishnavas would talk about Krishna to praise Him. Please read the purport. Small
purport is that. Ya.
(Devotee reads: Hare Krishna! The word sadriśam indicates that Rukminī and Śrī Krishna
had similar qualities and thus were naturally attracted to each other. King Bhīshmaka was
a pious man, and therefore many spiritually advanced persons must have visited his
palace. These saintly persons undoubtedly preached openly about the glories of Śrī
Krishna.)

“Sā upaśrutya mukundasya- simply by hearing we will be able to awaken a similar

attraction for Krishna. That assurance is given.”

So one lesson we learn is sā upaśrutya mukundasya- simply by hearing about Krishna her
desire to marry Krishna awakened in her heart. So all of us also, we hear about Krishna,
simply by hearing we will be able to awaken a similar attraction for Krishna. That
assurance is given. Like if you see, Prahlād Mahārāja never saw his Guru also Nārada,
when he was in the womb of his mother. But he only, one sense was really attentive.
Which was this? Ears. Simply by hearing about Narayana he developed a great affection
for Him. So the hearing sense should be very active especially, in the path of Vaishnava
life style. If somebody wants to sit and hear, you can hear. If you want to stand and hear,
you can hear. You can lie down and hear also. But one has to ensure that hearing is
happening. Similarly, sometimes we travel in the train, we sit in the berth and chant.
Some people stand and chant in train. Otherwise if you sit, you will go to sleep. Isn’t it?
So in Bhakti yoga, the posture and all are not so important. But hearing is the most
“The hearing
important sense should
thing. That’s why somebe very activejag
devotees especially,
and chantin the
also.path
Butofthe
Vaishnava life
most important
thing is hearing the.. It’sOne
style. saidhas
apāvritair
to ensurekarna randhrair.
that hearing It is said” that ear should be
is happening.
wide open and one should be very attentive.

“In Bhakti yoga, the posture and all are not so important. But hearing is the most
important thing.”
Now to be attentive we need the help of mind also. Why? Say for example, somebody
sitting in the class and peeping through the window and somebody is bowling and
somebody is going to bat now. You have seen like this. He kitna accha bowling kiya?
Very good and then he again look at the teacher and then you see how did the fellow bat?
Did he put a sixer or it was an ordinary batting. So sometimes the students keep seeing
like this in between the class. You will find that physically present, mentally absent. We
say no because the mentally absent means body is present, ear is also present in the class
only but the mind is outside. Correct no? Which means we need the help of the mind to
hear also. Simply by bringing the ear is not enough, we need the help of the mind. In fact
sometimes if our mind is else where your eyes may be open but you are not seeing
anything. Say for example, what am I seeing? I am seeing the light. But I may not be
seeing the light at all, if my mind is elsewhere. How many of you understand it? Correct
no? Ya.Seeing is not seeing, dhyāyato is seeing. See Krishna doesn’t say a word pashya.
He said dhyāyato vishayān pumsah [Bg 2.62]. He says. Then sangha happens. Otherwise
no pashyato vishayān pumsah. No. Simply seeing is not seeing. Seeing with the mind is
seeing. That’s why we need the help of the mind to hear also. One has to keep the mind
and we have to connect the senses to the mind. If you want to see something then mind is
also available then only we can do dhyān, similarly, you want to hear something with the
ear, connect the mind then only you can hear. So help of the mind is required.

“Simply seeing is not seeing, seeing with the mind is seeing. Krishna said- dhyāyato
vishayān pumsah [Bg 2.62], not pashyato vishayān pumsah.”
So sa upaśrutya- she has attentively heard from the great saintly people coming and that
hearing itself awoke attraction in her heart. So you will find all over Bhāgavatam this is
mentioned śrinvatah sraddayā nityam- one should hear every day about Krishna,
nritaśca- grasp, sa ceshtitam – by our own endeavor- it is said. You know what is said
the example is given in Bhāgavatam. Vitānāmiva he says. Vitānāmiva means just like a
man likes to hear the affairs of a woman. Like that, one should have eagerness to hear
about Bhāgavatam he says. This example is given not by me, it is Śukadeva Gosvāmī is
giving to Parīkshit elsewhere, in another place.

“Vitānāmiva means just like a man likes to hear the affairs of a woman. Like that,
one should have eagerness to hear about Bhāgavatam.”
Like for example, in some villages you will find if something has happened between a
man and woman, people sometimes gather and they do some gossip. Kyaa hogaya iske
beech me uske beech me kuch ho gayaa, sunaa ham ne and everybody immediately ear
will be like that. Hhaa.. You have seen that very very attentive. And sometimes, some
group of people are speaking. People will be keeping their ear and trying to listen and
grasp it from a distance only. You see for gossip there is lot of attraction. Correct no? See
when you go to offices, companies also people talk about two things- one is man-woman
relationship, another one is money. How to escape income tax and how to multiply
money- this is one talk. Similarly another topic is about man woman relationship. You
find like that. So for such kind of things there is eagerness and Śukadeva Gosvāmī tells-
he is saying that eagerness should come in Krishna katha. Like that he is telling. If one
can repose their attraction in Krishna then one will awaken attraction for Krishna. Like
that he is saying. It is in another place.

“If one can repose their attraction in Krishna then one will awaken attraction for
Krishna.”
Wonderful qualities of Rukminī
tām buddhi-lakshanaudārya-
rūpa-śīla-gunāśrayām
krishnaś ca sadriśīm bhāryām
samudvodhum mano dadhe
[SB 10.52.24]

You see in the previous verse rūpa-guna-śriyah all that were said no about Krishna’s.
rūpa-vīrya-guna-śriyah. Krishna has the most beautiful form and He is a personification
of beauty and vīrya means His prowess is so great. He killed so many demons with His
hand itself. And similarly His qualities also and His opulences also. Similarly here it is
said she was not ordinary either. Rukmini tām buddhi-lakshana audārya rūpa-śīla-guna
like that āśrayām. She was also a repository. Lord Krishna knew that Rukmini possessed
buddhi which means intelligence.

“One of the Padma purāna verses says- Krishna has 24 markings in His hands. Many
others like other avatārās will have 16 or 12 or 8.”
You see auspicious bodily markings- lakshana audārya. Just like in Krishna’s hands and
souls of His feet, there are markings. Anybody claims to be God you should catch them
by their hands and check. Prabhu show both the hands. If in both the hands lakshanas are
there then only you should accept him as a God. I was recently reading in one of the
Padma purāna verses says Krishna has 24 markings in His hands. Many others like other
avatārās will have 16 or 12 or 8. Krishna has how many? 24 markings. Both the hands
also and both the souls of His feet also. So like Krishna had markings, Rukmini also had
markings, he is saying, in her limbs of her body also. And then she also had rūpa- beauty
which will be described later at another place and she also had śīla. Śīla means respect
for the superiors, friendliness with equals, sympathy for the younger ones and a general
respect for all living beings and specific type of intimate love and respect for very elderly
people. This is called śīlata. Śīlata is an internal quality, quality of the heart. So she had
such quality. That is one quality of Rādhā Rāni. It’s called as She likes Vridda seva.
Vridda seva means service to the old. She is very fond of that. They said Vridda sevika.
Similarly, here also, she had all the good qualities- śīla, guna qualities āśrayām. She was
the repository of all these good qualities, Rukmini also. krishnaś ca sadriśīm bhāryām.

“Śīla means respect for the superiors, friendliness with equals, sympathy for the
younger ones and a general respect for all living beings and specific type of intimate
She was a perfect match to Krishna. samudvodhum mano dadhe. Krishna also had
thought that Krishna also made up His mind to marry her.

What is the meaning of this verse? You see sometimes in marriage you find the match is
not perfect externally at least. Like the wife is taller than the husband sometimes. Ideally
the wife is supposed to be shorter than the husband. Ideally speaking.. husband is like
this, wife is like this. Similarly, sometimes one is very fat, another one is very black or
sometimes one has a very beautiful like wife is like Lakshmi, husband is like a rat or
something or sometimes husband is like you know ājanu bāhu- you know tall and looking
like Lord Narayana very nicely and you ask where is your wife. And she is looking like a
servant maid and running inside and outside the house and you don’t know it is his wife
because sometimes matches don’t happen properly. Similarly, sometimes the qualities
don’t match. Husband is very very sādhu type and wife will be like she is doing tāndava
and sometimes wife is very sādhu type but the husband is you know doing tāndava.
Correct no? So the qualities don’t match sometimes. It’s very rare to find. There are 5
matches between Sīta and Rām. It’s like Their age, Their beauty, then qualities there are
5 things mentioned in Ramayana. So, here if you see, the match of Krishna and Rukmini-
They were perfect match as if They are made for each other as you say. Similarly, every
jīvatma and Krishna- They are made for each other actually because the jīvatma also has
the qualities which make him fit to marry Krishna. How? Like Krishna is sat cit ānanda,
we are also sat cit ānanda. And Krishna is Purusha and we are Prakriti. So very good
match. Because Prakriti and Purusha only can marry. So the jīva is very fit to accept
Krishna as a Nath, as a master, that is the meaning. So, just as Rukmini wanted to marry
Krishna. Even all of us- we should want to accept Krishna as our master.

“Every jīvatma and Krishna- They are made for each other.”
Now somebody may say, Prabhuji! Why have to accept Krishna as a master? Can’t I only
be master? And that is why we are here in this world because of that desire only. In this
world, we have come. We all have somebody to please like you know as soon as we are
born“weLove
aremeans
ownedrendering service we
by the mother, without
haveany motivation,
to please withoutThen
the mother. any interruption,
when the father
comes then you have to please non-stop
the father.
goMother ”
introduces
on serving. you to the father. Parents
think that he is my son, he has to please me. Later on when one is married then wife says
all these years you have been with your mother, now you have to also hear what I want to
say also. Sometimes if there is mother-in-law daughter-in-law problem, daughter-in-law
will say come, let us go to London. Somehow she will take him away. Then he will
become owned by the wife. Then he may become owned by company who may make
him to work 16-18 hours sometimes. He is owned by somebody. Everybody is struggling
hard to please somebody in this world. We all have a boss surely to please. If you don’t
please the boss, you don’t get promotion in the company. Is it not true? But all these
intermediate bosses whom we surrender to before Krishna often times this relationship
with bosses is not very pleasant, pleasurable. We do because we have to do. Ya. Anybody
can say I am rendering service in the company. In India, people say service. But when
salary stops service also will stop. Whereas Krishna is the only boss whom we want to
serve selflessly. So gopīs are saying ashalka dāsika. We are all ashalka dāsika, we don’t
take monthly package. We don’t get pay check at the end of the month. Gopīs say we
want to serve You without accepting any remuneration from You. This is love. Love
means rendering service without any motivation, without any interruption, non-stop go
on serving.

So, just as Rukmini is praying to Krishna accept me as Your Bhārya like that we also
should develop this same aspiration to accept Krishna as the master. If you see Arjuna, he
went to Dwaraka and told Krishna I only want You whereas Duryodhana wanted
Nārāyana sena(?) So because Arjuna chose Krishna, Krishna became his charioteer.
Rukmini chose Krishna, Krishna accepted her as a wife. Similarly every one of us have
to, in our own hearts, choose Krishna. Then only He’ll become our master, otherwise not.
So in this way it is said she had all the wonderful qualities. So we will recite 2 more
verses and we will conclude. And we’ll continue in the next class.

“Every one of us have to, in our own hearts, choose Krishna. Then only He’ll
become our master, otherwise not.”

Protest mind’s schemes through ears

bandhūnām icchatām dātum
krishnāya bhaginīm nripa
tato nivārya krishna-dvid
rukmī caidyam amanyata
[SB 10.52.25]
Ya. See bandhūnām icchatām datum- all the relatives like for example, the father
Bhīshmaka and the 4 brothers also they all desired that let Rukmini be married to
Krishna. But there was only one fellow in the family, the eldest of the brothers. What was
his name? Rukmi. So he was a Krishna dvit. Krishna dvit means he was envious of
Krishna. So he dint want Krishna to marry Rukmini. He wanted Śiśupāl to marry.
caidyam amanyata- He told everybody. I know what to do with Rukmini, I will give her
in marriage to Śiśupāl. All of you just keep quiet. So like this he took the lead and he
pressed aside everyone else’s opinion. You see when Uttānapād retired from his position
he in his heart had a desire that my son Dhruva has become mature and he has a very
high character, noble character. I would wish to see him becoming King. But he dint
desire on his own. He called all the ministers, checked with them. So ministers all of
them agreed also. Then he saw that all the people have developed fondness for Dhruva
also. They are very fond of Dhruva. So having observed the nature of the people and
having taken agreement of the ministers then he finalized Dhruva as the next King, the
successor King. Correct no? So this goes to show although he was King he was
autonomous, he was independent, he could have enforced such a rule that amongst that
two I want to make only Dhruva as the King. But he took the consent of others also if you
see like that. In the case of Rukmi, he is not taking the consent of his brothers nor he is
taking the consent of father and mother and he is deciding on his own. And most
importantly the consent of whom? Rukmini. She is the one going to live with her husband
and he is brushing aside her opinions. He knew very well that Rukmini is interested in
Krishna. But he wanted to force her to marry Śiśupāl- like that it is said. He is a Krishna-
dvit. See the purport there is one line- Rukmī abused his position as elder brother and
acted with impure motives. So the ācharyās have given a very deep meaning to this
pastime. You see the father is compared to the intelligence, Bhīshmaka and the five sons
who are there you know leave with Rukmi the top there are four sons- the next four sons
-those four and Rukmini-the fifth one- these five are compared to five senses. So one
āchārya has given a very beautiful analogy. So the intelligence is the master, Bhīshmaka
is like the intelligence. Here in the next verse it’s coming. So we can read that and we can
conclude this.

tad avetyāsitāpāńgī
vaidarbhī durmanā bhriśam
vicintyāptam dvijam kañcit
krishnāya prāhinod drutam
[SB 10.52.26]

“The mind always wants to associate with envy. When the mind associates with envy
then it becomes anti- Krishna.”
Ya. tad avetyā avetyāsitāpāńgī So that Vaidarbhi or dark eyed Vaidarbhi was aware of
this plan. From the corners of her eyes she took a note what is going on in the palace.
That Śiśupāl is compared to envy and Rukmi is compared to mind. The mind always
wants to associate with envy. When the mind associates with envy then it becomes anti
Krishna. Correct no? So Rukmi made friendship with Śiśupāl. So he wanted to give his
sister in marriage to Śiśupāl. So it’s like mind making friendship with envy and the below
4 brothers and Rukmini- they are all compared to the 5 senses below the mind and the
mind“becomes
Sometimes all our
master senses
no? When may run is
mind towards mayaitbut
the master canif mislead
ears havethe
heard Krishna
senses. So now
what happened? The kathafour brothers we
attentively, told oknever
will eldergive
brother,
heart toif māya. ” to give her in
you want
marriage to Śiśupāl, then you may, if that’s what pleases you. And father also accepted
Bhīshmaka. Sometimes the mind can cheat the intelligence also. So Rukmi cheated
Bhīshmaka also and his four brothers also and Rukmini was the only one who was very
unhappy with the whole thing and Rukmini represents the ears amongst the five senses
because sa upaśrutyaa. This goes to show an interesting phenomenon. Sometimes all our
senses may run towards maya but if ears have heard Krishna katha attentively, we will
never give heart to māya. That’s the meaning.

Although four brothers nodded the head and Rukmi already made up mind to associate
with envy or Śiśupāl. And even intelligence was bewildered. Still because if hearing is
very sharp and attentive, then one will never give heart to māya. He says. That’s the
meaning of this wonderful pastime. That’s why it is said here tad avetyāsitā- she became
aware of the mind’s schemes that is Rukmi’s schemes. Durmanā – she was very upset.
That means as jīvātmas we should become upset. When we see that our mind is wanting
to sell us off to māya, we should protest. No, I am not ready to be sold to māya. Durmanā
,

“When we see that our mind is wanting to sell us off to māya, we should protest.”
vicintyāptam dvijam kañcit. Immediately she gone to one brāhmana who was a very
confidential associate. She requested here is I am going to write a letter, go and give it to
Krishna. So getting the brāhmana is equivalent to getting the Guru in our lives. Guru is
the confidential associate of Krishna. So we should give our heart written down on paper
to Guru and Guru will submit it to Krishna. And Krishna will come to marry us and take
us back to Godhead. That’s the meaning of this. And then krishnāya prāhinod drutam-
she told do it urgently. Immediately she took an action without delay. So four words are
very important in this verse 26. Avetyā means she was aware of Rukmi’s schemes,
durmanā means she was upset and she developed a deep desire that somehow I have to
get married to Krishna only. I am not going to allow this to happen. And āptam dvijam.
āptam means to obtain. Obtain comes from āptam. Sanskrit word āptam means in
English word it became obtain. āptam dvijam she immediately arranged to call one
brāhmana. You show the picture na. that. No, no before this. One more. The qualities of
Krishna and Rukmini were there. Show that one. This will come in the next when we will
discuss in the next class ya. So in this way before this before this. ya. The brāhmana has
gone to Krishna giving letter now which we will study in the next talk. So in this way she
identified a trustworthy brāhmana and wrote a letter and drutam- very urgently she
arranged to send it, send the brāhmana to Krishna. This way she made an arrangement to
get Krishna as her Lord in her life. So we will continue this.

“We should give our heart written down on paper to Guru and Guru will submit it to
Krishna. And Krishna will come to marry us and take us back to Godhead. ”
So, two sections we have finished today. One is about Krishna Balarām jumping off from
the Pravarshana hill showing Krishna’s super human activities. Secondly, Rukmini’s
qualities and Rukmini as Lakshmi and Rukmini and Krishna marrying- bhagavan api
upayeme Lord Krishna bhagavān api Govinda upayeme kurūdvaha he says. So Lord
Krishna making a plan to marry Rukmini and meaning behind it and analogy that
ācharyās are given us to understand- between intelligence as the father and Rukmi as the
mind and four brothers and Rukmini as the five senses with Rukmini the ear. So this
analogy is given for us to understand and love between Śaktiman and Śakti these things
we discussed. So next time when we meet we will discuss about the letter that brāhmana
carried to Krishna, dealing between brāhmana and Krishna and then the content of the
letter- that also we will discuss next time. Those two we will finish in the next meeting. I
am planning to finish it in about 3 sittings. These 3 chapters’ very beautiful chapters.
Krishna bhagavān ki Jai! Rukmini Krishna ki Jai! Grantharāj Śrimad Bhāgavatam ki Jai.
Now I have another important global conference, I have to rush now. If any of you had
any questions you can write a chit and give to Antardweep Prabhu. When I come back
next class, I will answer. I am planning to do this monthly once on a Sunday morning
8:30 to 10:30. Same timing only. So, if it don’t clashes with any other program I will
stick to this timing once in a month and it is a free program, optional program i.e. no
compulsion and no attendance also. Whoever has time if you wish to come you are
welcome. Thank you. Hare Krishna !