Krsna Kidnaps Rukmini 361

All the princes and visitors who came to Kundina for the marriage were
assembled outside the temple to see Rukmini. The princes were especially
very eager to see her because they all actually thought that they would
have Rukmini as their wife. Struck with wonder upon seeing Rukmini,
they thought that she was specially manufactured by the Creator to
bewilder all the great chivalrous princes. Her body was well-constructed,
the middle portion being thin. She had green eyes, pink lips, and a beauti-
ful face which was enhanced by her scattered hair and by different kinds
of earrings. Around her feet she wore jeweled lockets. The bodily luster
and beauty of Rukmini appeared as if painted by an artist perfectly
presenting beauty following the description of great poets. The breast of
Rukmint? is described as being a little bit high, indicating that she was just
a youth not more than thirteen or fourteen years old. Her beauty was spe-
cifically intended to attract the attention of Krsna. Although the princes
gazed upon her beautiful features, she was not at all proud. Her eyes moved
restlessly, and when she smiled very simply, like an innocent girl, her teeth
appeared just like lotus flowers. Expecting Krsna to take her away at any
moment, she proceeded very slowly towards her home. Her legs moved
just like a full-grown swan, and her ankle bells tinkled very mildly.

As already explained, the great chivalrous princes who assembled there
were so overwhelmed by Rukmini’s beauty that they almost became
unconscious. Full of lust, they hopelessly desired Rukmini’s hand, com-
paring their own beauty with hers. Srimati Rukmini, however, was not
interested in any of them; in her heart she was simply expecting Krsna to
come and carry her away. As she was adjusting the ornaments on her left-
hand finger, she happened to look upon the princes and suddenly saw that
Krsna was present amongst them. Although Rukmini had never before seen
Krsna, she was always thinking of Him; thus she had no difficulty in
recognizing Him amongst the princely order. Krsna, not being concerned
with the other princes, immediately took the opportunity of placing
Rukmini on His chariot, marked by a flag bearing an image of Garuda. He
then proceeded slowly, without fear, taking away Rukmini exactly as the
lion takes the deer from the midst of the jackals. Meanwhile Balarama
appeared on the scene with the soldiers of the Yadu dynasty.

. Jarasandha, who had many times experienced defeat by Krsna, began
to roar: “How is this? Krsna is taking Rukmini away from us without
any opposition! What is the use in our being chivalrous fighters with
arrows? My dear princes, just look! We are losing our reputation by
this action. It is just like the jackal taking away the booty from the lion.”

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Fifty-second Chapter of
Krsna, “Krsna Kidnaps Rukmini.”
