366 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

strength of the Yadus broke up Rukmi’s forces. Yet when the com-
manders of the Yadu dynasty came back to see Krsna, they were all
surprised to see the condition of Rukmi. Lord Balarama became especially
compassionate for His sister-in-law, who was newly married to His brother.
In order to please Rukmini, Balarama personally untied Rukmi, and in
order to further please her, Balarama, as the elder brother of Krsna, spoke
some words of chastisement. “Krsna, Your action is not at all satisfactory,”
He said. “This is an abomination very much contrary to our family tra-
dition! To cut someone’s hair and shave his moustache and beard is almost
comparable to killing him. Whatever Rukmi might have been, he is now
our brother-in-law, a relative of our family, and You should not have put
him in such a condition.”

After this, in order to pacify her, Lord Balarama said to Rukmini, “‘You
shouldnot be sorry because your brother has been made very odd-looking.
Everyone suffers or enjoys the results of his own actions.” Lord Balarama
wanted to impress upon Rukmini that she should not have been sorry for
the consequences suffered by her brother due to his actions. There was no
need of being too affectionate toward such a brother. Lord Balarama again
turned toward Krsna and said, “My dear Krsna, a relative, even though he
commits such a blunder and deserves to be killed, should be excused. For
when such a relative is conscious of his own fault, that consciousness itself
is like death. Therefore, there is no need in killing him.” He again turned
toward Rukmini and informed her that the current duty of the ksatriya in
the human society is so fixed that, according to the principles of fighting,
one’s own brother may become an enemy on the opposite side. A ksatriya
does not hesitate to kill his own brother. In other words, Lord Balarama
wanted to instruct Rukmini that Rukmi and Krsna were right in not show-
ing mercy to each other in the fighting, despite the family consideration
that they happened to be brothers-in-law. Sri Balarama continued to inform
Rukmini that ksatriyas are typical emblems of the materialistic way of life;
they become puffed-up whenever there is a question of material acquisition.
Therefore, when there is a fight between two belligerent ksatriyas on
account of kingdom, land, wealth, women, prestige or power, they try to
put one another into the most abominable condition. Balarama instructed
Rukmini that her affection toward her brother Rukmi, who had created
enmity with so many persons, was a perverse consideration befitting an
ordinary materialistic person. Her brother’s character was not at all ador-
able, considering his treatment toward other friends, and yet Rukmini, as
an ordinary woman, was so affectionate toward him. He was not fit to be
her brother, and still Rukmini was lenient toward him.
