|| Sri Rukmini Sandeshaha ||

(Sri rukminiS meSSage)

By Sri Rukmini ji
As in Srimath Bhagavatham

Authors Notes
1. For those who are not aware of the context of this prayer, a brief synopsis Rukmini is the daughter
of the king of Vidharbha, Bhishmaka. When the time for her to get married comes near, her father seeks
the opinion of his sons. Knowing Rukminis devotion to the Lord of Dwaraka, Sri Krishna, all her brothers
except the eldest, Rukmi, propose that Rukminis wishes be fulfilled. However, Rukmi, who is a vassal to
the powerful emperor Jarasandha, wishes to give Rukmini in marriage to Shishupala. This would, Rukmi
feels, strengthen the relationship of Vidharbha with the emperor, as Jarasandha considers Shishupala
like his own son. When Rukmini hears of this, she decides to send a letter to Sri Krishna, asking him to
rescue her and also her desire to marry him. God works in mysterious ways. It so happens a Brahmin,
who is visiting Vidharbha, meets her. Rukmini requests the Brahmin to carry her message in a letter to
the Lord of Dwaraka.
2. This prayer is equally applicable to all those, who wish to escape the cycle of endless births, by
obtaining the grace of Lord Krishna.

1. Verse: Sri Rukminihi uvacha

Shrutva gunaan bhuvanasundara shrunvatam te
Nirvishya karna vivaraihi harato-anga-taapam
Roopam drusham drushim-mataam-akhila-artha-laabham
Tvay-achyutaa-vishati chittam-patrapam me
Word for word: The resplendent one-adorned-with-gold said
Hearing qualities world-beautiful-one-making to-be-listened-to your
Not-having-object sense-organs flaws destroys body pains
Form having-seen seeing desirous-of every desire benefit
Your one-who-is-steadfast enter consciousness in-letter me
Summary: Rukmini (one who is adorned with golden ornaments, one who is the luster of all things
golden) says that hearing the (divine) qualities (of the Lord) makes listening to (the sounds of) this world
beautiful. It (hearing His qualities) removes the flaws of the senses (vaasanaa) by removing their
(material) objects (vishay), thereby destroying the pains of the body. To see, or even the desire to see,
His (divine) form is the culmination of all desires. O Achyuta (one who is steadfast in His oath of
protecting devotees), my consciousness seeks refuge in you, through this letter (mail, message) of mine.

2. Verse: ka tvaa mukunda mahati kula-sheela-roopa

Vidya-vayo-dravina-dhamabhihi-atma-tulyam
Dhiraa patim kulavati na vruneeta kanya
Kaale nrusimha nara-loka-manobhiraamam
Word for word: what-is your one-who-is-a-treasure greatness class virtue beauty-of-form
Knowledge age wealth abode-also your-self comparable
Steadfast lord of-good-class not choose girl
In-time man-lion man world desires
Summary: O Mukunda (treasure of His devotees), your greatness in class, virtue, beauty, knowledge,
youth, wealth and residence is not comparable (with anything seen in this material world and hence
difficult to comprehend). Which girl of good class will not choose you, who are steadfast, as her Lord?

You, once upon a time, took the form of the half-human half-lion, to fulfill the desires of those who
reside in the world of humans (an excellent example of your steadfast promise to protect).

3. Verse: tanme bhavaan khalu vrutah pati-ranga jaayam

Aatma-arpitascha bhavatoh-atra vibho vidhehi
Maa veera-bhaagam-bhimarshatu cha-idya aaraada
Go-maa-yuvan-mrugapater-balim-ambujaaksha
Word for word: absorbed-in your-self certainly tendencies Lord play becomes
Self surrendered becomes here all-pervading without-body
My brave portion battles also like-this worshipped
Cow mother young animals-lord-of sacrifice one-with-lotus-like-eyes
Summary: O Lord! May my tendencies (sensual pursuits) become steadily absorbed in your (divine)
plays. You are all-pervading and those who surrender to you thus, lose consciousness of their physical
body. The bravery in me rebels against this, like a young cow, which after being worshipped, is given to a
lion, as a sacrifice.
4. Verse: poorta-ishta-datta-niyama-vrata-deva-vipra
Gur-vachana-adibhihir-alam bhagavan pareshaha
Aaraadhitoh yadi gadaa-agraja yetya paanim
Gruhanaatu me na dama-ghosha-sutaa-dayo-anye
Word for word: fulfill one-desirous given disciplined vows demi-gods the-wise
Preceptor instructions-of others steady God supreme-Lord
Worships if mace first-born that hands
Accepts me not subdued voice daughter compassion others
Summary: One believes that discipline, (pious) vows, instructions of demi-gods, the wise, preceptor and
other such who are as steady (minded), grant us what we desire. However, it is God, the supreme Lord,
who is above and beyond all these, who fulfills all these desires. If these hands have worshipped Him
(Lord Krishna) whose elder brother holds the mace (Lord Balarama), I will not accept the compassion of
anyone else (other than Lord Krishnas), though the daughter of the one (King Bhishmaka, Sri Rukminis
father) whose voice (choice) has been subdued (by Sri Rukminis elder brother Rukmi).

5. Verse: shvo bhaavini tvam-jitod-vahane vidarbhaan

Guptaha sametya prutana-patibhihi paritaha
Nirmathya cha-yad-yama-gada-indra-balam prasahaya
Maam raakshasa-ena vidhinood-vaha veerya-shulkaam
Word for word: tomorrow what-may-happen yourself win coming-in-vehicle vidharbha
In-secret along-with army lord-of surrounded-by
By-force also that god-of-death mace first-among strength conquer
Myself demon like-this procedure carry brave fees
Summary: Please come to Vidharbha tomorrow in your chariot, to conquer it, surrounded by an army
with its commanders, but in secret. Using the force of your mace, which is the best among its class
(Indra amongst weapons) and is like the god of death (Yama, to enemies), conquer. Carry me away, by
what is known to be the demonical way (of marriage), by paying bravery as the (marriage) fee.
6. Verse: antaha-pura-antah-chara-ima-nihatya bandhum
Stvaam-udvahe katham-iti pravadaamya-upaayam
Poorvet-ayurasti mahati kula-devayaa-atraa
Yasyam bahir-nava-vadhu-girijaam-upeyaat
Word for word: inner residence inner roaming these without-violence friends
Your carrying-away how-thus speaking-before means
In-the-north exists the-great family-deity-there
Of-this outside new bride daughter-of-mountain saught-after
Summary: In the inner sanctum of my residence are only found my close friends, none of whom carry
weapons. I am giving (in this letter) in advance, the means for you to carry me away. In the north (of my
residence), is the temple of my family goddess, of great renown. Outside this temple, I will be going, as a
new bride, to seek (the blessing of) the goddess Girija (one who is born to the mountain, also called Uma
or Parvathy).
7. Verse: yasya-anghri-pankaja-raja-snapanam mahanto
Vaanchan-tya-uma-patir-iva-atma-tamo-apahatyai
Yat-harya-ambujaaksha na labheya bhavat-prasaadam

Jah-yaam-soon vrata-krushaan-chat-janmabhihi syaat

Word for word: whose feet lotus dust bathe the-great
Desires theirs tranquility lord-of also spirit deep-sleep destroys
This destroyed lotus-eyed not obtain your grace
world-that-born vows become-lean also at-birth it-may-be-so
Summary: Those greatest, who bathe in the dust of your lotus feet, have even the deep sleep (tamas),
induced by the Lord of tranquility (Shiva, husband of Goddess Uma), afflicting their spirits, destroyed.
This deep sleep (tamas) can be destroyed, O Lotus eyed one, with your grace alone. One may become
lean with (pious) vows for several births, but is still born in this world.
8. Verse: braahman uvaacha
Iti-yete guhya-sandeshaa yadu-deva maya-hrutaaha
Vimrushya kartum yat-cha-atra kriyatam tad-anantaram
Word for word: The Brahmin said
Thus-this secret message Yadu lord-of by-me traps
With-deliberation doing this also then action that afterwards
Summary: This is the secret message, O lord of the Yadus, has the warnings of the traps that may exist.
Please give this due deliberation first and then only set upon to act on this.
END