111- The Marriage of Krishna and Rukmini, the Birth of Pradyumna, and the Slaying of Shambarasur

After Bhagwan Shree Krishna abducted Rukminiji and departed, the arrogant kings allied with Jarasandh could not tolerate this humiliation. Burning with rage, they exclaimed, “Shame upon us! We stood here holding bows in our hands, yet these cowherds have stolen away our glory like deer snatching the prey of lions!”

Filled with fury, all the kings then pursued Bhagwan Shree Krishna with their armies. The Yadus also prepared themselves for battle. Jarasandh and his allies showered volleys of arrows, making the battlefield terrifying. When Rukminiji saw Shree Krishna’s army surrounded by arrows, she became frightened. Bhagwan Shree Krishna smiled and reassured her that His army would soon defeat the enemy forces.

Then Balramji, Gad, and the other Yadu heroes fought fiercely, shattering the enemy army. In the end, Jarasandh and the other kings were defeated and fled from the battlefield.

Shishupal became overwhelmed with sorrow after losing Rukminiji. At that time, Jarasandh consoled him, saying that victory and defeat are never permanent in this world; everything depends upon time and destiny. Sometimes one attains victory, and sometimes defeat, so one should not lament excessively. After being consoled by his companions, Shishupal and the other kings returned to their respective kingdoms.

Rukminiji’s brother Rukmi harboured intense hatred toward Bhagwan Shree Krishna. He could not tolerate the insult of Shree Krishna carrying away his sister. Therefore, he pursued Them with one akshauhini army and vowed that unless he killed Shree Krishna and brought Rukmini back, he would never return to Kundinpur.

Filled with anger, Rukmi insulted Bhagwan Shree Krishna and challenged Him to battle, shooting arrows at Him. Smiling calmly, Bhagwan Shree Krishna successively destroyed Rukmi’s bows, chariot, banner, horses, and weapons. When all his weapons had been shattered, Rukmi rushed at Krishna with a sword in hand. Krishna then cut apart even his sword and shield and raised His own sword to kill him.

Shukdevji says that when Rukminiji saw her brother Rukmi standing at the edge of death, she trembled with fear and grief. Falling at the lotus feet of Bhagwan Shree Krishna, she offered heartfelt prayers for mercy. Seeing her distressed condition, Bhagwan became compassionate and gave up the thought of killing Rukmi.

However, because of Rukmi’s offence, Bhagwan Shree Krishna tied him and shaved off portions of his beard, moustache, and hair, leaving him humiliated and disfigured. At that moment, Balramji arrived there. He released Rukmi from bondage and told Shree Krishna that such treatment toward a relative was not proper.

Then Balramji consoled Rukminiji, explaining that happiness and sorrow are experienced by a person according to one’s own karma; no one else is truly the cause of them. He said that in kshatriya Dharma, even brothers may fight among themselves, and therefore she should not grieve excessively over this event.

Hearing Balramji’s teachings, Rukminiji’s sorrow subsided, and she accepted the situation with wisdom and composure. Meanwhile, Rukmi remained deeply humiliated and distressed by his defeat. Since he had vowed not to return to Kundinpur without defeating Shree Krishna and bringing Rukmini back, he established a new city called Bhojkat and lived there instead.

After this, Bhagwan Shree Krishna brought Rukminiji to Dwarka and married her in accordance with proper Vedic rites. Great celebrations took place throughout Dwarka. Tall flags and banners fluttered everywhere. Colourful garlands, beautiful fabrics, and gem-studded decorations adorned the city gates and pathways. Pots filled with water, fragrant incense, and rows of shining lamps illuminated the entire city.

Friendly kings were also invited to the wedding festivities. Filled with excitement, people from the Kuru, Srinjay, Kaikeya, Vidarbha, Yadu, and Kunti dynasties wandered joyfully through the city. Everywhere, people were singing the glorious tale of Rukmini Haran. Hearing it, kings and princesses were filled with wonder and amazement.

When the residents of Dwarka beheld Bhagwati Lakshmi Herself in the form of Rukminiji united with Lakshmipati Bhagwan Shree Krishna, their hearts overflowed with supreme joy.

Shukdevji tells Parikshit that Kamdev is an expansion of Bhagwan Vasudev Himself. Previously, he had been burnt to ashes by the fire of Shivji’s anger. To regain his body, he was born again as the son of Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Rukminiji, and became famous worldwide as Pradyumna. In beauty, valour, humility, and all noble qualities, he was in no way inferior to Bhagwan Shree Krishna.

When the infant Pradyumna was not even ten days old, the shape-shifting asura Shambar disguised himself and entered the maternity chamber. Knowing that this child would one day become his destroyer, he kidnapped the infant and threw him into the ocean before returning home.

In the ocean, a huge fish swallowed baby Pradyumna. Later, fishermen caught that fish along with many others in their large nets. They presented the enormous fish as a gift to Shambarasur. The cooks in his palace carried the strange fish into the kitchen and began cutting it open with axes.

When they sliced open the fish’s belly, they discovered a baby boy inside. The cooks handed the child over to Shambarasur’s maidservant, Mayavati, who was filled with astonishment and wonder on seeing him.

At that moment, Naradji arrived there and explained that this child was no ordinary boy but Kamdev himself. He was the son of Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Rukminiji, whom Shambarasur had thrown into the ocean and who had then entered the belly of the fish.

In truth, Mayavati was none other than Rati, the wife of Kamdev. Ever since Kamdev had been burnt by the anger of Rudra Bhagwan, Rati had been waiting for his rebirth. Shambarasur had kept her there as a maidservant.

When Rati learned that this child, Pradyumna, was indeed her husband Kamdev reborn, she was filled with deep love for him. Within a short time, Pradyumna grew into a handsome youth whose extraordinary beauty enchanted everyone who saw him.

Seeing the change in Mayavati’s behaviour, Pradyumna asked why she no longer treated him with maternal affection and instead behaved differently toward him. Then Rati (Mayavati) revealed the truth: “You are the son of Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Rukminiji. Shambarasur kidnapped you in infancy and threw you into the ocean. You are none other than my husband Kamdev, and I am your wife, Rati.”

She also explained that Shambarasur was a great master of illusion and sorcery. Therefore, to enable Pradyumna to defeat him, she taught him the ‘Mahamaya Vidya’, the divine knowledge capable of destroying all magical illusions.

Pradyumna then approached Shambarasur and began speaking harshly to him. He wanted to provoke him into anger so that he would fight. He openly challenged him to a battle.

Hearing Pradyumna’s sharp words, Shambarasur became furious, like a venomous serpent trampled underfoot. His eyes turned red with rage, and he came out carrying a mace in his hand.

He whirled the mace powerfully in the air and hurled it toward Pradyumna. As he wielded it, he roared so terribly that it sounded like thunder rumbling across the sky.

Then, relying upon his magical powers, Shambarasur rose into the sky and began unleashing many weapons and illusions of yakshas, gandharvas, pishachs, nagas, and rakshasas. But Pradyumna destroyed all those illusions through the Mahamaya Vidya that Rati taught him. 

At last, Pradyumna struck with a sharp sword and severed Shambarasur’s head. The devatas became delighted and showered flowers from the heavens. After this, Mayavati Rati brought her husband, Pradyumna, back to Dwarka through the skyways.

When Pradyumna arrived in Dwarka through the skyways along with his wife Mayavati, his dark beauty beside Mayavati’s fair radiance appeared like a cloud accompanied by lightning. They entered the inner chambers of Bhagwan Shree Krishna’s palace. Seeing him, the women of the palace at first mistook him for Shree Krishna Himself, because his form, gait, smile, and brilliance were strikingly similar to Bhagwan’s. Later, when they realised he was someone else, they became filled with wonder and joy.

At that very moment, Rukminiji arrived there. The instant she saw Pradyumna, remembrance of her lost son awakened within her heart. She began wondering, “Could this be the very child who was separated from me soon after birth?”

Just then, Bhagwan Shree Krishna, Balramji, Devakiji, and Vasudevji also came there. Bhagwan Shree Krishna knew everything, yet He remained silent and simply stood there smiling. Meanwhile, Naradji arrived and recounted the entire story of how Shambarasur had abducted Pradyumna, thrown him into the ocean, and all the events that had followed.

Pradyumna’s appearance resembled Bhagwan Shree Krishna so closely that even the women of the inner palace would sometimes mistake him for Krishna Himself. Since he was an incarnation of Kamdev and a reflection of Bhagwan’s own form, his incomparable beauty enchanted everyone who beheld him.

Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 11.05.2026