FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.52.18

श्रीराजोवाच भगवान् भीष्मकसुतां रुक्‍मिणीं रुचिराननाम् । राक्षसेन विधानेन उपयेम इति श्रुतम् ॥ १८ ॥
śrī-rājovāca
[shree-raajovaacha]
bhagavān bhīṣmaka-sutāṁ
[bhagavaan bheeshmaka-sutaam]
rukmiṇīṁ rucirānanām
[rukmineem ruchiraananaam]
rākṣasena vidhānena
[raakshasena vidhaanena]
upayema iti śrutam
[upayema iti shrutam]
Word-for-word
śrī - rājā uvāca — the King (Parīkṣit Mahārāja) said bhagavān — the Supreme Lord bhīṣmaka - sutām — the daughter of Bhīṣmaka rukmiṇīm — Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī rucira — charming ānanām — whose face rākṣasena — called Rākṣasa vidhānena — by the method (namely, by kidnapping) upayeme — He married iti — thus śrutam — heard .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-rājovāca
śrī - rājā uvāca
the King (Parīkṣit Mahārāja) said
bhagavān bhīṣmaka-sutāṁ
bhagavān
the Supreme Lord
bhīṣmaka - sutām
the daughter of Bhīṣmaka
rukmiṇīṁ rucirānanām
rukmiṇīm
Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī
rucira
charming
ānanām
whose face
rākṣasena vidhānena
rākṣasena
called Rākṣasa
vidhānena
by the method (namely, by kidnapping)
upayema iti śrutam
upayeme
He married
iti
thus
śrutam
heard .
Important Words
  • rukmiṇīm — Śrīmatī Rukmiṇī-devī
    The eternal consort of Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā-līlā, expansion of Mahā-Lakṣmī. Gauḍīyas worship her as the model of the Vaidarbhī-bhāva — bold prema combined with feminine modesty. Her very name comes from rukma (gold), suggesting her splendor.
  • rākṣasena vidhānena — by the Rākṣasa-style method
    Phrase: rākṣasa (the demoniac style, i.e. forcible carrying-off after defeating opponents) + vidhāna (procedure). One of the eight classical forms of marriage in Manu — and a kṣatriya-sanctioned form when the bride consents. The chapter will show that Rukmiṇī wholeheartedly consents.
  • rucira-ānanām — whose face is charming
    Compound: rucira (charming, shining) + ānana (face). Even Parīkṣit's question carries the rasa-signature — he cannot describe her without naming her beauty. The whole chapter is colored by darśana-tinged speech.
  • śrutam — (so I have) heard
    Past participle of √śru. The Bhāgavata's whole epistemology is encoded here — knowledge of Bhagavān passes by śravaṇa from authorized teachers. Parīkṣit's 'I have heard' is the same posture every devotee adopts before guru and śāstra.
King Parīkṣit said: The Supreme Lord married Rukmiṇī, the beautiful-faced daughter of Bhīṣmaka, in the Rākṣasa style — or so I have heard.
Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī quotes the following smṛti statement: rākṣaso yuddha-haraṇāt. “A Rākṣasa marriage takes place when the bride is stolen from one’s rival suitors by force.” Similarly, Śukadeva Gosvāmī himself has already said, rājñaḥ pramathya: Kṛṣṇa had to beat down opposing kings to take Rukmiṇī.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
King Parīkṣit said: The Supreme Lord married Rukmiṇī, the beautiful-faced daughter of Bhīṣmaka, in the Rākṣasa style—or so I have heard.
Commentary

The raksasa method of marriage is to take the bride after fighting with opponents according the smrti scriptures.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The rākṣasa style of marriage was best for the warriors. Rukmiṇī is described as having a beautiful face, just like the Lord. Or she had a face which was attractive to Kṛṣṇa. Thus she was most suitable to marry Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Hearing the general account, Parīkṣit with devotion asks for more details, with a desire to hear. Kṛṣṇa is full of all power (bhagavān). The rākṣasa style of marriage is best for the courageous. She was most beautiful (rucirānanām).

Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Udyama (Industriousness / Effort)
Related verses
BG 15.9 BG 18.64 BG 2.62 BG 3.11 BG 12.3 SB 4.29.2 BG 2.3 BG 9.11 BG 7.8 BG 10.3 BG 13.1 BG 5.18 BG 6.1 BG 6.5 BG 1.1 BG 16.4
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
King Parīkṣit: the Supreme Lord married Rukmiṇī in the Rākṣasa style — bride stolen from her home after killing rivals. Even royal questions name the form precisely; details of marriages matter to scripture-learners.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'forms' of relationships in your life would you describe with technical honesty?
  • Where does naming the kind of bond change how you honor it?
Analogy

Parīkṣit asks his teacher the way a child asks his grandfather about a famous family wedding — 'I have heard about this; tell me how it really happened.' Śrutam — 'so I have heard' — is the doorway through which the next thirty verses of prema-katha will pour.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 52