Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.60.11
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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caidya
—
Śiśupāla, the King of Cedi
Rukmiṇī's intended husband by her brother's arrangement (SB 10.52–54). Mentioning him is a deliberate provocation — the man she fled from is the one He pretends she should have chosen.
Why did you reject those who personally came (prāptān) and requested you (arthinaḥ) and who were moreover completely maddened by love? The word ca indicates this was most ridiculous. You were even given by your brother and father to Śiśupāla, though he is an object of laughter. The word sva indicates that the daughter was dependent on her father. Therefore you should not have rejected the kings. Why did you choose me, who cannot compare with them? The plural naḥ is used to indicate the singular. (Pāṇini 1.2.51) Or why did you choose persons like us, the Yādavas, as a husband. Perfect tense is used to indicate a completed action. If you had not yet chosen, I would have stopped you from this choice.
- Where do you imagine Kṛṣṇa is not the obvious choice He clearly is?
- How do you receive playful 'belittling' from those who love you?
A merchant who has bought the rarest jewel from a princess says, 'But there were sapphires and rubies offered — why this dull pebble?' The princess knows the jewel; the merchant is performing astonishment. Kṛṣṇa names Śiśupāla and Cupid-maddened suitors as if He cannot fathom her choice.
In SB 10.52–54 Rukmiṇī writes her letter to Kṛṣṇa; her brother Rukmī has promised her to Śiśupāla of Cedi. On the appointed day Kṛṣṇa carries her off from the temple of Ambikā, defeats the assembled kings, and marries her in Dvārakā.
The present verse references that very episode — He is teasingly asking why she rejected Cedi-rāja and 'chose Us, who are not at all your equal.' The reader supplies the answer the queen has not yet uttered.
My note
Source: vedabase.io