Vishnu Purana 5.26.2 — Krishna Avatara, Amsha 5, Adhyaya 26, Shloka 2

रुक्मिणी-हरणम्, विरोधि-राजगणः, रुक्मी-प्रतिज्ञा-पराजयः, प्रद्युम्न-जन्म

Devanagari script

रुक्मिणीं चकमे कृष्णः सा च तं चारुहासिनी न ददौ याचते चैनां रुक्मी द्वेषेण चक्रिणे

Transliteration

rukmiṇīṃ cakame kṛṣṇaḥ sā ca taṃ cāruhāsinī na dadau yācate caināṃ rukmī dveṣeṇa cakriṇe

Translation

Kṛṣṇa begehrte Rukmiṇī, und auch sie, die hold Lächelnde, sehnte sich nach Ihm. Doch als der Herr um ihre Hand bat, verweigerte Rukmī sie aus Hass gegen Kṛṣṇa, den Träger des Diskus.

Word by Word

• रुक्मिणीम्: Rukmiṇī
• रुक्मिणीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• चकमे: desired; fell in love with
• चकमे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चारुहासिनी: smiling charmingly
• चारुहासिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु + हासिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (सा इति)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• याचते: (he) asks; requests
• याचते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एनाम्: her
• एनाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रुक्मी: Rukmī
• रुक्मी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्वेषेण: by hatred; out of enmity
• द्वेषेण: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन

• चक्रिणे: to the discus-bearer (Kṛṣṇa)
• चक्रिणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parasara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa arranges the righteous union with Rukmiṇī, opposing adharma-driven hostility and securing dharmic order among kings.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of svayaṃvara-like marital autonomy and the triumph of dharmic alliance over envy

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Rukmini
• Rukmi
• Chakrin (Discus-bearing Lord/Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the significance of Rukmi’s refusal in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames the central conflict that leads to Krishna’s decisive intervention, showing how worldly pride and hatred oppose, yet cannot obstruct, the Lord’s will in the unfolding of līlā.

How does Sage Parasara explain the relationship between Krishna and Rukmini here?

Parasara presents it as mutual: Krishna desires Rukmini and she reciprocates, but social and political hostility (Rukmi’s hatred) blocks the formal consent, setting the stage for the next events.

What is the theological importance of calling Krishna “Chakrin” in this context?

“Chakrin” links Krishna directly with Vishnu’s sovereign identity, implying that the marriage episode is not merely royal romance but the Supreme Lord’s purposeful action within history.