Shloka 11
Mucukunda’s Departure; Jarāsandha’s Pursuit; Prelude to Rukmiṇī’s Abduction
Rukmiṇī’s Message Begins
गिरौ निलीनावाज्ञाय नाधिगम्य पदं नृप । ददाह गिरिमेधोभि: समन्तादग्निमुत्सृजन् ॥ ११ ॥
girau nilīnāv ājñāya nādhigamya padaṁ nṛpa dadāha girim edhobhiḥ samantād agnim utsṛjan
O King, though he knew They were hiding on the mountain, Jarāsandha could find no trace of Them; so he piled firewood all around and set the mountain ablaze.
Clearly we are observing one of the Supreme Lord’s transcendental pastimes. Although the Bhāgavatam states that the two Lords, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, were “exhausted,” even in Their so-called exhausted state They were able to quickly climb a high mountain and shortly thereafter jump off it to the ground. It would be unwise and illogical to ignore the whole picture the sages are giving us here and instead try to pick apart isolated descriptions. Clearly we are watching the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the midst of His spiritual pastimes; we are not observing an ordinary human being. Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma were still quite young men when this pastime took place, and one can easily see in these descriptions how They must have been enjoying Themselves, eagerly fleeing from the somewhat ridiculous King Jarāsandha, racing up a mountain, jumping off and totally befuddling the constantly failing demon, who somehow or other never lost confidence in himself. Seen without envy or quarrelsomeness, the Lord’s pastimes are immensely entertaining.
FAQs
This verse describes an aggressor attempting to flush out hidden targets by burning the mountain, illustrating how extreme measures are used against the Lord’s associates—yet such threats ultimately highlight the need to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s protection.
Śukadeva is narrating the episode directly to Parīkṣit, keeping him engaged as the listener and emphasizing the royal, dharmic context in which these divine histories are heard and contemplated.
When circumstances feel “closed in” and hostile, the practical takeaway is to avoid panic, seek higher shelter through prayer and steady devotion, and respond with clarity rather than fear—trusting that sincere spiritual refuge brings guidance and protection.