Shloka 12
Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī
Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude
चक्रु: सामर्ग्यजुर्मन्त्रैर्वध्वा रक्षां द्विजोत्तमा: । पुरोहितोऽथर्वविद्वै जुहाव ग्रहशान्तये ॥ १२ ॥
cakruḥ sāma-rg-yajur-mantrair vadhvā rakṣāṁ dvijottamāḥ purohito ’tharva-vid vai juhāva graha-śāntaye
The foremost brāhmaṇas chanted mantras from the Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur Vedas to protect the bride, and then the priest learned in the Atharva Veda offered oblations in the fire to pacify the ruling planets.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that the Atharva Veda often deals with the pacification of unfavorable planets.
FAQs
This verse describes the purohita offering fire oblations specifically for graha-śānti, showing that traditional Vedic rites included prayers and offerings to neutralize inauspicious planetary influences during major samskāras like marriage.
In the marriage setting of Rukmiṇī, the best brāhmaṇas performed rakṣā (protective rites) with Vedic mantras to safeguard the bride and ensure auspiciousness as the ceremony proceeded.
It highlights preparing for sacred transitions with purity, prayer, and qualified guidance—seeking spiritual protection and auspiciousness rather than relying only on external arrangements.