Shloka 9
Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī
Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude
पुरं सम्मृष्टसंसिक्तमार्गरथ्याचतुष्पथम् । चित्रध्वजपताकाभिस्तोरणै: समलङ्कृतम् ॥ ८ ॥ स्रग्गन्धमाल्याभरणैर्विरजोऽम्बरभूषितै: । जुष्टं स्त्रीपुरुषै: श्रीमद्गृहैरगुरुधूपितै: ॥ ९ ॥
puraṁ sammṛṣṭa-saṁsikta- mārga-rathyā-catuṣpatham citra-dhvaja-patākābhis toraṇaiḥ samalaṅkṛtam
The king had the city’s main avenues, market roads and crossroads thoroughly swept and sprinkled with water, and he adorned the city with festive archways and multicolored banners. The men and women, dressed in spotless garments and anointed with fragrant sandalwood, wore necklaces, flower garlands and jeweled ornaments, while their opulent homes were filled with the aroma of aguru incense.
When earthen roads are sprinkled with water, the dust settles down and the road becomes smooth and firm. King Bhīṣmaka thoroughly prepared for the great wedding, setting the scene for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s triumphant abduction of beautiful Rukmiṇī-devī.
FAQs
It describes the city as swept and sprinkled, with streets and crossroads cleaned, decorated with flags, banners, and toranas, and filled with well-adorned people; homes are perfumed with aguru incense.
He is setting the scene for the divine wedding events around Rukmiṇī and Kṛṣṇa, showing the auspicious, celebratory, and culturally sacred atmosphere of the occasion.
By cultivating external and internal cleanliness, creating a sattvic, devotional environment (order, purity, fragrance), and preparing one’s home and mind as a welcoming place for remembrance and worship of the Lord.