Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 27
Kṛṣṇa’s Queens, Their Sons, and Balarāma’s Victory over Rukmī at Dice
Aniruddha–Rocanā Marriage Context
तस्मिन् निवृत्त उद्वाहे कालिङ्गप्रमुखा नृपा: । दृप्तास्ते रुक्मिणं प्रोचुर्बलमक्षैर्विनिर्जय ॥ २७ ॥ अनक्षज्ञो ह्ययं राजन्नपि तद्व्यसनं महत् । इत्युक्तो बलमाहूय तेनाक्षैर्रुक्म्यदीव्यत ॥ २८ ॥
tasmin nivṛtta udvāhe kāliṅga-pramukhā nṛpāḥ dṛptās te rukmiṇaṁ procur balam akṣair vinirjaya
王よ、婚礼が終わると、カリンガ王を筆頭とする驕れる諸王がルクミーに言った。「賽でバララーマを打ち負かせ。彼は賽に不慣れだが、癖は強い。」そう唆され、ルクミーはバララーマに挑み、賽の勝負を始めた。
FAQs
In this verse, the proud kings provoke Rukmī to challenge Balarāma at dice, showing how arrogance pushes people into reckless, offensive acts that invite ruin.
They were intoxicated with pride after the wedding events and sought to mock or humiliate Balarāma by drawing Him into a dice match through Rukmī.
Avoid making decisions under ego or group-provocation; prideful “one-upmanship” often escalates conflict and damages relationships.