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
O rei mandou varrer cuidadosamente as avenidas, as vias comerciais e os cruzamentos da cidade e, em seguida, aspergi-los com água; também adornou a cidade com pórticos festivos e estandartes multicoloridos. Homens e mulheres, em vestes imaculadas e ungidos com sândalo perfumado, usavam colares, guirlandas e joias; suas casas opulentas estavam cheias do aroma do incenso de aguru.
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.