Vishnu Purana 5.26.3 — Krishna Avatara, Amsha 5, Adhyaya 26, Shloka 3

रुक्मिणी-हरणम्, विरोधि-राजगणः, रुक्मी-प्रतिज्ञा-पराजयः, प्रद्युम्न-जन्म

Devanagari script

ददौ च शिशुपालाय जरासंधप्रचोदितः भीष्मको रुक्मिणा सार्धं रुक्मिणीम् उरुविक्रमः

Transliteration

dadau ca śiśupālāya jarāsaṃdhapracoditaḥ bhīṣmako rukmiṇā sārdhaṃ rukmiṇīm uruvikramaḥ

Translation

జరాసంధుని ప్రేరణతో ఉరువిక్రముడైన భీష్మకుడు రుక్మితో కలిసి రుక్మిణిని శిశుపాలునికి వివాహార్థం అప్పగించాడు।

Word by Word

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिशुपालाय: to Śiśupāla
• शिशुपालाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• जरासंधप्रचोदितः: urged by Jarāsandha
• जरासंधप्रचोदितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरासंध + प्रचोदित (प्रातिपदिक; √चुद्/चोद्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘प्रचोदित’ = प्रेरित; विशेषण (भीष्मकः इति)

• भीष्मकः: Bhīṣmaka
• भीष्मकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• रुक्मिणा: with Rukmī
• रुक्मिणा: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/सहकारक), एकवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक-अव्यय (adverb/particle meaning ‘together with’)

• रुक्मिणीम्: Rukmiṇī
• रुक्मिणीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• उरुविक्रमः: of great prowess
• उरुविक्रमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरु + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (शिशुपालः इति, अथवा वरः इति)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa’s līlā sets the stage for overturning an adharma-driven political marriage and restoring dharmic alignment through His chosen bride.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Resistance to tyrannical compulsion in royal dharma and protection of righteous marital choice

Dynasty & Genealogy

Key Kings: Bhīṣmaka, Rukmī, Jarāsandha, Śiśupāla, Rukmiṇī

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Bhishmaka
• Rukmini
• Rukmi
• Shishupala
• Jarasandha

FAQs

What is the significance of Jarasandha’s role in Rukmini’s marriage arrangement in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the match as politically coerced—Bhishmaka is ‘urged’ by Jarasandha—highlighting Jarasandha’s regional dominance and setting the conflict that leads to Krishna’s intervention.

How does Sage Parashara explain the background of Rukmini being given to Shishupala?

Parashara presents it as a court decision shaped by external pressure: Bhishmaka, along with Rukmi, consents to give Rukmini to Shishupala due to Jarasandha’s instigation.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Krishna) in this context?

By depicting worldly power forcing an unjust alliance, the narrative prepares for Vishnu-as-Krishna to reassert dharma and rightful order, showing the Supreme Lord as the ultimate governor of sovereignty and moral balance.