|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 261 – The legend of Lord Krishna -  112

Shuka Bhramam speaks “ Oh! Rajan,  Lord Krishna had ten children in sixteen thousand and eight wives, many of the wives could not realize the divinity in him and elevate their souls, they have accepted him as an ideal husband who kindles intense passion with his attractive features, appearance, and smile.  They could not persuade the supreme Lord with their lust or desires, he performed all the duties and responsibilities of a householder, but he was not attached to any of them.  Krishna and Devi Rukmini had ten children named Pradhyumna,  Charudheshna, Sudheshna, Charudheha, Sucharu, Charuguptha, Bhadhracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu, and Charu .  Krishna and Devi Sathyabhama had ten children named Bhanu, Subhanu, Swarbhanu, Prabhanu, Bhanuman, Chandhrabhanu, Bhrihathbhanu, Rathibhanu, Sribhanu,  and Prathibhanu.  Krishna and Jambhavathi had ten children named Sambha, Sumithra, Purujith, Thajith, Sahasrajith, Vijayachithra, Kethu, Vasuman, Dhravida, and Krathu.    Thus, years have passed, Pradhyumnas’ son Aniruddha got married to the granddaughter of Rukmi.   The grand wedding ceremony got over, and the guests began to play board games under the leadership of Rukmi with Balarama.  Every now and then, Rukmi passed sarcastic comment on Lord Balarama who is inexperienced in the board game; finally, Balaram won the board game, Rukmi was not willing to accept it, he did not stop provoking Krishna. In a sudden rage Balaram took his plow and gave a hard whip on the head of Rukmi and killed him instantly, Lord Krishna looked at Devi Rukmini, but she did not utter a word, even Lord Krishna did not take the side of his brother or his wife.”

In this legend, Rukmi did not pay attention to the divinity of Lord Krishna, even though he had a close association with the Supreme Lord.  He took extreme pleasure in the material world and comforts; he could not utilize his mind to elevate his soul.  He kept insulting Balarama which brought miserable death to him.  All the scriptures speak about the way to attain Mukthi, Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran speaks about Ananyabhakthi/intense devotion/ realization of ‘God’, and performance of righteous deeds without the expectation of its fruitful results, constant contemplation, and meditation upon supreme Lord who resides as soul in living beings.