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CHAPTER VI
MARRIAGE OF KRṢNA WITH RUKMIŅI AND OTHERS, SVAYAMVARA OF PANDAVAS AND DRAUPADI, AND THE LIFE OF PRADYUMNA
Marriage with Rukmini (1-76)
There (in Dvārikā) Kṛṣṇa remained happily with Rama, attending the Daśārhas, amusing himself, surrounded by the Yadus. There the Blessed Ariṣṭanemi grew up in course of time, spreading joy to the Daśärhas and the brothers, Halin and Kṛṣṇa. All the brothers, though elder, became young and played with the Master in the grounds of amusement-mountains, gardens, et cetera. The Master, ten bows tall, gradually attained adolescence, victorious from birth over love, his mind uncorrupted by it. Though begged by his parents and by his brothers, Rāma, Kṛṣṇa 189 and the others, day after day, he did not consider marriage. Rāma and Kṛṣṇa conquered many kings and the two, united like Sakra and Iśāna, protected the subjects.
Narada's mischief-making (7-18)
One day Narada came in the course of his roaming to Kṛṣṇa's house and was honored properly by Kṛṣṇa and Rāma. Then he went to Kṛṣṇa's harem and Satyabhāmā, who was looking at herself in a mirror, did not honor him by giving him a seat, et cetera, because of her occupation. Then he went away, angry, and reflected with hostility: "Always the Näradas have been worshipped by all in the harems of the Kesavas; but this woman, arrogant from her youth and beauty because of her husband's affection, did not even give me a glance, to say nothing of rising to greet me. Hence I shall
189 5. Really cousins.
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