Though Princes Rukminis only dasite was to mary Lord Kṛṣṇa,herhrother Runkeni, who was envious of Kṛṣṇa, had arranged for her to wed the evil Śiśupāla. Rukmiṇī had sent a letter to Kṛṣṇa asking Him to kidnap her, but as her wedding day dawned He had still not arrived. At last her messenger returned with the good news that the Lord had arrived and would save her.
As Rukmiṇī walked toward the temple of Durgā on her wedding day, she appeared as enchanting as the Lord's illusory potency, who enchants even the sober and grave. Thus the kings assembled to attend her wedding gazed upon her virgin beauty, her shapely waist, and her lovely face adorned with earrings. Her hips were graced with a jewel-studded belt, and her eyes seemed apprehensive of her encroaching locks of hair. She smiled sweetly, her jasmine-bud teeth reflecting the glow of her bimba-red lips. As she walked with the motions of a royal swan, the effulgence of her tinkling ankle bells beautified her feet. Seeing her, the assembled heroes were totally bewildered. Lust tore at their hearts. When the kings saw her broad smile and shy glance, they became stupefied, dropped their weapons, and fell unconscious to the ground from their elephants, chariots, and horses.
On the pretext of the procession, Rukmiṇī displayed her beauty for Kṛṣṇa alone. Slowly she advanced the two moving lotus whorls of her feet, awaiting the arrival of the Supreme Lord. With the fingernails of her left hand she pushed some strands of hair away from her face and shyly looked from the corners of her eyes at the kings standing before her. At that moment she saw Kṛṣṇa.
Then, while His enemies looked on, the Lord seized the princess, who was eager to mount His chariot. Lifting Rukmiṇī onto His chariot, whose flag bore the emblem of Garuḍa, Lord Mādhava drove back the circle of kings. With Balarāma in the lead, He slowly exited, like a lion removing his prey from the midst of jackals.