Devanagari
निहते रुक्मिणि श्याले नाब्रवीत् साध्वसाधु वा ।
रक्मिणीबलयो राजन् स्नेहभङ्गभयाद्धरि: ॥ ३९ ॥
Verse text
nihate rukmiṇi śyāle
nābravīt sādhv asādhu vā
rakmiṇī-balayo rājan
sneha-bhaṅga-bhayād dhariḥ
Synonyms
nihate
—
being killed
;
rukmiṇi
—
Rukmī
;
śyāle
—
His brother-in-law
;
na abravīt
—
did not say
;
sādhu
—
good
;
asādhu
—
not good
;
vā
—
or
;
rukmiṇī
—
balayoḥ — of Rukmiṇī and Balarāma
;
rājan
—
O King
;
sneha
—
the affection
;
bhaṅga
—
of breaking
;
bhayāt
—
out of fear
;
hariḥ
—
Lord Kṛṣṇa .
Translation
When His brother-in-law Rukmī was slain, Lord Kṛṣṇa neither applauded nor protested, O King, for He feared jeopardizing His affectionate ties with either Rukmiṇī or Balarāma.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
When His brother-in-law Rukmī was slain, Lord Kṛṣṇa neither applauded nor protested, O King, for He feared jeopardizing His affectionate ties with either Rukmiṇī or Balarāma.
KB 10.61.39
During this strife between Balarāma and Rukmī, Lord Kṛṣṇa did not utter a word, for He knew that if He supported Balarāma, Rukmiṇī would be unhappy, and if He said that the killing of Rukmī was unjust, then Balarāma would be unhappy. Therefore, Lord Kṛṣṇa was silent on the death of His brother-in-law Rukmī on the occasion of His grandson’s marriage. He did not disturb His affectionate relationship with either Balarāma or Rukmiṇī.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
It was proper that Kṛṣṇa say that it was good that Rukmī die since he was evil. But he did not say that. He also did not say that it was bad that killing a brother-in-law was bad, since in saying Rukmī’s killing was good, he feared that Rukmiṇī would become angry with him, and his affectionate relationship with Rukmiṇī would be broken or would disappear (bhaṅga) and if he said killing Rukmī was wrong, Balarāma would be angry with him, and his affectionate relationship with Balarāma would be broken. Thus if he did not say anything, the affection would continue.
Or, bhaṅgā can mean crookedness, the appearance of anger in affection. Or bhaṅga can mean a wave. Kṛṣṇa feared that Rukmiṇī and Balarāma would waver in their affection for him. “How can I say the opposite to each of them?” Therefore he was silent out of shame (bhayāt). Or, he remained silent since Rukmiṇī would immediately become angry at Balarāma on realizing that Kṛṣṇa approved the killing. He feared the relationship between Rukmiṇī and Balarāma would be broken. In approving the killing he feared criticism from Rukmiṇī’s family and the public, and humiliation of Rukmiṇī. Rukmī was a brother -in-law (śyāle). Kṛṣṇa was able to take away (hariḥ) the breaking of affection. He could create joy because of his skill. Previously when Kṛṣṇa disfigured Rukmī she spoke slightly harsh words to Kṛṣṇa. What would she say to him now when Rukmī was killed by Balarāma? Śukadeva addresses Parīkṣit with excitement. “O king!”