Just From Hearing

“O king, the beauty of Rukmini was indeed unparalleled on this earth. The highly effulgent Vasudeva desired her simply by hearing about her. Indeed, through hearing Janardana was also desired by her. She thought, ‘As He is heroic, resplendent, and strong, He should become my husband.’” (Hari-vamsha, 87.14-15)

Download as podcast episode (right click and save)

रुक्मिणी त्व् अभवद् राजन् रूपेणासदृशी भुवि
चकमे वासुदेवस् तां श्रवाद् एव महाद्युतिः

स चाभिलषितस् तस्याः श्रवाद् एव जनार्दनः
तेजोवीर्यबलोपेतः स मे भर्ता भवेद् इति

rukmiṇī tv abhavad rājan rūpeṇāsadṛśī bhuvi
cakame vāsudevas tāṃ śravād eva mahādyutiḥ

sa cābhilaṣitas tasyāḥ śravād eva janārdanaḥ
tejovīryabalopetaḥ sa me bhartā bhaved iti

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains that the name “Krishna” used for God describes someone who is all-attractive. There are simultaneously other meanings to the same word, such as “blackish”, but this attractiveness is the feature which stands out, as every individual is drawn to God, since time immemorial. This makes the resulting relationship, solidified and true in what is known as yoga, natural. Everyone has this love already inside of them; yoga does not have to be forced.

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते
तांस् तथैव भजाम्य् अहम्
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते
मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante
tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

“All of them – as they surrender unto Me – I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.11)

We experience attractiveness in different ways. The most obvious is seeing. We identify someone as beautiful based on a picture, based on a depiction, or through a meeting in-person. We don’t necessarily have to describe the different quadrants of the image. The juxtaposition of the chin to the mouth. The elasticity of the skin. The power of the smile. Often times, we just know. We can immediately tell that this person we are seeing is attractive.

There are indirect ways to experience attractiveness. Based on the impact of the individual, we can get an idea of their features. If people flock to a certain area, based on the presence of the individual, there must be something going on. There must be a reason for all of the attention. Based on the output from that individual, such as in the decorations they apply, the artistic beauty of their composition, the nature of their offspring, we might reach the same conclusion of attractiveness.

In the case of the eventual union between Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Rukmini Devi, the goddess of fortune, the attractiveness was perceived through hearing. It appears that so many people are eager to see God. Only then will they trust in a higher power. Life will finally make sense through this visual evidence. If there is this grand coordinator, witnessing and overseeing everything, then at least there is a plan. No matter my struggles experienced at present, at least there is some intelligence to the sequence of events. If God exists, then I can trust the plan. It would be His plan, after all.

From the resolve of the princess Rukmini to insist upon Krishna as her only husband, as her life and soul, we see that hearing is enough for validation. Rukmini only heard about Krishna. She did not see Him. She did not meet Him. She did not catch a passing glance. She was otherwise in a situation adversarial to the union. Her brother, Rukmi, did not like Krishna. He would not allow such a union to take place. In fact, Rukmi had already arranged for his sister to marry the prince named Shishupala. This person was another member of the informal “Krishna Hater’s Club.”

Hari-vamsha explains that Krishna also took an interest just by hearing. He learned that Rukmini had a beauty, rupa, that was unequaled, asadrishi. Interestingly, this word is also used by Rukmini one time, in responding to self-deprecating words uttered in jest by her husband. Rukmini acknowledges that Krishna is indeed unequaled, asadrishi, but in the positive sense. The wise saints give up everything to take the shelter of the Supreme Lord. Krishna is so kind that He feels compelled to oblige. He always shows up for His devotees, in one way or another.

श्रीरुक्‍मिण्युवाच
नन्वेवमेतदरविन्दविलोचनाह
यद्वै भवान् भगवतोऽसद‍ृशी विभूम्न:
क्व‍ स्वे महिम्न्यभिरतो भगवांस्‍त्र्यधीश:
क्व‍ाहं गुणप्रकृतिरज्ञगृहीतपादा

śrī-rukmiṇy uvāca
nanv evam etad aravinda-vilocanāha
yad vai bhavān bhagavato ’sadṛśī vibhūmnaḥ
kva sve mahimny abhirato bhagavāṁs try-adhīśaḥ
kvāhaṁ guṇa-prakṛtir ajña-gṛhīta-pādā

“Shri Rukmini said: Actually, what You have said is true, O lotus-eyed one. I am indeed unsuitable for the almighty Personality of Godhead. What comparison is there between that Supreme Lord, who is master of the three primal deities and who delights in His own glory, and myself, a woman of mundane qualities whose feet are grasped by fools?” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.60.34)

As Rukmini abandoned everything in favor of the lotus feet of Krishna through hearing, the same potential for rescue is available for every conditioned soul. The subsequent sequence of events may not necessarily play out in the same way. Rukmini is the goddess of fortune, after all, kindly appearing within the manifest realm to correspond with the lila of Vishnu as Krishna. The connection can be the same, through what is known as yoga. Krishna recommends that every person aspire for this yoga.

तपस्विभ्यो ऽधिको योगी
ज्ञानिभ्यो ऽपि मतो ऽधिकः
कर्मिभ्यश् चाधिको योगी
तस्माद् योगी भवार्जुन

tapasvibhyo ‘dhiko yogī
jñānibhyo ‘pi mato ‘dhikaḥ
karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī
tasmād yogī bhavārjuna

“A yogi is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogi.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.46)

Our inspiration for yoga is the all-attractiveness of the object of connection. We simply have to hear about Him. The more we hear, the more we realize the natural bond. The more we hear, the stronger the resolve becomes. The more we hear, the more we see that the all-attractive one is the person to rescue us from the ocean of birth and death.

ये तु सर्वाणि कर्माणि
मयि सन्न्यस्य मत्-पराः
अनन्येनैव योगेन
मां ध्यायन्त उपासते
तेषाम् अहं समुद्धर्ता
मृत्यु-संसार-सागरात्
भवामि न चिरात् पार्थ
मय्य् आवेशित-चेतसाम्

ye tu sarvāṇi karmāṇi
mayi sannyasya mat-parāḥ
ananyenaiva yogena
māṁ dhyāyanta upāsate
teṣām ahaṁ samuddhartā
mṛtyu-saṁsāra-sāgarāt
bhavāmi na cirāt pārtha
mayy āveśita-cetasām

“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pritha, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 12.6-7)

In Closing:

This secret today to confide,
That quietly time set aside.

And with mind attentive and clear,
As most conducive to hear.

Of glories of Rukmini’s one,
Who her hand forcibly won.

Attracted on just sound based,
Her apprehension quickly erased.