Four Qualities Krishna Heard About Rukmini

“Krishna had also heard of Rukmini. She was the reservoir of all transcendental qualities: intelligence, liberal-mindedness, exquisite beauty and righteous behavior. Krishna therefore decided that she was fit to be His wife.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 51)

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1. Intelligence

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada describes her as the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. This is befitting, considering that Rukmini Devi is the goddess of fortune. As the Supreme Lord Narayana descends on occasion, whenever He sees fit, and rescues saintly people from the harassment they endure from the fools and rascals, so Lakshmi Devi, the eternal consort of the Almighty, is known to accompany her husband for such descents.

परित्राणाय साधूनां
विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्
धर्म-संस्थापनार्थाय
सम्भवामि युगे युगे

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

“In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.8)

A person who is devoted to God in thought, word and deed is the most intelligent. In truth, mundane knowledge, of scholarship and high intellect relating to manipulating the material elements should have the ultimate objective of pleasing Narayana, who is the source of men.

Without meeting that goal, the highly credentialed scientist is really no different than the infant who crawls on the ground, clad in diapers. The intelligence gifted to the human being is put to the same use, though it seems otherwise.

Already proven through her relationship to Narayana, Rukmini Devi additionally exhibits great intelligence through her failure to fall into despair upon reaching difficult times. She is the daughter of King Bhishmaka of Vidarbha, and though everyone agrees Shri Krishna from Dvaraka is the suitable husband, her brother makes a different arrangement.

Rukmini will not settle for the marriage to Shishupala, who is a bad person. She uses her intelligence to find a way for Krishna to arrive on the day of the marriage and take her away, showing everyone in attendance who the proper prince is to protect her for life.

Rukmini is even smart enough to get her plan delivered to Krishna in secret, so that no one else will find out. She is already devoted to Him, and she gives Him an idea on how that devotion will continue to manifest in the best possible way moving forward.

2. Liberal-mindedness

There is a commonly used derisive word to describe an adult-aged woman who is spoiled: princess. The idea is to say that the woman gets whatever she wants, whenever she wants, without having to work for it. Either her parents or her husband take care of everything. She simply has to complain or ask for something in a strong way and soon the wish will be granted.

Rukmini Devi is an actual princess. She comes from a respectable family, so she would be expected to have some feelings of superiority. But she is extremely liberal-minded. She does not look down at others, especially those who may not be so wealthy.

She is particularly respectful of the brahmanas. In her childhood she hears from a visiting Narada Muni on the opulences belonging to Krishna, the king of Dvaraka. After marriage she hospitably welcomes the visiting Sudama Vipra, who happens to be very poor. She rewards his years of dedicated devotion by transforming his meager dwelling into a palace, without his asking.

3. Exquisite beauty

Another name for Rukmini is Ruchiranana. This describes a face that expands like a lotus-flower. There is never-ending beauty. This is a perfect match for the Supreme Lord. Gazing upon both of them never gets old or tiring. They have beauty to a degree to refresh the spirits of the person who has vowed to serve them for lifetime after lifetime.

4. Righteous behavior

Krishna is her husband. Rukmini could ask Him for anything. It is His duty to protect her. Yet Rukmini never interferes with her husband’s work. She dreads the morning time, when she knows that her husband will have to soon arise and start his day with the chanting of the Gayatri mantra.

She sees one of Krishna’s other wives asking for a special flower that can only be found in the heavenly region. Krishna retrieves an entire tree of that flower for her, at great expense. But Rukmini is not envious. She does not ask for a similar gift. This is something Narada Muni witnesses and takes note of.

Shri Krishna heard of all of these qualities in Rukmini prior to marriage, and He decided that she would be fit to be His wife. The occasion of their marriage is further proof of the teaching of His Divine Grace Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who advises devotees to work in ways that Krishna will see them, instead of being so eager to have the direct vision of God manifest immediately before them.

In Closing:

Face like lotus-flower expanding,
And full intelligence commanding.

Righteous behavior showing,
Of Krishna’s glories knowing.

So for marriage a perfect fit,
Carried away on chariot to sit.

Rukmini for Shri Krishna meant,
To live together in Dvaraka went.