Rukmi
 |
| Rukmi | |
|---|---|
| Mahabharatacharacter | |
 Miniature Painting, Krishna releases the defeated Rukmi,Guler style,1770, Chamba Museum, Himachal Pradesh | |
| In-universe information | |
| Weapon | Sword |
| Family | Bhishmaka(father) Rukmini(sister) |
| Relatives | Pradyumna(son-in-law),Rukmavati(daughter),Aniruddha(grandson), Rochana (granddaughter) |
Rukmi(Sanskrit:रुक्मी) is the ruler ofVidarbhaaccording to the epicMahabharata.He was the son of KingBhishmakaand the elder brother ofRukmini.[1]TheHarivamsamentions that Rukmi was trained in the arts of warfare by the ruler of Kimpurushas, Druma. He also obtained weapons fromParashurama.Krishnamarried Rukmini by eloping with her from Vidarbha, even though Rukmi wanted to give her as a bride to theChedikingShishupala.He fought with Krishna, but was defeated. When Krishna was about to kill him, Rukmini begged that he spare her brother's life.Krishnaagreed and let Rukmi go free, but not before having his head shaved as a visible sign of a warrior's defeat.[2]
Rukmi never returned to his capitalKundinapuriin Vidarbha. Instead, he created another capital calledBhojakatato the west ofKundinaand started ruling his kingdom from there. Rukmi’s daughter,Rukmavati,married Krishna’s sonPradyumna.Rukmavati and Pradyumna had a son,Aniruddha.[3]
Rukmi was not accepted byArjunaorDuryodhanaas an ally in theKurukshetra Warbecause of his boastfulness. Thus, Rukmi'sBhojakataarmy stayed away from the Kurukshetra War, becoming a neutral army in the encounter between theKauravasand thePandavas.
The king was killed byBalaramabecause he cheated the deity in a game of dice, and insulted his Yadava heritage.[4]
References
[edit]- ^Kisari Mohan Ganguli(1883–1896).The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose.
- ^Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Kathiawar (Public Domain text).Vol. VIII. Printed at the Government Central Press, Bombay. 1884. p. 380.
- ^Amar Chitra Katha Bhagawat Krishna Avatar
- ^"Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 10 - Chapter 61".bhagavata.org.Retrieved11 July2022.
