Krishna Marries Five Princesses

In the fifty eighth chapter, Krsna sees the Pandavas and marries five brides, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Satya, Bhadra and Laksmana.

Seeing that the Pandavas had reappeared at the house of Drupada, Krsna went to see them with Satyaki and others.

They all rose just like the senses (prana) which become active at the return of the life air (mukhya).

The twins offered obeisances while Krsna stood.

Draupadi (Krsna) also greeted Krsna.

Others accompanying Krsna were also welcomed (pujitah) and seated. The alternate reading with pujitaih means "they were seated by those who had offered respects to them."

Seeing Kunti approaching with great eagerness, Krsna rose from his seat and greeted her, whose eyes were moist with affection (hardena). She embraced him saying , “I worship your face with millions of lamps of my pranas.” She smelled his head, and asked about Vasudeva and others.

She spoke to Krsna, the sight of whose limbs extinguishes all misery.

Brother here refers to Akrura.

Kunti recollected the powers of the Lord, realizing her own insignificance. “Being the friend and soul of the universe, you do not think in terms of self and others, friend and enemy. Situated in the hearts of the devotees who remember you, you destroy all sorrow.”

He stayed there happily.

This event happens after the burning of the Khandava forest, because in this incident Arjuna carried his Gandiva bow.

They offered the meat suitable for sacrificial rites to the king. Arjuna (bibhatsuh) went to the river.

Arjuna was sent by Krsna to inquire from her about her attachment to him.

“Desiring beautiful Visnu, who can fulfill my desires, as my husband, I am doing penance.”

Worrying, she spoke , to negate any other person as her husband. “Visnu is the shelter of those without a master. Visnu is the master of his devotees and their protector. With this faith I live alone, though just a young girl, and do not fear other men.”

“I am well known as Kalindi. Who does not know me, the daughter of the sun god?” By this statement she indicates her high status. “My father built me a house in the river. I am greatly favored by my father. Who has the power to go against me?”

“I am that beautiful Visnu! Recognize me from the descriptions of Visnu taught by your father, and by your own emotions arising in your pure heart.” After saying this he let her onto the chariot, for there is no mention that he put her to the chariot. Krsna already knew (tad vidvan) what Arjuna was coming to explain to him.

The order of events is : first, the building of the city, then the burning of the Khandhava forest, then the building of the assembly hall and then gaining Kalindi as his wife. Being requested by the Pandavas, he had Visvakarma build a city.

Krsna became Arjuna's chariot driver so that Arjuna would get his weapons. Khandhava was a forest of Indra.

Maya gave the assembly hall to Arjuna, his friend who saved him from the fire (sakha). Within that assembly hall Duryodhana later became bewildered.

Two verse describe Krsna’s marriage to Mitravinda, his fifth wife. Vinda and Anuvinda were two kings of Avanti.

The sixth marriage is described. Nagnajit was the king of Ayodhya. His daughter was called Satya.

. No one could marry her without taming the seven bulls.

The king worshipped Krsna and greeted him. Krsna also worshipped him.

She saw Krsna through the lattice windows from the watch tower.

“How can I please that person who appears in the world when there is necessity of protecting the laws of religion made by himself, and who is now present here?”

“Even one who is an inferior kstariya should not ask from another. Tthough I am a superior ksatriya I am asking. I ask for your daughter without dowry.”

The king answers Krsna's statement that he will give no dowry. "But I have made a rule to test the strength of the groom, if he wants to gain my daughter as his bride. Otherwise all the kings would ask for her and how could I agree to all of them. You, whose outstanding form and qualities are already known, are the most suitable to be the groom. I made the rule so that only you could take her."

44.In this sentence yad means “if,” or more correcly “because.” “Because you control the seven bulls, you can marry my daughter.” By addressing Krsna as the master of Laksmi, he declares that Krsna is her husband, since he can control the bulls. He had kept the bulls just to be killed by Krsna as they were inimical to him.

In expanding himself into seven forms Krsna was showing Satya that he could enjoy with many women without any loss for her.

There were a hundred times more chariots than elephants, and a hundred times more horses than chariots. And a hundred times more troops than horses.

Previously those kings had been defeated by the bulls. Now they were defeated by the Yadus.

Arjuna drove them away easily (kalayam asa).

The seventh marriage is described. Bhadra was the daughter of Srutikirti.

He accepted 16,000 (sahasrasah) women as his wives.