रुक्मिणीrukmiṇī

रुक्मिणी (rukmiṇī) is a Sanskrit word meaning a species of plant, name of Dakshayani in Dvaravati, of various other women, wearing golden ornaments, adorned with gold, the eldest son of Bhishmaka and adversary of Krishna, the name of a mountain. Its 13 recorded definitions are grouped into 7 contexts, among them Krishna's wife and primary mythological figure, Specific divine manifestation or local deity, A species of plant.

Definitions: 13

View Declension Tables , 72 forms

Meanings by context

Krishna's wife and primary mythological figure

6 definitions

the daughter of Bhishmaka and sister of Rukmin, who became the wife of Krishna

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

See above.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

The daughter of Bhishmaka and wife of Krishna.

— Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary

The daughter of Bhismaka who was carried off and married by Krishna, mother of Pradyumna, and later identified with Lakshmi.

— Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary

sister of Rukmin, wife of Krishna, and mother of Pradyumna

— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata

A daughter of Bhishmaka, chief queen of Krishna, and an incarnation of Lakshmi.

रुक्मिणी (rukmiṇī) [Printed book page 3-085]
Rukmiṇī (I) — a daughter of Bhīṣmaka and known as

Vaidarbhī. Married to Kṛṣṇa according to Gāndharva?

(Rākṣasa) form;¹ when she came to know of the proposal of

her eldest brother Rukmi (s.v.) to give her in marriage to

Caidya, she sent a letter through a Brāhmaṇa to Kṛṣṇa show-

ing her unflinching devotion to him and requesting that she

might be carried off when she would be on her way to the

Devī temple on the day prior to the wedding as was the

custom. That day she had her bath and decked herself

with two clothes and many jewels. Her anxiety at not

having heard from Kṛṣṇa, when the Brāhmaṇa came to tell

her that Kṛṣṇa would do the needful. Citizens were also

for her marriage with Kṛṣṇa. Well guarded and accom-

panied by singing and dancing, Rukmiṇī entered the temple

and prayed for Kṛṣṇa's hand. After worshipping Indrāṇī

nearby she returned when Kṛṣṇa carried her away in his

chariot. Seeing the party of Caidya pursuing him, Rukmiṇī

became nervous when Kṛṣṇa consoled her. When Caidya

was about to be killed by Kṛṣṇa she appealed to the Lord to

spare him; Rāma consoled her. The regular marriage and

festivities followed.² Mother of 11 sons and a daughter;

gave birth to Pradyumna who was stolen by Śambara and

thrown into the sea. Recovered and taken back by Māyā-

vatī alias Ratī; Rukmiṇī remembered her lost son and won-

dered at his exact resemblance. At that time came Kṛṣṇa

and Nārada who explained the history of Pradyumna to
Page3-086+ 36

her great joy;³ was the chief queen of Kṛṣṇa and more

attached; would not like to be away from Kṛṣṇa; when she

was once fanning him gently Kṛṣṇa cut a joke that his status

was poor and that she could even then get married to a rich

prince and enjoy luxuries. Rukmiṇī wept in deep distress

and spoke words reiterating her full devotion to him. Kṛṣṇa

consoled her assuring her of his loyalty.⁴ Grave concern at

Kṛṣṇa not returning from the cave of Jāmbavan for a long

time. Her daughter Cārumatī was married to the son of

Kṛtavarman.⁵ Attended the marriage of Aniruddha and

Rocanā at Bhojakaṭa; out of regard for her and Balarāma,

Kṛṣṇa said nothing on Rukmi's death.⁶ Explained to Drau-

padī how she became married to Kṛṣṇa; welcomed to Hāsti-

napura by Kuntī and Draupadī; served Kucela, a friend and

classmate of Kṛṣṇa.⁷ Entered fire on Kṛṣṇa's decease;⁸ is

Lakṣmī.⁹
[Footnote: 1) Bhā. III. 3. 3; X. 52. 16-18; Br. III. 71. 242-6; Vi. I. 9. 144;

V. 26 (whole).]

[Footnote: 2) Bhā. X. Chh. 52-54.]

[Footnote: 3) Ib. III. 1. 28; X. 55 (whole) ;

M. 47. 13, 15-16; Vā. 96. 233; Vi. V. 27. 3, 27; 28. 1-2; 30. 35; 32. 1.]

[Footnote: 4) Bhā. X. 60 (whole) ; 70. 3; 90. 30.]

[Footnote: 5) Ib. X. 56. 34; 61. 24.]

[Footnote: 6) Ib.

X. 61. 26-39.]

[Footnote: 7) Ib. X. 71. 42; 76. 2; 80. 23; 83. 8.]

[Footnote: 8) Ib. XI. 31. 20.

Vi. V. 38. 1-2.]

[Footnote: 9) Ib. IV. 15. 35.]
[ID=11675]

— The Purana Index

Specific divine manifestation or local deity

2 definitions

name of Dakshayani in Dvaravati

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

the goddess at Dvaravati

— The Purana Index

A species of plant

1 definition

a species of plant

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Adjective: Adorned with gold

1 definition

wearing golden ornaments, adorned with gold

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Name for other women

1 definition

of various other women

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Name of a mountain

1 definition

the name of a mountain

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

The male character Rukmin (brother of Rukmini)

1 definition

The eldest son of Bhishmaka and adversary of Krishna

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Read रुक्मिणी in the app

All the contexts on this page, offline — and the word becomes yours to keep, annotate and come back to.

Favorite रुक्मिणी to save it
Add your own notes
Search by Context
Declension tables offline
Syncs through iCloud

Definitions on this page come from 5 works: Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), The Purana Index. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon.