Book Review: Rukmini Haran by KM Munshi

‘Rukmini Haran’ (Krishnavatar-2) (Hindi)

By: Dr. K. M. Munshi

Translated in Hindi by: Omkarnath Sharma

Rajkamal Prakashan

© Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

ISBN: 978-81-267-0060-8

‘Rukmini Haran’ is the second part of 7 volumes Krishnavatar written by Dr. Kanhaiyalal Maniklal Munshi. I had written about the first book ‘Bansi Ki Dhun’ here [Link], which told the life story of Krishna from birth till the time of Kansa vadh. This volume covers the story from there till when Krishna weds Rukmini after rescuing her.

Since not all of us get to read the original Hindu scriptures (in fact a lot of us have relied on television serials to know about our mythology), reading from learned secondary sources is important. Sometimes lack of clear knowledge of facts and events result in embarrassing situations for us when confronted by others. Though Krishnavatar is a novel and the author has done some characterisation and written it in the form of a tale, it is nonetheless very well researched. I recommend everyone to read the whole enlightening Krishnavatar series.

Reading this volume cleared many doubts for me and touched upon the following events:

1.    How and why Krishna didn’t accept to become King of Mathura after Kansa’s assassination.

2.   How princess Rukmini fell in love with Krishna and how her brother became his enemy.

3.  How the Pandavas had early interaction with Krishna (Kunti was Vasudev’s sister, so the Pandavas were Krishna’s cousins; Bhim learnt gada-ruddha from Balram)

4.   A very adventurous episode with Panchjan and Punyajan Rakshasas (portion is based on traditions) based in Kushasthali (From here Krishna got his Panchjanya shankh)

5.      Why Krishna decided not to go back to

6.   Why Krishna and Balrama left Mathura when Jarasandh came attacking. (this whole episode is an eye-opener which clears all doubts and establishes how their fleeing the city was in fact an act of great intelligence and compassion)

7.     A very interesting episode of adventures on Gomantak hills and how Krishna and Balrama defeated Jarasandh but gave him jeevandaan.

8.  A very interesting and daring episode of elimination of Sringalav Vasudev, and rescuing Shwetketu and Shaivya.

9.  How Krishna leads Mathura’s people to migrate to Kushasthali or Dwaraka (in Saurashtra region of present day Gujarat)

10. The realisation that where there is shraddha, Krishna will protect us and do miracles, but if there is no shraddha, we shall be weak and vulnerable.

11. How Rukmini tried to revolt against the pseudo-swayamvar created for her and had to suffer. How Krishna called this psudo-swayamvar as adharma and foiled it. Still, he declared that he had gone there to rescue Dharma and not to acquire a wife for him.

The later part of the book describes Rukmini’s love for Krishna very well, which was full of womanly pride, envy, possessiveness and deep love in all its elements. Rukmini’s revolt against her chauvinist and political brother Rukmi is also well developed. I think Rukmini had all the elements of a ‘feminist’ by the term and deserves more exploration.

‘Rukmini Haran’ has been a deeply touching read for me and I feel very lucky to read it.

Highly recommended to all.

- Rahul