śrī-rājā uvāca - the King said; katham - how; rukmī - Rukmī; ari - of his enemy; putrāya - to the son; prādāt - gave; duhitaram - his daughter; yudhi - in battle; kṛṣṇena - by Kṛṣṇa; paribhūtaḥ - defeated; tam - Him (Lord Kṛṣṇa); hantum - to kill; randhram - the opportunity; pratīkṣate - he was waiting for; etat - this; ākhyāhi - please explain; me - to me; vidvan - O learned one; dviṣoḥ - of the two enemies; vaivāhikam - the marital arrangement; mithaḥ - between them.

King Parīkṣit said: How could Rukmī give his daughter to his enemy’s son? After all, Rukmī had been defeated by Lord Kṛṣṇa in battle and was waiting for an opportunity to kill Him. Please explain this to me, O learned one — how these two inimical parties became united through marriage.