Rukmini was the daughter of the king Vidarbha, Bhismaka. She wanted to marry only Krishna. She overheard her brother and father discussing her marriage to Shisupal.

She rushed to her chamber and sat down to write a letter. In that she narrated in detail her feelings about him. She wrote how after hearing tales of his heroism she had fallen in love with Krishna . She described that her love was so deep that it would be meaningless to live without him. Rukmini further wrote how her brother Rukmini was forcing her to marry Shishupal. Finally she ended her letter informing him about her plan to visit the Parvati temple on the day of her marriage and appealed to Krishna to kidnap her from there.

Rukmini's trusted servant was an old Brahmin named Sunanda. She called for him and urged him to rush to Dwarka with the letter.

Bowing respectfully Sunanda took leave and raced his chariot to Dwarka.