In the Mahabharata and other ancient texts, Rukmini is depicted as the chief queen of Lord Krishna. The details surrounding her death are primarily found in the later narratives and interpretations of these texts.
According to the Mahabharata, after Lord Krishna's departure from the earthly realm, his principal wives, including Rukmini, faced a dilemma regarding their future. The traditional account of Rukmini's death, often narrated in the Puranas and other texts, states that she committed Sati. Sati was an ancient practice where a widow would immolate herself on her husband's funeral pyre. Rukmini, being a devoted wife, chose to ascend the funeral pyre of Krishna, demonstrating her unwavering loyalty and devotion to him.
This act is seen as a testament to her profound love and dedication to Krishna, symbolizing the deep spiritual bond they shared. The practice of Sati, although controversial and later abolished, was considered a mark of ultimate fidelity in those times.
Thus, according to these narratives, Rukmini's life ended in an act of self-sacrifice, aligning with the cultural and spiritual ethos of her era, and marking the end of an epoch in the epic saga of the Mahabharata.