Lord Balarāma Visits Vṛndāvana

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.65.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच बलभद्रः कुरुश्रेष्ठ भगवान् रथमास्थितः । सुहृद्दिदृक्षुरुत्कण्ठः प्रययौ नन्दगोकुलम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca balabhadraḥ kuru-śreṣṭha bhagavān ratham āsthitaḥ suhṛd-didṛkṣur utkaṇṭhaḥ prayayau nanda-gokulam

Shukadeva Gosvami said: O best of the Kurus, Bhagavan Balabhadra, eager and longing to see His dear friends, mounted His chariot and set out for Nanda's Gokula.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.65.2)

परिष्वक्तश्चिरोत्कण्ठैर्गोपैर्गोपीभिरेव च । रामोऽभिवाद्य पितरावाशीर्भिरभिनन्दितः ॥ २ ॥

pariṣvaktaś cirotkaṇṭhair gopair gopībhir eva ca rāmo ’bhivādya pitarāv āśīrbhir abhinanditaḥ

Long yearning for Him, the cowherd men and women embraced Balarama. He then bowed to His parents, who greeted Him joyfully with their blessings.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.65.3)

चिरं नः पाहि दाशार्ह सानुजो जगदीश्वरः । इत्यारोप्याङ्कमालिङ्ग्य नेत्रैः सिषिचतुर्जलैः ॥ ३ ॥

ciraṁ naḥ pāhi dāśārha sānujo jagad-īśvaraḥ ity āropyāṅkam āliṅgya netraiḥ siṣicatur jalaiḥ

[Nanda and Yashoda said:] 'O descendant of Dasharha, Lord of the universe, may You, together with Your younger brother, ever protect us.' Saying this, they raised Him onto their laps, embraced Him, and bathed Him with the tears from their eyes.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.65.4)

गोपवृद्धांश्च विधिवद् यविष्ठैरभिवन्दितः । यथावयो यथासख्यं यथासम्बन्धमात्मनः ॥ ४ ॥

gopa-vṛddhāṁś ca vidhi-vad yaviṣṭhair abhivanditaḥ yathā-vayo yathā-sakhyaṁ yathā-sambandham ātmanaḥ

Balarama then duly honored the elder cowherds, while the younger ones offered Him their respects; He met each one according to age, friendship, and family bond.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.65.5)

समुपेत्याथ गोपालान् हास्यहस्तग्रहादिभिः । विश्रान्तं सुखमासीनं पप्रच्छुः पर्युपागताः ॥ ५ ॥

samupetyātha gopālān hāsya-hasta-grahādibhiḥ viśrāntam sukham āsīnaṁ papracchuḥ paryupāgatāḥ

With laughter, handclasps and other such gestures, the cowherds gathered around Him, and once He had rested and taken His seat in comfort, they drew near and began to question Him.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.65.6)

पृष्टाश्चानामयं स्वेषु प्रेमगद्गदया गिरा । कृष्णे कमलपत्राक्षे सन्न्यस्ताखिलराधसः ॥ ६ ॥

pṛṣṭāś cānāmayaṁ sveṣu prema-gadgadayā girā kṛṣṇe kamala-patrākṣe sannyastākhila-rādhasaḥ

With voices choked by love, they asked after the welfare of their own kin, and, having offered their entire fortune at the feet of lotus-eyed Krishna, they asked after Him too.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.65.7)

कच्चिन्नो बान्धवा राम सर्वे कुशलमासते । कच्चित् स्मरथ नो राम यूयं दारसुतान्विताः ॥ ७ ॥

kaccin no bāndhavā rāma sarve kuśalam āsate kaccit smaratha no rāma yūyaṁ dāra-sutānvitāḥ

[The cowherds said:] O Rama, are all our relatives keeping well? And, O Rama, do you and your family — your wives and children — still remember us?

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.65.8)

दिष्ट्या कंसो हतः पापो दिष्ट्या मुक्ताः सुहृज्जनाः । निहत्य निर्जित्य रिपून् दिष्ट्या दुर्गं समाश्रिताः ॥ ८ ॥

diṣṭyā kaṁso hataḥ pāpo diṣṭyā muktāḥ suhṛj-janāḥ nihatya nirjitya ripūn diṣṭyā durgaṁ samāśrītāḥ

It is by good fortune that the sinful Kamsa has been slain, by good fortune that our beloved ones have been freed, and by good fortune that, having slain and defeated their enemies, they now dwell secure within a great fortress.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.65.9)

गोप्यो हसन्त्यः पप्रच्छू रामसन्दर्शनादृताः । कच्चिदास्ते सुखं कृष्णः पुरस्त्रीजनवल्लभः ॥ ९ ॥

gopyo hasantyaḥ papracchū rāma-sandarśanādṛtāḥ kaccid āste sukhaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ pura-strī-jana-vallabhaḥ

Honored by the sight of Balarama, the gopis, smiling, asked Him: 'Is Krishna, so dear to the women of the city, living happily?'

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.65.10)

कच्चित् स्मरति वा बन्धून् पितरं मातरं च सः । अप्यसौ मातरं द्रष्टुं सकृदप्यागमिष्यति । अपि वा स्मरतेऽस्माकमनुसेवां महाभुजः ॥ १० ॥

kaccit smarati vā bandhūn pitaraṁ mātaraṁ ca saḥ apy asau mātaraṁ draṣṭuṁ sakṛd apy āgamiṣyati api vā smarate ’smākam anusevāṁ mahā-bhujaḥ

'Does He remember His family, His father and mother? Will He ever come, even once, to see His mother? And does mighty-armed Krishna remember the service we always rendered Him?'

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.65.11)

मातरं पितरं भ्रातृन् पतीन् पुत्रान् स्वसृनपि । यदर्थे जहिम दाशार्ह दुस्त्यजान् स्वजनान् प्रभो ॥ ११ ॥

mātaraṁ pitaraṁ bhrātṝn patīn putrān svasṝn api yad-arthe jahima dāśārha dustyajān sva-janān prabho

'For whose sake, O descendant of Dasharha, O Lord, we abandoned our mothers, fathers, brothers, husbands, children and sisters — kin so hard to give up —

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.65.12)

ता नः सद्यः परित्यज्य गतः सञ्छिन्नसौहृदः । कथं नु तादृशं स्त्रीभिर्न श्रद्धीयेत भाषितम् ॥ १२ ॥

tā naḥ sadyaḥ parityajya gataḥ sañchinna-sauhṛdaḥ kathaṁ nu tādṛśaṁ strībhir na śraddhīyeta bhāṣitam

that same Krishna suddenly abandoned us and went away, severing every bond of affection — yet how could any woman fail to trust the words of one such as Him?'

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.65.13)

कथं नु गृह्णन्त्यनवस्थितात्मनो वचः कृतघ्नस्य बुधाः पुरस्त्रियः । गृह्णन्ति वै चित्रकथस्य सुन्दर- स्मितावलोकोच्छ्वसितस्मरातुराः ॥ १३ ॥

kathaṁ nu gṛhṇanty anavasthitātmano vacaḥ kṛta-ghnasya budhāḥ pura-striyaḥ gṛhṇanti vai citra-kathasya sundara- smitāvalokocchvasita-smarāturāḥ

'How indeed can the wise women of the city trust the words of one so fickle-hearted and ungrateful? They trust Him only because His speech is so wondrous, and because His beautiful smiling glances kindle their desire and leave them helpless.'

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.65.14)

किं नस्तत्कथया गोप्यः कथाः कथयतापराः । यात्यस्माभिर्विना कालो यदि तस्य तथैव नः ॥ १४ ॥

kiṁ nas tat-kathayā gopyaḥ kathāḥ kathayatāparāḥ yāty asmābhir vinā kālo yadi tasya tathaiva naḥ

'What use is it, dear gopis, to speak of Him? Let us talk of something else. If He can pass His time without us, then so shall we, without Him.'

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.65.15)

इति प्रहसितं शौरेर्जल्पितं चारु वीक्षितम् । गतिं प्रेमपरिष्वङ्गं स्मरन्त्यो रुरुदुः स्त्रियः ॥ १५ ॥

iti prahasitaṁ śaurer jalpitaṁ cāru-vīkṣitam gatiṁ prema-pariṣvaṅgaṁ smarantyo ruruduḥ striyaḥ

Even as they spoke thus, the women, remembering Shauri's laughter, His charming words, His lovely glances, His graceful walk and His loving embraces, broke down and wept.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.65.16)

सङ्कर्षणस्ताः कृष्णस्य सन्देशैर्हृदयंगमैः । सान्त्वयामास भगवान् नानानुनयकोविदः ॥ १६ ॥

saṅkarṣaṇas tāḥ kṛṣṇasya sandeśair hṛdayaṁ-gamaiḥ sāntvayām āsa bhagavān nānānunaya-kovidaḥ

Bhagavan Sankarshana, skilled in every art of consolation, comforted them with Krishna's heartfelt messages.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.65.17)

द्वौ मासौ तत्र चावात्सीन्मधुं माधवमेव च । रामः क्षपासु भगवान् गोपीनां रतिमावहन् ॥ १७ ॥

dvau māsau tatra cāvātsīn madhuṁ mādhavaṁ eva ca rāmaḥ kṣapāsu bhagavān gopīnāṁ ratim āvahan

Balarama stayed there through the two months of Madhu and Madhava, and each night He brought delight to His gopi companions.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.65.18)

पूर्णचन्द्रकलामृष्टे कौमुदीगन्धवायुना । यमुनोपवने रेमे सेविते स्त्रीगणैर्वृतः ॥ १८ ॥

pūrṇa-candra-kalā-mṛṣṭe kaumudī-gandha-vāyunā yamunopavane reme sevite strī-gaṇair vṛtaḥ

Surrounded by His women companions, He took His pleasure in a garden by the Yamuna, bathed in the light of the full moon and caressed by breezes carrying the fragrance of night-lotuses.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.65.19)

वरुणप्रेषिता देवी वारुणी वृक्षकोटरात् । पतन्ती तद् वनं सर्वं स्वगन्धेनाध्यवासयत् ॥ १९ ॥

varuṇa-preṣitā devī vāruṇī vṛkṣa-koṭarāt patantī tad vanaṁ sarvaṁ sva-gandhenādhyavāsayat

Sent by Varuna, the goddess Varuni, flowing forth as liquor from a hollow in a tree, filled that entire forest with her fragrance.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.65.20)

तं गन्धं मधुधाराया वायुनोपहृतं बलः । आघ्रायोपगतस्तत्र ललनाभिः समं पपौ ॥ २० ॥

taṁ gandhaṁ madhu-dhārāyā vāyunopahṛtaṁ balaḥ āghrāyopagatas tatra lalanābhiḥ samaṁ papau

Balarama, catching that fragrance of the flowing liquor carried by the breeze, went to that place and drank of it together with His women companions.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.65.21)

उपगीयमानो गन्धर्वैर्वनिताशोभिमण्डले । रेमे करेणुयूथेशो माहेन्द्र इव वारणः ॥ २१ ॥

upagīyamāno gandharvair vanitā-śobhi-maṇḍale reme kareṇu-yūtheśo māhendra iva vāraṇaḥ

As the Gandharvas sang His praises, He took His pleasure in that circle radiant with women, like the lordly elephant of Indra sporting amid his herd of she-elephants.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.65.22)

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयो व्योम्नि ववृषुः कुसुमैर्मुदा । गन्धर्वा मुनयो रामं तद्वीर्यैरीडिरे तदा ॥ २२ ॥

nedur dundubhayo vyomni vavṛṣuḥ kusumair mudā gandharvā munayo rāmaṁ tad-vīryair īḍire tadā

Kettledrums resounded in the sky, flowers rained down in joy, and the Gandharvas and sages praised Balarama for His heroic deeds.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.65.23)

उपगीयमानचरितो वनिताभिर्हलायुधः । वनेषु व्यचरत् क्षीवो मदविह्वललोचनः ॥ २३ ॥

upagīyamāna-carito vanitābhir halāyudha vaneṣu vyacarat kṣīvo mada-vihvala-locanaḥ

As His deeds were sung by the women, Halayudha wandered through the forests, intoxicated, His eyes rolling from the effects of drink.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.65.24)

स्रग्व्येककुण्डलो मत्तो वैजयन्त्या च मालया । बिभ्रत् स्मितमुखाम्भोजं स्वेदप्रालेयभूषितम् ॥ २४ ॥

sragvy eka-kuṇḍalo matto vaijayantyā ca mālayā bibhrat smita-mukhāmbhojaṁ sveda-prāleya-bhūṣitam

Wearing a single earring and garlands, among them the Vaijayanti, and intoxicated with joy, He bore upon His smiling lotus face the beads of perspiration, like flakes of snow.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.65.25)

स आजुहाव यमुनां जलक्रीडार्थमीश्वरः । निजं वाक्यमनादृत्य मत्त इत्यापगां बलः । अनागतां हलाग्रेण कुपितो विचकर्ष ह ॥ २५ ॥

sa ājuhāva yamunāṁ jala-krīḍārtham īśvaraḥ nijaṁ vākyam anādṛtya matta ity āpagāṁ balaḥ anāgatāṁ halāgreṇa kupito vicakarṣa ha

That Lord then summoned the Yamuna so that He might play in her waters, but she, disregarding His command, thought Him merely drunk and did not come. Enraged at this, Balarama seized the reluctant river and began to drag her with the tip of His plow.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.65.26)

पापे त्वं मामवज्ञाय यन्नायासि मयाहुता । नेष्ये त्वां लाङ्गलाग्रेण शतधा कामचारिणीम् ॥ २६ ॥

pāpe tvaṁ mām avajñāya yan nāyāsi mayāhutā neṣye tvāṁ lāṅgalāgreṇa śatadhā kāma-cāriṇīm

[Balarama said:] O sinful one, disregarding Me you did not come when called! You wander wherever you please — so I shall drag you here, in a hundred streams, with the tip of My plow!

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.65.27)

एवं निर्भर्त्सिता भीता यमुना यदुनन्दनम् । उवाच चकिता वाचं पतिता पादयोर्नृप ॥ २७ ॥

evaṁ nirbhartsitā bhītā yamunā yadu-nandanam uvāca cakitā vācaṁ patitā pādayor nṛpa

Thus rebuked, O King, the frightened river-goddess Yamuna fell at the feet of that beloved son of the Yadus and, trembling, spoke these words.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.65.28)

राम राम महाबाहो न जाने तव विक्रमम् । यस्यैकांशेन विधृता जगती जगतः पते ॥ २८ ॥

rāma rāma mahā-bāho na jāne tava vikramam yasyaikāṁśena vidhṛtā jagatī jagataḥ pate

[Yamuna said:] O Rama, Rama, mighty-armed one! I do not know Your true power — O Lord of the universe, whose mere fraction sustains the whole earth.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.65.29)

परं भावं भगवतो भगवन् मामजानतीम् । मोक्तुमर्हसि विश्वात्मन् प्रपन्नां भक्तवत्सल ॥ २९ ॥

paraṁ bhāvaṁ bhagavato bhagavan mām ajānatīm moktum arhasi viśvātman prapannāṁ bhakta-vatsala

My Lord, I did not understand Your supreme nature as Bhagavan — please release me, O soul of the universe, for I have now surrendered unto You, You who are ever affectionate to Your devotees.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.65.30)

ततो व्यमुञ्चद् यमुनां याचितो भगवान् बलः । विजगाह जलं स्त्रीभिः करेणुभिरिवेभराट् ॥ ३० ॥

tato vyamuñcad yamunāṁ yācito bhagavān balaḥ vijagāha jalaṁ strībhiḥ kareṇubhir ivebha-rāṭ

Thus entreated, Bhagavan Balarama released the Yamuna, and, like the king of elephants with his herd of she-elephants, plunged into her waters together with His women companions.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.65.31)

कामं विहृत्य सलिलादुत्तीर्णायासीताम्बरे । भूषणानि महार्हाणि ददौ कान्तिः शुभां स्रजम् ॥ ३१ ॥

kāmaṁ vihṛtya salilād uttīrṇāyāsītāmbare bhūṣaṇāni mahārhāṇi dadau kāntiḥ śubhāṁ srajam

Having sported to His heart's content in the water, He emerged, and the goddess Kanti presented Him with blue garments, priceless ornaments, and a beautiful garland.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.65.32)

वसित्वा वाससी नीले मालामामुच्य काञ्चनीम् । रेये स्वलङ्कृतो लिप्तो माहेन्द्र इव वारणः ॥ ३२ ॥

vasitvā vāsasī nīle mālāṁ āmucya kāñcanīm reye sv-alaṅkṛto lipto māhendra iva vāraṇaḥ

Wearing those blue garments and the golden garland, anointed and beautifully adorned, He shone forth like Indra's royal elephant.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.65.33)

अद्यापि दृश्यते राजन् यमुनाकृष्टवर्त्मना । बलस्यानन्तवीर्यस्य वीर्यं सूचयतीव हि ॥ ३३ ॥

adyāpi dṛśyate rājan yamunākṛṣṭa-vartmanā balasyānanta-vīryasya vīryaṁ sūcayatīva hi

Even today, O King, the course carved when the Yamuna was dragged along can still be seen — as if to bear witness to the boundless might of Balarama.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.65.34)

एवं सर्वा निशा याता एकेव रमतो व्रजे । रामस्याक्षिप्तचित्तस्य माधुर्यैर्व्रजयोषिताम् ॥ ३४ ॥

evaṁ sarvā niśā yātā ekeva ramato vraje rāmasyākṣipta-cittasya mādhuryair vraja-yoṣitām

Thus, for Balarama, His mind enthralled by the sweetness of the young women of Vraja, all those nights of delight in Vraja passed as though they were but a single night.