Lord Balarama Goes on Pilgrimage

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.79.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच ततः पर्वण्युपावृत्ते प्रचण्डः पांशुवर्षणः । भीमो वायुरभूद् राजन्पूयगन्धस्तु सर्वशः ॥ 79.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca tataḥ parvaṇy upāvṛtte pracaṇḍaḥ pāṁśu-varṣaṇaḥ bhīmo vāyur abhūd rājan pūya-gandhas tu sarvaśaḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: O King, then, as the new-moon day arrived, a fierce and dreadful wind arose, showering dust everywhere and carrying the stench of pus on every side.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.79.2)

ततोऽमेध्यमयं वर्षं बल्वलेन विनिर्मितम् । अभवद् यज्ञशालायां सोऽन्वदृश्यत शूलधृक् ॥ 79.2 ॥

tato ’medhya-mayaṁ varṣaṁ balvalena vinirmitam abhavad yajña-śālāyāṁ so ’nvadṛśyata śūla-dhṛk

Then a downpour of foul, impure substances, conjured by Balvala, fell upon the sacrificial hall, and the trident-bearing demon himself came into view.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.79.3)

तं विलोक्य बृहत्कायं भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमम् । तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुं दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीमुखम् ॥ 79.3 ॥

taṁ vilokya bṛhat-kāyaṁ bhinnāñjana-cayopamam tapta-tāmra-śikhā-śmaśruṁ daṁṣṭrogra-bhru-kuṭī-mukham

Beholding him — huge of body, dark as a heap of shattered black collyrium, his matted hair and beard the color of molten copper, his face fearsome with jutting fangs and knitted brows —

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.79.4)

सस्मार मूषलं रामः परसैन्यविदारणम् । हलं च दैत्यदमनं ते तूर्णमुपतस्थतुः ॥ 79.4 ॥

sasmāra mūṣalaṁ rāmaḥ para-sainya-vidāraṇam halaṁ ca daitya-damanaṁ te tūrṇam upatasthatuḥ

— Balarama thought at once of His mace that rends enemy hosts, and of His plow that subdues demons, and both weapons instantly presented themselves before Him.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.79.5)

तमाकृष्य हलाग्रेण बल्वलं गगनेचरम् । मूषलेनाहनत्क्रुद्धो मूर्ध्नि ब्रह्मद्रुहं बलः ॥ 79.5 ॥

tam ākṛṣya halāgreṇa balvalaṁ gagane-caram mūṣalenāhanat kruddho mūrdhni brahma-druhaṁ balaḥ

Dragging with the tip of His plow the sky-borne Balvala — that foe of brahmanas — Balarama, in fury, struck him on the head with His mace.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.79.6)

सोऽपतद्भुवि निर्भिन्नललाटोऽसृक् समुत्सृजन् । मुञ्चन्नार्तस्वरं शैलो यथा वज्रहतोऽरुणः ॥ 79.6 ॥

so ’patad bhuvi nirbhinna- lalāṭo ’sṛk samutsṛjan muñcann ārta-svaraṁ śailo yathā vajra-hato ’ruṇaḥ

Crying out in agony, his forehead split open and streaming blood, he fell to the earth like a red mountain struck down by a thunderbolt.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.79.7)

संस्तुत्य मुनयो रामं प्रयुज्यावितथाशिषः । अभ्यषिञ्चन् महाभागा वृत्रघ्नं विबुधा यथा ॥ 79.7 ॥

saṁstutya munayo rāmaṁ prayujyāvitathāśiṣaḥ abhyaṣiñcan mahā-bhāgā vṛtra-ghnaṁ vibudhā yathā

The exalted sages, praising Balarama and pronouncing upon Him blessings that could not fail, anointed Him just as the gods once anointed Indra after his slaying of Vritra.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.79.8)

वैजयन्तीं ददुर्मालां श्रीधामाम्लानपङ्कजाम् । रामाय वाससी दिव्ये दिव्यान्याभरणानि च ॥ 79.8 ॥

vaijayantīṁ dadur mālāṁ śrī-dhāmāmlāna-paṅkajāṁ rāmāya vāsasī divye divyāny ābharaṇāni ca

They offered Balarama a Vaijayanti garland of unfading lotuses, the very abode of the goddess Shri, together with divine garments and divine ornaments.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.79.9)

अथ तैरभ्यनुज्ञातः कौशिकीमेत्य ब्राह्मणैः । स्नात्वा सरोवरमगाद् यतः सरयूरास्रवत् ॥ 79.9 ॥

atha tair abhyanujñātaḥ kauśikīm etya brāhmaṇaiḥ snātvā sarovaram agād yataḥ sarayūr āsravat

Then, given their leave, He went with the brahmanas to the Kaushiki river, bathed there, and proceeded on to the lake from which the Sarayu flows.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.79.10)

अनुस्रोतेन सरयूं प्रयागमुपगम्य सः । स्नात्वा सन्तर्प्य देवादीन्जगाम पुलहाश्रमम् ॥ 79.10 ॥

anu-srotena sarayūṁ prayāgam upagamya saḥ snātvā santarpya devādīn jagāma pulahāśramam

Following the course of the Sarayu, He arrived at Prayaga, bathed there, offered oblations to the gods and others, and went on to the hermitage of the sage Pulaha.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.79.11)

गोमतीं गण्डकीं स्नात्वा विपाशां शोण आप्लुतः । गयां गत्वा पितॄनिष्ट्वा गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे ॥ 79.11 ॥

gomatīṁ gaṇḍakīṁ snātvā vipāśāṁ śoṇa āplutaḥ gayāṁ gatvā pitṝn iṣṭvā gaṅgā-sāgara-saṅgame

Having bathed in the Gomati, the Gandaki and the Vipasha, and plunged into the Shona, and having gone to Gaya to perform rites for His ancestors, and then at the meeting-place of the Ganga and the sea —

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.79.12)

उपस्पृश्य महेन्द्राद्रौ रामं दृष्ट्वाभिवाद्य च । सप्तगोदावरीं वेणां पम्पां भीमरथीं ततः ॥ 79.12 ॥

upaspṛśya mahendrādrau rāmaṁ dṛṣṭvābhivādya ca sapta-godāvarīṁ veṇāṁ pampāṁ bhīmarathīṁ tataḥ

— having bathed there, and on Mount Mahendra beheld and paid homage to Lord Parashurama, and then bathed in the sevenfold Godavari, the Vena, the Pampa and the Bhimarathi —

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.79.13)

स्कन्दं दृष्ट्वा ययौ रामः श्रीशैलं गिरिशालयम् । द्रविडेषु महापुण्यं दृष्ट्वाद्रिं वेङ्कटं प्रभुः ॥ 79.13 ॥

skandaṁ dṛṣṭvā yayau rāmaḥ śrī-śailaṁ giriśālayam draviḍeṣu mahā-puṇyaṁ dṛṣṭvādriṁ veṅkaṭaṁ prabhuḥ

— having beheld Lord Skanda, Balarama went on to Shri-shaila, abode of Girisha, and, in the land of the Dravidas, the Lord beheld the most sacred hill of Venkata —

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.79.14)

कामकोष्णीं पुरीं काञ्चीं कावेरीं च सरिद्वराम् । श्रीरङ्गाख्यं महापुण्यं यत्र सन्निहितो हरिः ॥ 79.14 ॥

kāma-koṣṇīṁ purīṁ kāñcīṁ kāverīṁ ca sarid-varām śrī-rangākhyaṁ mahā-puṇyaṁ yatra sannihito hariḥ

— and Kamakoshni city, and Kanchi, and the great river Kaveri, and the most sacred Shri-ranga, where Lord Hari is directly present —

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.79.15)

ऋषभाद्रिं हरेः क्षेत्रं दक्षिणां मथुरां तथा । सामुद्रं सेतुमगमत्महापातकनाशनम् ॥ 79.15 ॥

ṛṣabhādriṁ hareḥ kṣetraṁ dakṣiṇāṁ mathurāṁ tathā sāmudraṁ setum agamat mahā-pātaka-nāśanam

— and Rishabhadri, the domain of Hari, and Dakshina Mathura as well, He went on to the ocean-bridge, Setu, destroyer of the gravest sins.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.79.16)

तत्रायुतमदाद् धेनूर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हलायुधः । कृतमालां ताम्रपर्णीं मलयं च कुलाचलम् ॥ 79.16 ॥

tatrāyutam adād dhenūr brāhmaṇebhyo halāyudhaḥ kṛtamālāṁ tāmraparṇīṁ malayaṁ ca kulācalam

There Halayudha gave ten thousand cows in charity to the brahmanas, and then visited the Kritamala and Tamraparni rivers and the great Malaya range of mountains.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.79.17)

तत्रागस्त्यं समासीनं नमस्कृत्याभिवाद्य च । योजितस्तेन चाशीर्भिरनुज्ञातो गतोऽर्णवम् । दक्षिणं तत्र कन्याख्यां दुर्गां देवीं ददर्श सः ॥ 79.17 ॥

tatrāgastyaṁ samāsīnaṁ namaskṛtyābhivādya ca yojitas tena cāśīrbhir anujñāto gato ’rṇavam dakṣiṇaṁ tatra kanyākhyāṁ durgāṁ devīṁ dadarśa saḥ

There, bowing and paying homage to the sage Agastya seated in meditation, and receiving his blessings and leave, He went to the southern ocean shore, where He beheld the goddess Durga in her form as Kanya-kumari.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.79.18)

ततः फाल्गुनमासाद्य पञ्चाप्सरसमुत्तमम् । विष्णुः सन्निहितो यत्र स्नात्वास्पर्शद् गवायुतम् ॥ 79.18 ॥

tataḥ phālgunam āsādya pañcāpsarasam uttamam viṣṇuḥ sannihito yatra snātvāsparśad gavāyutam

Then, reaching Phalguna-tirtha, He bathed in the excellent Pancha-apsara lake, where Lord Vishnu directly dwells, and there gave away ten thousand cows.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.79.19)

ततोऽभिव्रज्य भगवान् केरलांस्तु त्रिगर्तकान् । गोकर्णाख्यं शिवक्षेत्रं सान्निध्यं यत्र धूर्जटेः ॥ 79.19 ॥

tato ’bhivrajya bhagavān keralāṁs tu trigartakān gokarṇākhyaṁ śiva-kṣetraṁ sānnidhyaṁ yatra dhūrjaṭeḥ

Thereafter the Lord journeyed through Kerala and Trigarta to Gokarna, the sacred domain of Shiva, where Dhurjati (Shiva) is directly present.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.79.20)

आर्यां द्वैपायनीं दृष्ट्वा शूर्पारकमगाद् बलः । तापीं पयोष्णीं निर्विन्ध्यामुपस्पृश्याथ दण्डकम् ॥ 79.20 ॥

āryāṁ dvaipāyanīṁ dṛṣṭvā śūrpārakam agād balaḥ tāpīṁ payoṣṇīṁ nirvindhyām upaspṛśyātha daṇḍakam

Having beheld the island-dwelling goddess Parvati, Balarama went to Shurparaka, then bathed in the Tapi, Payoshni and Nirvindhya rivers, and entered the Dandaka forest.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.79.21)

प्रविश्य रेवामगमद् यत्र माहिष्मती पुरी । मनुतीर्थमुपस्पृश्य प्रभासं पुनरागमत् ॥ 79.21 ॥

praviśya revām agamad yatra māhiṣmatī purī manu-tīrtham upaspṛśya prabhāsaṁ punar āgamat

Going on from there, He reached the Reva river, by whose banks the city of Mahishmati stands; then, having bathed at Manu-tirtha, He returned once more to Prabhasa.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.79.22)

श्रुत्वा द्विजैः कथ्यमानं कुरुपाण्डवसंयुगे । सर्वराजन्यनिधनं भारं मेने हृतं भुवः ॥ 79.22 ॥

śrutvā dvijaiḥ kathyamānaṁ kuru-pāṇḍava-saṁyuge sarva-rājanya-nidhanaṁ bhāraṁ mene hṛtaṁ bhuvaḥ

There, hearing from the brahmanas how all the assembled kings had perished in the war between the Kurus and Pandavas, He concluded that the earth's burden had now been lifted.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.79.23)

स भीमदुर्योधनयोर्गदाभ्यां युध्यतोर्मृधे । वारयिष्यन् विनशनं जगाम यदुनन्दनः ॥ 79.23 ॥

sa bhīma-duryodhanayor gadābhyāṁ yudhyator mṛdhe vārayiṣyan vinaśanaṁ jagāma yadu-nandanaḥ

Learning that Bhima and Duryodhana were locked in mace combat, the joy of the Yadus, wishing to stop them, went to Vinashana, that is, Kurukshetra.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.79.24)

युधिष्ठिरस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा यमौ कृष्णार्जुनावपि । अभिवाद्याभवंस्तूष्णीं किं विवक्षुरिहागतः ॥ 79.24 ॥

yudhiṣṭhiras tu taṁ dṛṣṭvā yamau kṛṣṇārjunāv api abhivādyābhavaṁs tuṣṇīṁ kiṁ vivakṣur ihāgataḥ

Seeing Him, Yudhishthira, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, and Krishna and Arjuna all offered Him respectful greeting, but fell silent, wondering what He had come to say.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.79.25)

गदापाणी उभौ दृष्ट्वा संरब्धौ विजयैषिणौ । मण्डलानि विचित्राणि चरन्ताविदमब्रवीत् ॥ 79.25 ॥

gadā-pāṇī ubhau dṛṣṭvā saṁrabdhau vijayaiṣiṇau maṇḍalāni vicitrāṇi carantāv idam abravīt

Seeing the two of them, maces in hand, furiously circling each other in intricate patterns, each bent on victory, Balarama spoke as follows.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.79.26)

युवां तुल्यबलौ वीरौ हे राजन् हे वृकोदर । एकं प्राणाधिकं मन्ये उतैकं शिक्षयाधिकम् ॥ 79.26 ॥

yuvāṁ tulya-balau vīrau he rājan he vṛkodara ekaṁ prāṇādhikaṁ manye utaikaṁ śikṣayādhikam

"O King! O Vrikodara! You two heroes are equally matched in strength — I judge one of you superior in raw power, the other superior in trained skill.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.79.27)

तस्मादेकतरस्येह युवयोः समवीर्ययोः । न लक्ष्यते जयोऽन्यो वा विरमत्वफलो रणः ॥ 79.27 ॥

tasmād ekatarasyeha yuvayoḥ sama-vīryayoḥ na lakṣyate jayo ’nyo vā viramatv aphalo raṇaḥ

Therefore, since your might is thus balanced, I see no way that either of you shall prevail — let this fruitless combat cease."

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.79.28)

न तद्वाक्यं जगृहतुर्बद्धवैरौ नृपार्थवत् । अनुस्मरन्तावन्योन्यं दुरुक्तं दुष्कृतानि च ॥ 79.28 ॥

na tad-vākyaṁ jagṛhatur baddha-vairau nṛpārthavat anusmarantāv anyonyaṁ duruktaṁ duṣkṛtāni ca

But bound fast in their mutual hatred, O King, and each recalling the cruel words and wrongs done him by the other, neither accepted Balarama's reasonable counsel.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.79.29)

दिष्टं तदनुमन्वानो रामो द्वारवतीं ययौ । उग्रसेनादिभिः प्रीतैर्ज्ञातिभिः समुपागतः ॥ 79.29 ॥

diṣṭaṁ tad anumanvāno rāmo dvāravatīṁ yayau ugrasenādibhiḥ prītair jñātibhiḥ samupāgataḥ

Concluding this to be destiny's own design, Balarama returned to Dvaraka, where Ugrasena and other joyful kinsmen came forward to greet Him.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.79.30)

तं पुनर्नैमिषं प्राप्तमृषयोऽयाजयन् मुदा । क्रत्वङ्गं क्रतुभिः सर्वैर्निवृत्ताखिलविग्रहम् ॥ 79.30 ॥

taṁ punar naimiṣaṁ prāptam ṛṣayo ’yājayan mudā kratv-aṅgaṁ kratubhiḥ sarvair nivṛttākhila-vigraham

When He, now withdrawn from all combat, arrived once more at Naimisharanya, the sages joyfully engaged Him — He who is Himself the very embodiment of sacrifice — in the performance of every kind of Vedic rite.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.79.31)

तेभ्यो विशुद्धं विज्ञानं भगवान् व्यतरद् विभुः । येनैवात्मन्यदो विश्वमात्मानं विश्वगं विदुः ॥ 79.31 ॥

tebhyo viśuddhaṁ vijñānaṁ bhagavān vyatarad vibhuḥ yenaivātmany ado viśvam ātmānaṁ viśva-gaṁ viduḥ

The all-powerful Lord bestowed upon them that pure spiritual knowledge by which they came to know the whole universe within their own self, and their own self as pervading the universe.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.79.32)

स्वपत्यावभृथस्नातो ज्ञातिबन्धुसुहृद् वृतः । रेजे स्वज्योत्स्नयेवेन्दुः सुवासाः सुष्ठ्वलङ्कृतः ॥ 79.32 ॥

sva-patyāvabhṛtha-snāto jñāti-bandhu-suhṛd-vṛtaḥ reje sva-jyotsnayevenduḥ su-vāsāḥ suṣṭhv alaṅkṛtaḥ

Having taken the concluding avabhritha bath together with His household, and encircled by kinsmen, relatives and friends, Balarama, beautifully robed and adorned, shone forth like the moon in its own soft light.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.79.33)

ईदृग्विधान्यसङ्ख्यानि बलस्य बलशालिनः । अनन्तस्याप्रमेयस्य मायामर्त्यस्य सन्ति हि ॥ 79.33 ॥

īdṛg-vidhāny asaṅkhyāni balasya bala-śālinaḥ anantasyāprameyasya māyā-martyasya santi hi

Countless indeed are such deeds of the mighty Balarama — the boundless, immeasurable One, who through His own maya appears as a mortal.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.79.34)

योऽनुस्मरेत रामस्य कर्माण्यद्भुतकर्मणः । सायं प्रातरनन्तस्य विष्णोः स दयितो भवेत् ॥ 79.34 ॥

yo ’nusmareta rāmasya karmāṇy adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ sāyaṁ prātar anantasya viṣṇoḥ sa dayito bhavet

Whoever remembers, morning and evening, these deeds of Balarama, doer of wonders and manifestation of the boundless Vishnu, becomes truly dear to the Lord.