Canto 10
Chapter 65: Lord Balarāma in Vrindāvana and the Stream Divided
(1) S'rī S'uka said: 'Oh best of the Kurus, [one day] the Supreme Lord Balarāma mounted His chariot eager to see His friends, and traveled to Nanda's cowherd village. (2) Rāma was embraced by the gopas and gopīs, who indeed for a long time had missed Him. After offering His respects to His parents He was joyfully greeted with prayers: (3) 'Oh descendant of Das'ārha, Lord of the Universe, may You and Your younger brother [Krishna] always protect us.' Having said this they pulled Him close on their laps and embraced Him, wetting Him with the water from their eyes. (4-6) In accordance with the scriptures He headed for the elder gopas, following which He was welcomed by the younger ones. Next He approached the cowherds whom He, according to each his age, friendship and family relationship, greeted with smiles and taking their hands into His. After having offered Him a comfortable seat, so that He could rest a while and such, they, who had dedicated their all and everything to the service of their lotus-eyed Krishna, gathered around Him and asked Him, with voices faltering because of their love, questions relating to the welfare of their loved ones [in Dvārakā]. (7) 'Oh Balarāma are all our relatives faring well? Are all Your wives and children still remembering us, oh Rāma? (8) To our great fortune sinful Kamsa was killed and our relatives were freed! Luckily, they took shelter in a fortress [Dvārakā] and managed to kill and conquer our enemies!' (9) Honored to see Balarāma in their midst, the gopīs asked with a smile: 'Is Krishna, the darling of the city women, living happily? (10) Is He still thinking of His people, His [foster] father and His mother? Will He ever come to see His mother personally and does He with the mighty arms remember our enduring service? (11-12) For His sake, oh Lord, we have detached ourselves from those who are so difficult to give up: our mothers, fathers, brothers, husbands, children and sisters, oh descendant of Das'ārha. Suddenly rejecting us and leaving us, He broke with the friendship, but which woman would not trust His words [that He would return]? (13) How can those smart city women, who are attracted by His eloquence, nice smiles and the lust He raises in their hearts, put faith in the words of Him who, so ungrateful, has His heart easily elsewhere and breaks off contact? (14) But why would we dilate about Him any longer, oh gopīs? Let us talk about something else. If He wants to pass His time without us, we will do the same [and try to live without His presence. See also 10.47: 47].'
(15) Thus speaking together the women remembered S'auri's laughing, conversations, attractive glances, gait and loving embrace, and that made them cry. (16) Sankarshana, the Supreme Lord, being an expert in different kinds of conciliation, consoled them with Krishna's confidential messages which touched their hearts. (17) Rāma resided there during the two months Madhu and Mādhava [the first two of the vernal equinox] and also at night brought [amorous] delight to the gopīs [see also 10.15: 8]. (18) In a grove near the Yamunā [known as S'rīrāma-ghaththa] where the wind carried the fragrance of kumuda [night-blooming] lotuses and the full moon bathed the place in its light, He enjoyed it to be served in the company of the many women. (19) From the hollow of a tree the divine [intoxicating liquor] vārunī flowed that was brought by Varuna and, with its aroma, made the entire forest even more fragrant. (20) Balarāma, smelling the fragrance of that honey flow carried by the wind, sought the place where it could be found and drank from it together with the women. (21) As the singers of heaven sang His glory He, beautified by the circle of young women, enjoyed just like Indra's bull elephant with a herd of females. (22) Kettledrums resounded in the sky, the Gandharvas joyfully rained down flowers and the sages praised Balarāma for His heroic deeds. (23) While His pastimes were sung by the women, Halāyudha [Balarāma as 'armed with the plow'], inebriated, with His eyes heavy from the intoxication, wandered through the forest.
(24-25) He with His flowers, with a single earring, mad with joy, carrying His Vaijayantī garland and with His smiling lotuslike face covered by beads of perspiration like it were snowflakes, then called for the Yamunā with the purpose to play in the water. But when the river thereupon ignored His drunken words and did not come, she was by Him angrily dragged with the tip of His plow. (26) 'Being called by Me, oh sinful one, you did not come. Because you, in disregard of Me, are moving about as you like, I shall bring you here with the tip of My plow in a hundred little streams!'
(27) The [goddess of the] Yamunā thus being chided, fell afraid at His feet, oh King, and spoke trembling the following words to the Yadu descendant [*]: (28) 'Rāma, Balarāma, oh mighty armed soul, what do I know about Your prowess, oh Master of the Universe who with a single portion of Yourself [S'esha] upholds the earth? (29) Please, Supreme Lord, let me go, I surrender myself to You. I was not aware of Your status as the Supreme Personality, oh Soul of the Universe taking care of the devotees!'
(30) Balarāma, the Supreme Lord, being entreated by the Yamunā, then released her and together with the women entered the water, like He was the king of the elephants with his wives. (31) After having played to His heart's content He came out of the water, whereupon Kānti ['the female beauty, the brightness of the moon', a name of Lakshmī] presented Him a set of blue garments, most valuable ornaments and a splendid necklace. (32) He put on the blue clothes and hung the golden necklace around His neck. Excellently being ornamented and anointed, He looked as resplendent as the elephant of the great Lord Indra. (33) Oh King, even today the currents of the Yamunā, the way they were drawn by the unlimitedly powerful Balarāma, are considered a proof of His prowess. (34) This is how for Balarāma, with His mind enchanted by the charm and love of the women of the cow community, the nights He enjoyed in Vraja passed like a single one.'
Third revised edition, loaded July 19, 2021.
Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:
S'rī S'uka said: 'Oh best of the Kurus, [one day] the Supreme Lord Balarāma mounted His chariot eager to see His friends, and traveled to Nanda's cowherd village.S'rī S'uka said: 'O best of the Kurus, the Supreme Lord Balarāma mounted [one day] His chariot eager to see His friends and traveled to Nanda's cowherd village. (Vedabase)
Rāma was embraced by the gopas and gopīs, who indeed for a long time had missed Him. After offering His respects to His parents He was joyfully greeted with prayers:
By the gopas and gopīs, who for a long time had missed Him indeed, was Rāma embraced and offering His respects to His parents was He joyfully greeted with prayers: (Vedabase)
'Oh descendant of Das'ārha, Lord of the Universe, may You and Your younger brother [Krishna] always protect us.' Having said this they pulled Him close on their laps and embraced Him, wetting Him with the water from their eyes.
'O descendant of Das'ārha, please always protect us together with Your younger brother, the Lord of the Universe', and saying this pulling Him close on their laps embraced they Him wetting Him with the water from their eyes. (Vedabase)
In accordance with the scriptures He headed for the elder gopas, following which He was welcomed by the younger ones. Next He approached the cowherds whom He, according to each his age, friendship and family relationship, greeted with smiles and taking their hands into His. After having offered Him a comfortable seat, so that He could rest a while and such, they, who had dedicated their all and everything to the service of their lotus-eyed Krishna, gathered around Him and asked Him, with voices faltering because of their love, questions relating to the welfare of their loved ones [in Dvārakā].
Next He headed for the elderly cowherds whom He, taking their hands, greeted with smiles. After having offered Him a comfortable seat so that He could rest a bit and such, gathered they, who had dedicated their all and everything to the service of their lotus-eyed Krishna, around Him and asked they Him, with voices faltering of their love, questions relating to the welfare of their beloved ones. (Vedabase)
'Oh Balarāma are all our relatives faring well? Are all Your wives and children still remembering us, oh Rāma?
'O Balarāma are all our relatives well? Do all of You, wives, children and all, still remember us, o Rāma? (Vedabase)
To our great fortune sinful Kamsa was killed and our relatives were freed! Luckily, they took shelter in a fortress [Dvārakā] and managed to kill and conquer our enemies!'
To our fortune was the sinful Kamsa killed and were our relatives freed; thank God found they shelter in a fortress [Dvārakā] and were our enemies killed and conquered!' (Vedabase)
Honored to see Balarāma in their midst, the gopīs asked with a smile: 'Is Krishna, the darling of the city women, living happily?
Honored to see Rāma in their midst asked the gopīs with a smile: 'Is Krishna, the darling of the city women, living happily? (Vedabase)
Is He still thinking of His people, His [foster] father and His mother? Will He ever come to see His mother personally and does He with the mighty arms remember our enduring service?
Does He still think of His folk, His [foster] father and His mother; will He ever come to visit His mother Himself and does He with His mighty arms remember our enduring service? (Vedabase)
For His sake oh Lord, we have detached ourselves from those who are so difficult to give up: our mothers, fathers, brothers, husbands, children and sisters, oh descendant of Das'ārha. Suddenly rejecting us and leaving us, He broke with the friendship, but which woman would not trust His words [that He would return]?
For His sake have we, o Lord, detached ourselves from those who are so difficult to give up: our mothers, fathers, brothers, husbands, children and sisters, o descendant of Das'ārha. With Him suddenly rejecting us and leaving, has He broken with the friendship, but what woman wouldn't believe in Him now she's again being addressed? (Vedabase)
How can those smart city women, who are attracted by His eloquence, nice smiles and the lust He raises in their hearts, put faith in the words of Him who, so ungrateful, has His heart easily elsewhere and breaks off contact?
In what way could those smart city women put faith in the words of Him who so easily has His heart elsewhere and breaks off the contact? They are mistaken about His eloquence and nice smiles because they factually are motivated by lust! (Vedabase)
But why would we dilate about Him any longer, oh gopīs? Let us talk about something else. If He wants to pass His time without us, we will do the same [and try to live without His presence. See also 10.47: 47].'
But why woud we dilate about Him any longer o gopīs, let's talk about other things; if He wants to pass His time without us, will we do likewise [in trying to live without Him being present. See also [see also 10.47: 47].' (Vedabase)
Thus speaking together the women remembered S'auri's laughing, conversations, attractive glances, gait and loving embrace, and that made them cry.
Thus speaking of the laughter, the conversations, the attractive glances and remembering the gait and the loving embrace of S'auri, the women cried. (Vedabase)
Sankarshana, the Supreme Lord, being an expert in different kinds of conciliation, consoled them with Krishna's confidential messages which touched their hearts.
Sankarshana, the Supreme Lord, being an expert in different kinds of conciliation, consoled them with Krishna's confidential messages that touched their hearts. (Vedabase)
Rāma resided there during the two months Madhu and Mādhava [the first two of the vernal equinox] and also at night brought [amorous] delight to the gopīs [see also 10.15: 8].
Rāma then resided there for the two months of Madhu and Mādhava [the first two of the vernal equinox], during which He also during the nights brought [amorous] delight to the gopīs [see also 10.15: 8]. (Vedabase)
In a grove near the Yamunā [known as S'rīrāma-ghaththa] where the wind carried the fragrance of kumuda [night-blooming] lotuses and the full moon bathed the place in its light, He enjoyed it to be served in the company of the many women.
In a grove near the Yamunā [known as S'rīrāma-ghaththa] with by the wind carried the fragrance of kumuda [night-blooming] lotuses, enjoyed He it, bathing in the light of the full moon, to be served by the many women. (Vedabase)
From the hollow of a tree the divine [intoxicating liquor] vārunī flowed that was brought by Varuna and, with its aroma, made the entire forest even more fragrant.
Sent by Varuna flowed from the hollow of a tree the divine [intoxicating spirit] Vārunī that with its aroma made the entire forest even more fragrant. (Vedabase)
Balarāma, smelling the fragrance of that honey flow carried by the wind, sought the place where it could be found and drank from it together with the women.
Balarāma, smelling the fragrance of that honey flow carried over by the wind, sought the place where it could be found and drank from it together with the women. (Vedabase)
As the singers of heaven sang His glory He, beautified by the circle of young women, enjoyed just like Indra's bull elephant with a herd of females.
Kettledrums resounded in the sky, the Gandharvas with joy rained down flowers and the sages praised Rāma for His heroic deeds. (Vedabase)
Kettledrums resounded in the sky, the Gandharvas joyfully rained down flowers and the sages praised Balarāma for His heroic deeds.
As the singers of heaven sang the glory enjoyed He, beautified by the circle of young women, just like Indra's bull elephant in a herd of females. (Vedabase)
While His pastimes were sung by the women, Halāyudha [Balarāma as 'armed with the plow'], inebriated, with His eyes heavy from the intoxication, wandered through the forest.
With His pastimes being sung by the women wandered Halāyudha [Balarāma as 'armed with the plow'] through the forest inebriated with his eyes heavy of the intoxication. (Vedabase)
He with His flowers, with a single earring, mad with joy, carrying His Vaijayantī garland and with His smiling lotuslike face covered by beads of perspiration like it were snowflakes, then called for the Yamunā with the purpose to play in the water. But when the river thereupon ignored His drunken words and did not come, she was by Him angrily dragged with the tip of His plow.
With flowers, with one earring, mad with joy and carrying His Vaijayantī garland and with His smiling, lotuslike face covered by beads of perspiration like it were snowflakes, called He for the Yamunā with the purpose to play in the water, but when the river thereupon ignored His drunken words, was she by Him angrily with the tip of His plow dragged because she didn't come: (Vedabase)
'Being called by Me, oh sinful one, you did not come. Because you, in disregard of Me, are moving about as you like, I shall bring you here with the tip of My plow in a hundred little streams!'
'You sinful one do not come, being called by Me, and because you, in disrespect of Me, are moving about as you like, will I, dividing you with My plow in a hundred little streams, make you come!' (Vedabase)
The [goddess of the] Yamunā thus being chided, fell afraid at His feet, oh King, and spoke trembling the following words to the Yadu descendant [*]:
Yamunā thus chided, afraid fallen at His feet, o King, spoke trembling to the Yadu descendant the words [*]: (Vedabase)
'Rāma, Balarāma, oh mighty armed soul, what do I know about Your prowess, oh Master of the Universe who with a single portion of Yourself [S'esha] upholds the earth?
'Rāma, Rāma, o mighty armed one, what do I know about the prowess of You by whose single portion [of S'esha] the earth is sustained, o Master of the Universe? (Vedabase)
Please, Supreme Lord, let me go, I surrender myself to You. I was not aware of Your status as the Supreme Personality, oh Soul of the Universe taking care of the devotees!'
Please, o Lord Supreme, let me go, I have surrendered, I wasn't aware of Your status as the Supreme Personality, o Soul of the Universe so compassionate with Your devotees!' (Vedabase)
Balarāma, the Supreme Lord, being entreated by the Yamunā, then released her and together with the women entered the water, like He was the king of the elephants with his wives.
Thus entreated released Balarāma, the Supreme Lord, the Yamunā and then submerged Himself with the women in the water like He was the king of the elephants with his wives. (Vedabase)
After having played to His heart's content He came out of the water, whereupon Kānti ['the female beauty, the brightness of the moon', a name of Lakshmī] presented Him a set of blue garments, most valuable ornaments and a splendid necklace.
Having played as He wanted emerging from the water presented Kānti ['the female beauty, the brightness of the moon', a name of Lakshmī] Him a set of blue garments, most valuable ornaments and a splendid necklace. (Vedabase)
He put on the blue clothes and hung the golden necklace around His neck. Excellently being ornamented and anointed, He looked as resplendent as the elephant of the great Lord Indra.
Dressing up with the blue clothes and putting on the golden necklace appeared He, excellently ornamented and anointed, as resplendent as great lord Indra's elephant. (Vedabase)
Oh King, even today the currents of the Yamunā, the way they were drawn by the unlimitedly powerful Balarāma, are considered a proof of His prowess.
Even today are, o King, the currents of the Yamunā the way they are drawn by Balarāma in His unlimited potency, seen as evidence of His prowess. (Vedabase)
This is how for Balarāma, with His mind enchanted by the charm and love of the women of the cow community, the nights He enjoyed in Vraja passed like a single one.'
Thus passed for Rāma, who in His mind was enchanted by the exquisite women of the cow-community, all the nights that He enjoyed in Vraja, like a single one.' (Vedabase)
*: The paramparā comments: 'According to S'rīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the goddess who appeared before Lord Balarāma is an expansion of S'rīmatī Kālindī, one of Lord Krishna's queens in Dvārakā. S'rīla Jīva Gosvāmī calls her a "shadow" of Kālindī, and S'rīla Vis'vanātha Cakravartī confirms that she is an expansion of Kālindī, not Kālindī herself. S'rīla Jīva Gosvāmī also gives evidence from S'rī Hari-vams'a - in the statement pratyuvācārnava-vadhūm - that Goddess Yamunā is the wife of the ocean. The Hari-vams'a therefore also refers to her as Sāgarānganā.'
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