॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Tuesday, 11 April 2023 - X a.15 - Balarama kills Dhenukasura. Sri Krishna rescues those fatally poisoned by Kaliya inhabiting the Yamuna waters.
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Sage Shuka describes in delectable detail the fun and frolic that all the Gopa boys have with Sri Krishna and Balarama. These two boys are now around seven years of age and considered grown up enough to lead the cattle to grazing grounds on their own. The technical term in Sanskrit for this age for boys is पौगण्डवयः.
Bhagavan reveals the poet in himself when he sings the praises of the handsome, heroic, charming, Balarama in many verses. I quote a sample:
एतेऽलिनस्तव यशोऽखिललोकतीर्थं गायन्त आदिपुरुषानुपदं भजन्ते ।
प्रायो अमी मुनिगणा भवदीयमुख्या गूढं वनेऽपि न जहत्यनघात्मदैवम् ॥
नृत्यन्त्यमी शिखिन ईड्य मुदा हरिण्यः कुर्वन्ति गोप्य इव ते प्रियमीक्षणेन ।
सूक्तैश्च कोकिलगणा गृहमागताय धन्या वनौकस इयान् हि सतां निसर्गः ॥
T: "Oh, Lord, the Primeaval Man, hiding your divinity, you roam and sport here in Vrindavana. But the sages have come to offer their prayers to you in the form of buzzing honeybees! They don't wish to leave their chants even for a moment!"
"Dear elder brother Balarama! Indeed see how the peacocks are celebrating your arrival! The deer are darting their glances like beautiful Gopis at you. The cuckoos are singing enchanting melodies. All the denizens of the forest are exhibiting the best courtesies to us, as Dharmic hosts!"
And so on.
Just then, the Gopas inform Sri Krishna and Balarama that nearby there is a wonderful fruit orchard full of ripe dates so delicious that one would go at once to eat them. But unfortunately, an Asura of name Dhenuka has established himself there with his demoniac associates and eats up anyone who goes there.
Naturally, our heroes Balarama and Sri Krishna go at once to address the matter. Balarama goes to a tall palm tree laden with juicy dates and shakes it real hard so all the fruits fall down and all the Gopas begin eating them. Dhenuka comes braying for Balarama's blood in the form of a fierce wild-ass. The ass kicks Balarama really hard with his hind legs. Balarama coolly picks him up by holding his deadly hind legs in just one hand, twirls him and hurls high and violently throws him high into the air. Dhenuka comes crashing down dead, dashing against the top of the very same tree!
तांस्तानापतत: कृष्णो रामश्च नृप लीलया ।
गृहीतपश्चाच्चरणान् प्राहिणोत्तृणराजसु ॥
गृहीतपश्चाच्चरणान् प्राहिणोत्तृणराजसु ॥
T: Dhenuka's associate demons now rushed and attacked Balarama and Sri Krishna. The two hurled them one by one into the air and all the Asuras crashed to their death.
Greatly relieved, enjoying themselves feasting on the fruits in the orchard, the Gopas led by Sri Krishna and Balarama returned to Vraja.
The boys went to the back of the Yamuna with their cattle while Sri Krishna and Balarama went home. Just then news came of extreme danger. It appeared that the Yamuna waters had become poisonous and all the Gopas and their cattle lay dead!
वीक्ष्य तान् वै तथाभूतान् कृष्णो योगेश्वरेश्वरः । ईक्षयामृतवर्षिण्या स्वनाथान् समजीवयत् ॥
ते सम्प्रतीतस्मृतयः समुत्थाय जलान्तिकात् । आसन् सुविस्मिताः सर्वे वीक्षमाणाः परस्परम् ॥
T: Seeing his dear ones all lying dead from poisoning, Yogeshwara Bhagavan Sri Krishna at once used His mere glance filled with Amrutha to bring them back all to life. All the Gopas and their cattle became conscious, blinking in wonderment about how they had died and since been relivened by Sri Krishna.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
