॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Friday, 14 April 2023 - X a.18 - Sri Krishna and Balarama have a great time in the salubrious Vrindavan with Gopas when Pralambasura comes to abduct them. Balarama finishes him off.
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The childhood pastimes of Sri Krishna and Balarama in Vrindavan are described enchantingly by Vyasa in several verses.
व्रजे विक्रीडतोरेवं गोपालच्छद्ममायया । ग्रीष्मो नामर्तुरभवन्नातिप्रेयाञ्छरीरिणाम् ॥
स च वृन्दावनगुणैर्वसन्त इव लक्षितः । यत्रास्ते भगवान् साक्षाद्रामेण सह केशवः ॥
वनं कुसुमितं श्रीमन्नदच्चित्रमृगद्विजम् । गायन्मयूरभ्रमरं कूजत्कोकिलसारसम् ॥
क्रीडिष्यमाणस्तत्कृष्णो भगवान् बलसंयुतः ।वेणुं विरणयन् गोपैर्गोधनैःसंवृतोऽविशत् ॥
T: While Sri Krishna and Balarama continued to have a splendid time in their incarnations as cowherds in the company of their friends, Vraja experienced the burning heat of summer, unwelcome by anyone. Sri Krishna knew that Vrindavan was blessed by tall trees of shade and plenty of water bodies and the Yamuna river nearby, so it was an oasis of shade and coolness. So all the boys took their cattle and went away to Vrindavan for a great time.
It was perennial spring season there, as it were. The water cascades and dashing river waves used to splash everyone with cool drops. The birds and insects were in constant song, drowned by the sound of flowing waters. Vrindavan was a continual celebration of Nature. The grass was luscious green. The flowers spread much fragrance. The flowering garden attracted spotted deer and birds of coloured feathers. Peacocks danced, cuckoos, cranes and bees were busy with their music. As the Gopas played endlessly, Sri Krishna and Balarama joined in all the fun. Krishna was playing his flute, watching the Gopas tending their cattle with much joy.
Sage Vyasa mentions how all the boys had a great aesthetic sense and decorated themselves with lovely flowers, leaves and creepers and danced merrily. Some were fighting mock wrestling matches, and some were singing their favourite songs. Sri Krishna was a great dancer and when he danced, all the Gopas accompanied him on various instruments. There were constant shouts of Bravo! Well done, Krishna! and so on. Vyasa reminds us that all the Gopas were themselves gods incarnated to be with Bhagavan.
The games they played were many- Rama and Krishna holding hands and rotating in circles, leaping, running, chasing, hopping, plucking fruits, getting them by catapults when beyond their reach, and so on. The Gopas made ropes and played tug of war. They used unripe fruits like Bel and Gooseberry as balls to play the original version of cricket. Hide and seek was a favourite too. Making faces, mimicry, hanging from trees like langurs and so on were frequent games. Some would start carrying others on their backs and run. Sometimes they would play-act as King and his court and so on.
Imagine the verdant forest, the cool breeze, the lovely shade, the flowers, birds, animals, and all the Gopas having such fabulous fun. You get the picture.
पशूंश्चारयतोर्गोपैस्तद्वने रामकृष्णयोः । गोपरूपी प्रलम्बोऽगादसुरस्तज्जिहीर्षया ॥
तं विद्वानपि दाशार्हो भगवान् सर्वदर्शनः ।अन्वमोदत तत्सख्यं वधं तस्य विचिन्तयन् ॥
तत्रोपाहूय गोपालान् कृष्णः प्राह विहारवित् । हे गोपा विहरिष्यामो द्वन्द्वीभूय यथायथम् ॥
T: Pralamba, an Asura, wanted to abduct Sri Krishna and Balarama, presumably for a big reward from Kamsa. He, therefore, assumed the form of a Gopa, came to Vrindavan, and blended in with the large contingent of Gopas easily. Sri Krishna who missed no trick in the universe saw him and thought about how to deal with him. He announced that there would be a new set of games between two teams. Balarama headed one team and Sri Krishna the other. The games were many. The winning team of boys would be carried on their shoulders by the defeated side to a designated spot. This game started and simultaneously, the boys were also grazing the cattle. Thus, the entire group slowly moved to a spot called Bhandiravana.
Pralamba was greatly afraid of Krishna, having heard of his exploits. So he played safe by being in Krishna's team. When Krishna's team was defeated, Krishna carried Sri Dama on his shoulder, and Bhadrasena carried Vrishabha, and so on. Thus, a chance came for Pralamba to carry Balarama on his shoulders. What a golden chance! Pralamba put Balarama on his shoulders, and started running. He ran quite far, and Balarama was wondering what was happening when the Asura cast aside his Gopa form and revealed himself to be a terrific monster! Balarama decided to increase his own weight and he became unbearable. The dark demon was wearing shining ornaments and displaying bushy brows and sharp teeth and rough red hair. In fact, Balarama was somewhat scared!
अथागतस्मृतिरभयो रिपुं बलो विहायसार्थमिव हरन्तमात्मनः ।
रुषाहनच्छिरसि दृढेन मुष्टिना सुराधिपो गिरिमिव वज्ररंहसा ॥
दृष्ट्वा प्रलम्बं निहतं बलेन बलशालिना ।
गोपाः सुविस्मिता आसन् साधु साध्विति वादिनः ॥
पापे प्रलम्बे निहते देवाः परमनिर्वृताः ।अभ्यवर्षन् बलं माल्यैः शशंसुः साधु साध्विति ॥
T: Then Balarama remembered his own true nature. He was Adi Shesha who bore the world on his hood! He realised that the game was up. He began to rain blows on Pralamba's head with his fists like Indra struck mountains with the Vajra. Just as the mountains were shattered by Indra's blows, Pralamba's head was shattered by Balarama and he fell down vomiting blood and died. All this was being seen by the terrified Gopas, who were at last mightily relieved and shouted cries of victory. Again, they had been saved from a monster! Balarama was safe!
The gods who were watching this from the heavens celebrated the death of evil Pralamba who had a rowdy sheet very long. They rained garlands of celestial flowers on Lord Balarama. There were proclamations of "Sadhu! Sadhu!- Well Done! Well done!"
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
