॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
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Lord Balarama Visits Vrindavan
This chapter relates how Lord Balarama went to Gokula, enjoyed the cowherd girls' company and changed the Yamuna River's course. This is perhaps timewise connected with Sri Krishna’s and Balarama’s sojourn in Mathura. There is no mention of Dwaraka.
One day, Lord Balarama went to Gokula to see his relatives and friends. When he arrived there, the elder Gopis and Lord Krishna’s parents, Nanda and Yashoda, who had all been in great anxiety for a long time, embraced him and blessed him. Lord Balarama offered appropriate respects and greetings to each of his elders according to age, friendship and family relation. After Gokula’s residents and Lord Balarama had inquired about each other’s welfare, the Lord rested from his journey.
In a short while, the young Gopis came to Lord Balarama and questioned Him about Sri Krishna’s well-being. They asked, “Does Sri Krishna still remember his parents and friends, and will he be coming to Gokula to visit them? For Sri Krishna’s sake, we gave up everything — even our fathers, mothers and other relatives — but now he has abandoned us. How could we help but put our faith in Sri Krishna’s words after seeing his sweetly smiling face and thus being overwhelmed by the urges of Cupid? Still, if Sri Krishna can spend his days in separation from us, why can’t we tolerate separation from him? So, there is no reason to keep talking about him.” In this manner, the Gopis remembered Sri Krishna’s charming talks, enchanting glances, playful gestures and loving embraces, and as a result they began to cry. Lord Balarama consoled them by conveying the attractive messages Krishna had given Him for them.
Lord Balarama stayed in Gokula for two months, sporting with the Gopis in the groves on Yamuna’s shore. The gods who witnessed these pastimes played kettledrums in the heavens and showered down flower petals, while the celestial sages recited Balarama’s glories.
One day, Lord Balarama became intoxicated by drinking some Varuni liquor and began wandering about the forest in the company of the Gopis. He called out to the Yamuna, “Come near so the Gopis and I can enjoy sporting in your waters.” But the Yamuna ignored his command. Lord Balarama then started to pull the Yamuna with the end of his plough, splitting her into hundreds of tributaries. Trembling out of fright, the goddess Yamuna appeared, fell at Lord Balarama’s feet and prayed for forgiveness. The Lord let her go and then entered her waters with his girlfriends to sport for some time. When they rose from the water, the goddess Kanti presented Lord Balarama with beautiful ornaments, clothing and garlands. Even today, the Yamuna River flows through the many channels cut by Balarama’s plough, the signs of his having subdued her.
While Lord Balarama played, his mind became enchanted by the Gopis’ pastimes. Thus, the many nights He spent in their company seemed to him like a single night.
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