Chapter 90 - Balarāma’s sport with Ploughshare

Vyāsa said:

1-2. The noble lord Balarāma was thus roaming about in the forest along with the cowherds. He was Śeṣa the supporter of the Earth, who had assumed the false guise of a human being. He had accomplished great tasks. It was for fulfilling a great task that he had taken up this incarnation. Hence, for the purpose of his enjoyment Varuṇa spoke to Vāruṇī (wine).

Varuṇa said:

3. O wine, you have always been liked by (Balarāma) of great prowess, O auspicious one, go now for his joy and enjoyment of pleasures.

Vyāsa said:

4. Thus advised by him Vāruṇī (wine) stationed herself in the hollow of a Kadamba tree growing on the banks of Yamunā in Vṛndāvana.

5. Roaming about that spot Balarāma inhaled the intensive odour of wine. After smelling it he experienced the delight that he previously used to have in wine.

6. O sages, thereafter, Balarāma saw a current of liquor suddenly falling from Kadamba. He derived great joy therefrom.

7. He drank it joyously in the company of cowherds and cowherdesses while experts in songs and instrumental music sang elegantly.

8. Shining with the pearl-like drops of sweat due to excessive heat and fatigue he became agitated and said—“O Yamunā, come hither. I wish to take my bath”.

9. The river disregarded those words of inebriated person. She did not approach him. The infuriated Balarāma (thereupon) seized his ploughshare.

10. Agitated due to inebriation he caught hold of her by the tip of his ploughshare—“O evil-minded one, won’t you come, won’t you come? Then go elsewhere as you please”.

11. Dragged by him suddenly the river left her usual path and Hooded the forest where Balarāma was present.

12. She approached him in an embodied form. Due to fear her eyes were agitated. She said to him “O you having lionclub as your weapon, be pleased, leave me off”.

13. He said:—“If you disregard me in spite of my heroism and strength I shall split you into a thousand bits with the blows of my ploughshare”.

Vyāsa said:

14. When he said thus, he was propitated by the river. When the ground there was flooded, Balarāma released Yamunā.

15-16. Splendour came to him in the forest when he had his bath. Lakṣmī took with her a blue lotus as his ornament, an car-ring, a garland of never-fading lotus flowers sent by Varuṇa and two blue cloths having the lustre of the sea and gave these presents to him.

17. Having adorned himself with the blue lotus, embellishing himself with the beautiful ear-ring and clad in blue garments, the glorious one shone with splendour.

18. Thus embellished, Rāma sported there in the cowherds’ colony. After two months he went to Dvārakā.

19. Balarāma married Revatī the daughter of king Raivata. Two sons, Niśaṭha and Ulumuka were born of her.