Chapter LXVI

SHRI SHUKADEVA JEE said,—O great king! on one occasion, Shri Krishna Chund, the root of joy, and Balarama, the abode of happiness, were sitting in a jewelled house, when Baladeva Jee said to Krishna, "Brother! when Kamsa sent to invite us from Vrindavana, and we went off to Mathura, then you and I promised the cowherdesses, and Nanda and Yashoda, that we would return quickly, we have not gone there, but taken up our abode at Dwarka; they will be thinking of us. With your permission I will go and see the place of our birth, and will offer them consolation." Krishna gave his consent; and upon this, Balarama took leave of them all, carrying a ploughshare and pestle; and mounting his chariot, started off.

O great king! the Rajas of all the cities, towns and villages, Balarama Ji passed through, came out to welcome him, and escorted him with the greatest politeness; and he offered consolation to each of them. After some days' journey, Balarama Ji arrived at the city of Awuntika; he paid his respects to the spiritual preceptor, who had instructed him in knowledge, and stayed about ten days with him. On taking leave of his preceptor, Baladeva Jee went on to Gokula, and beheld the cows every where in the jungle with their mouths open, not having eaten any grass, thinking of Shri Krishna Chund, their minds wrapt up in the tones of his lute, wandering about lowing and panting; and behind them the  cowherds' children singing Hari’s praises, and imbued with affection for him, were going along; and on all sides the inhabitants of the city were commending Krishna's exploits and sports. Seeing this condition of the inhabitants and of the cows, on arrival at his birth-place, Balarama took compassion upon them, and his eyes filled with tears; all the cowherds' children came running out, when they saw the flag and banner on the chariot, supposing that Shri Krishna Chund and Balarama had come. Balarama descended from his ruth at their approach, and embraced and began to make the kindest enquiries from each of them; in the mean while, some one told Nanda and Yashoda, "That Baladeva had arrived." On hearing the news, Nanda and Yashoda, and the cowherds rose and rushed out. Balarama, when he saw them from a distance coming towards him, ran and threw himself at the feet of Nanda Rae; then Nanda Jee shedding tears of joy, raised Balarama, and embraced him with the utmost affection, and forgot all the pains of separation; Balarama then went and laid hold of Yashoda’s feet, who fondly clasped him to her bosom, she embraced and clung 'to his neck, tears streaming from her eyes.

Having recited thus much of the history, SHRI SHUKADEVA Jee said to the Raja,—O great king! after this interview, Nanda Rae Jee took Balarama into the house, and began to make kind enquiries, asking "If Ugrasena and Vasudeva, and the Yadus, and Shri Krishna Chund, the root of joy, were all well. Do they ever think of us?" Balarama said, "Through your favour, they are all well and happy, and constantly sing of your good qualities." Nanda Rae was silent when he heard this; then the Ranee Yashoda, tears filling her eyes as she thought of Krishna, said with great emotion, "Baladeva Jee! is Shri Krishna, the star of my eyes, well?" Balarama replied, "That he was quite well." Yashoda then began to say, "Baladeva! since Hari went hence, there has been a darkness before my eyes; and I think of him constantly, day and night, (during the eight puhurs)—and he has entirely forgotten me, and gone and taken up his abode at Dwarka; and behold, my sisters, Devaki and Rohini, have also relinquished all affection for me, consider Gokula as near Mathura; you have thought hitherto that we lived at a distance, Hari would come to see us and pay us visit; but they, (that is, Rohini and Devaki) have arranged that he shall not have another interview with us."

O great king! when having thus spoken, Yashoda was in a state of the greatest agitation, and began to weep, Balarama Ji entered into explanations with her, and made her understand how matters really stood; and inspired her with confidence; afterwards when he had taken refreshment, and eaten pawn, and came out of the house, he saw that all the women of Vraja were emaciated and desponding with dishevelled hair, a dirty appearance, depressed in spirits, neglecting their domestic affairs, deeply in love, in the highest excitement of youthful desire, singing the good qualities of Hari, restless at his absence, and going about in every direction like drunken persons.

O great king! on seeing Balarama, they came running to him with the greatest delight; and making obeisance, surrounded him on all sides; and with joined hands, began to question him, and say, "Tell us, O Balarama! the abode of happiness, where does our soul, the lovely Krishna, now dwell? Does Beharee ever think of us, or has he forgotten all his former love, since he obtained a throne? Since he went hence, he has once sent us a message through Oodho to perform penance; and has taken no further thought of any one; "and as he has now gone to take up his abode in the sea, why should he make enquiries about any of us?" On hearing these words, one of the cowherdesses said, "Friend! who would regret the love of Hari, after seeing the manner he has treated us all? He is not beloved by any one, he who has turned his back upon his father and mother; he does not remain an hour without Radha, and it is she, who has made him stay away; again what have you and I gained by leaving our homes, sacrificing all respect for our families, and for the world, abandoning our sons and husbands, and fixing our affections upon Hari; having embarked us on the boat of love, he has altogether left us in the midst of the sea of separation; and we hear, that Krishna has now gone to Dwarka, and contracted many marriages; and that he has also married sixteen thousand one hundred and eight Rajas' daughters, whom Bhomasoor had kept confined. They have had sons and grandsons, why should he leave them and come here?" Another cowherdess said, "Friend! do not regret in any way on account of the reports about Hari, because Oodho Jee came and mentioned all his good qualities." She again said, "Friends! act now according to my suggestion—let us, having been allowed to touch the feet of Balarama, continue to sing in praise of his good qualities. He is fair, and not of black-coloured body, he will not practise deceit." Balarama said in reply, "I have made this journey for your sakes. I have come here to tell you; and for this purpose Krishna sent me to Vraja; I will stay two months with you, and dance the circular dance, and fulfil all your, expectations."

O great king! Balarama Ji, having thus spoken, gave a command to the women of Vraja, "As this is the night of the full moon of Chuetrù, adorn yourselves, and go into the forest; and I will engage in festive songs and dance with you." Having thus said, Balarama Ji went in the evening to the forest, and all the women of Vraja followed him, wearing elegant dresses, and ornaments? and adorned from head to foot, came to Baladeva, they all remained bending their heads. The beauty of Baladeva cannot be described; of the colour of gold, he was dressed in a blue dress; his moon like countenance and lotus eyes captivated all hearts; a ear-ring shone with lustrous beauty in one of his ears; as though the sun and moon dwelt together; the other ear had drank of the flavour of the celebrity of Hari; and he  did not fasten an ear-ring in it. Jewels in profusion were fastened on all parts of his body, the splendour of which baffles description. The women fell at his feet, saying, "Engage in sports and delightful festive songs and dances with us."

O great king! on hearing this request, Balarama Ji made the mystical sound of "hoon," on uttering which, all the materials, necessary for the festival were immediately produced. The cowherdesses then abandoning all care and modesty, giving themselves up to the passion of love, began to sing and play upon lutes, drums, cymbals, pipes and other musical instruments of all kinds, and gratify Balarama by their merrymaking and dancing, and blandishments.

On hearing them play and sing, and seeing them dance, Baladeva Jee was delighted; and, having drank some spirituous liquor, began to sing and dance, and engage in every kind of sport, and enjoy mutual pleasure; at that time the gods, celestial musicians and choristers, and the demi-gods, accompanied by their wives, and sitting in chariots, singing the praises of Balarama, rained flowers from the sky. The moon and the assembly of the stars, beholding the happiness of the festive assembly, poured down nectar from their rays, the air became still, and the course of water was stopped.

Having recited thus much of the history, SHRI SHUKADEVA Jee said,—O great king! in this manner Balarama Ji engaged at night in festive songs and dances with the women of Vraja, during the months of Chuetrù and Bysakh, and in the day-time made Nanda and Yashoda happy by relating the history of Hari. One night, whilst engaging in festivities, Balarama Ji having gone and reposed on the banks of the river, said angrily, "Yamuna! flow thou here, and forming a thousand streams, bathe me with thy waters; if thou obeyest not my command, thy waters shall be divided into several portions." When, O great king, the Yamuna through pride would not attend to what Balarama Ji said, he drew her towards him with his plough and bathed, and from that day the Yamuna has been bent at that spot. Having bathed and got rid of all his fatigue, Balarama Ji made all the cowherdesses happy; and, taking them with him, went from the forest to the city; there the cowherdesses said, "O lord of the Yadus, take us hence with you."

Having heard this request, Balarama Ji encouraged the hopes of the cowherdesses; and, having inspired them with confidence, allowed them to take leave, and went himself to take leave of Nanda and Yashoda. He then explained to them and gave them comfort also; and after a stay of some days took leave, and set off for Dwarka, where he soon arrived.

Other Vaishnavism Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Chapter LXVI’. Further sources in the context of Vaishnavism might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Dvaraka, Mathura, Yamuna, Balarama, Gokula, Vraja, Chariot, Musical instrument, Tears of joy, Abode of happiness, Good qualities, Imparted knowledge, Spiritual Preceptor, River Yamuna, Affection for Him, Emotional distress, Nanda and Yashoda, Women of Vraja, Sea of separation, Bathing in the Yamuna, Lord of the Yadus, Circular dance.

Concepts being referred within the main category of Hinduism context and sources.

Rajah, Spirituous liquor, Cowherdesses, Mystical sound, Celestial musician.