The Vishnu Purana (abridged)
27,616 words
The Vishnu Purana (Viṣṇu Purāṇa) is a religious Hindu text and one of the (most important) eighteen Mahapuranas. It is also known as Puranaratna ("gem of Puranas"). Presented as a dialogue between Parashara and his disciple Maitreya, the major topics discussed include creation, stories of battles fought between asuras and devas, the Avat...
Balarama and The River Yamuna
Now that there was peace, Balarama went on a trip to Gokula. There he met all his old friends and throughly enjoyed himself.
One day he found that there was wine issuing out of a kadamba tree. Balarama drank a lot of the wine and became drunk. Since he was drunk he had lost control of his senses. He, therefore, told the river Yamuna, “River Yamuna, I feel like having a bath. Change your course and come here so that I may fulfil my desire.”
Yamuna ignored this instruction. At this, Balarama was enraged and took up his plough. With his plough he grasped the river and pulled her towards himself, “You won’t come , will you?”, he said. “Let me see how you can flow where you wish.”
The course of the river was changed.
Yamuna appeared before Balarama and begged for forgiveness.
This was granted.
When Balarama’s bath was over, Lakshmi appeared before him and gave a garland of lotuses which never fade. She also gave him two pieces of blue clothing.
Balarama returned to Dvaraka after having spent two months in Gokula. He married King Raivata’s daughter Revati and had two sons named Nishatha and Ulmuka.