Dhenukasura
Pralambhasura
Killing of Rukmi (mention Brhad Bhagavatamrta excerpt)
Lord Balarama visits Vrndavana (includes ploughing the Yamuna)
Dvivida Gorilla
Dragging Hastinapura into the Yamuna
Killing of Romaharsana Suta
In Srimad Bhagavatam Lord Balarama is known as kali-malapahah: He who purifies the age of quarrel.
BALARAMA AS THE ORIGINAL
SPIRITUAL MASTER
In the Upanisads it is stated, nayam atma bala-hinena labhyah. The purport is that one cannot attain the supreme platform of self-realization without being sufficiently favored by Balarama. Bala does not mean physical strength. No one can attain spiritual perfection by physical strength. One must have the spiritual strength which is infused by Balarama, or Sankarsana. Ananta, or Sesa, is the power which sustains all the planets in their different positions. Materially this sustaining power is known as the law of gravitation, but actually it is a display of the potency of Sankarsana. Balarama, or Sankarsana, is spiritual power, or the original spiritual master. Therefore Lord Nityananda Prabhu, who is also the incarnation of Balarama, is the original spiritual master. And the spiritual master is the representative of Balarama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who supplies spiritual strength. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is confirmed that the spiritual master is the manifestation of the mercy of Krsna. (Krsna Book Ch. 2)
PRALAMBHASURA
1. Took place in the middle of the hot summer season. Roar of waterfalls drowning the chirping of the crickets. Because of the presence of Krsna and Balarama it was just like spring.
2. So They entered the forest with the cowherd boys, and they all decorated themselves with new leaves, peacock feathers, clusters of flower buds, garlands and coloured minerals. Then the boys began mock fighting (wrestling). They would grab each others’ hair, whirl each other around, jump throw, slap and drag each other.
VCT — they would play tag. They would have to identify a person who covered their eyes from behind. They would wager their flutes, sticks, ropes etc on the outcome of these games. They would sometimes act as kings. In this mood they began the practice of stopping the gopis and demanding taxes.
3. Then Pralambhasura, who had disguised himself as a cowherd boy, came with the intent of kidnapping Krsna and Balarama
VCT — Pralambhasura assumed the form of one boy who had remained at home for the day because of duties to do there.
4. Even though He understood the situation, Lord Krsna pretended to be friendly to the disguised Pralambhasura, although at the same time He was meditating on how to kill him.
SG — the Lord wanted to glorify Balarama by having Him be carried around on the shoulders of the demon.
5. Krsna and Balarama then became the 2 leaders of opposing teams.
SG — those who were naturally Krsna’s friends were on His side, and those who were naturally Balarama’s friends joined His side
6. Then they played various types of games which involve the carrier and the carried. In those games the winners climb on the shoulders of the losers, who then have to carry them.
7. So, playing in that way, and herding the cows, they eventually reached Bhandiravana, right to the big banyan tree. (Even while they played these games they were still herding the cows.)
8. Eventually the members of Balarama’s team won, so Krsna’s team had to carry them.
9. Pralambha, who had been on Krsna’s team, had to carry Balarama.
10. He thought He would not be able to confront Krsna. He carried Balarama beyond the boundary of the game — the banyan tree.
SG — he wanted to go beyond the vision of Krsna because he was afraid of Him.
11. Balarama increased his weight, and the demon was forced to manifest his orginal form. Looked just like a cloud shining with lightning, carrying the moon. (Moon=Balarama)
12. Balarama appeared to become a little frightened by the appearance of the demon.
VCT — Krsna had covered Balarama with yogamaya. He wanted the whole pastime to go like this, so that Balarama would be carried by the demon in this huge form, so that Balarama would be carried up in the sky.
13. Then realizing the situation, Balarama struck the demon on the head, like Indra breaks a mountain with his thunderbolt.
SG — in Visnu Purana Krsna says: “What is this mentality of a mere man which You are exhibiting, O Soul of all, even though Your own true nature is more confidential than all other secret things?” Then Balarama’s remembrance immediately came back. One explanation is that He thought it improper to kill a cowherd boy, but when Krsna reminded Him He remembered how Krsna had killed a woman and a calf, so He was no longer afraid to kill a cowherd boy, even though He would not normally want to.
VCT — Krsna felt a little afraid for Balarama.
If Balarama had been aware of the actual situation He would have killed the demon long before, and the pastime would not have been able to unfold as it has, and Krsna would not have enjoyed it the way He did. (He wanted it to unfold as it did so He could see these things.
14. Pralambhasura’s head immediately split in two, he vomited blood and fell to the ground, just like a mountain attacked by Indra. Pralambha then attained impersonal liberation.
LORD KRSNA’S MARRIAGE TO RUKMINI
Lord Krsna, after hearing all these crazy words from Rukmi, immediately shot an arrow and severed the string of Rukmi’s bow, making him unable to use another arrow. Rukmi immediately took another bow and shot another five arrows at Krsna. Being attacked for the second time, Krsna again severed Rukmi’s bowstring. Rukmi took a third bow, and Krsna again cut its string. This time, to teach Rukmi a lesson, Krsna shot six arrows at him and then shot another eight arrows, killing four horses with four arrows, killing the chariot driver with another arrow, and chopping off the upper portion of Rukmi’s chariot, including the flag, with the remaining three arrows.
Rukmi, having run out of arrows, took assistance from swords, shields, tridents, lances and similar weapons used for fighting hand to hand, but Krsna immediately broke them all in the same way. Being repeatedly baffled in his attempts, Rukmi took his sword and ran swiftly toward Krsna, just as a fly proceeds toward a fire. But as soon as Rukmi reached Krsna, Krsna cut his weapon to pieces. This time Krsna took out His sharp sword and was about to kill him immediately, but Rukmi’s sister, Rukmini, understanding that this time Krsna would not excuse her brother, fell down at Krsna’s lotus feet and in a very grievous tone, trembling with great fear, began to plead with her husband.
In this manner, when Rukmini was very much perturbed, she fell down on the ground, and Lord Krsna immediately became compassionate and agreed not to kill the foolish Rukmi. But, at the same time, He wanted to give him some light punishment, so He tied him up with a piece of cloth and snipped at his mustache, beard and hair, keeping some spots here and there.
Arguments:
1. Krsna, Your action is not at all satisfactory,” He said. “This is an abomination very much contrary to Our family tradition! To cut someone’s hair and shave his mustache and beard is almost comparable to killing him. Whatever Rukmi might have been, he is now Our brother-in-law, a relative of Our family, and You should not have put him in such a condition.”
2. After this, to pacify Rukmini, Lord Balarama said to her, “You should not be sorry that your brother has been made odd-looking. Everyone suffers or enjoys the results of his own actions.”
3. Lord Balarama again turned toward Krsna and said, “My dear Krsna, a relative, even though he commits such a blunder and deserves to be killed, should be excused. For when such a relative is conscious of his own fault, that consciousness itself is like death. Therefore, there is no need to kill him.”
4. Balarama again turned toward Rukmini and informed her that the current duty of the ksatriya in human society is so fixed that, according to the principles of fighting, one’s own brother may become an enemy. Then a ksatriya does not hesitate to kill his own brother. In other words, Lord Balarama wanted to instruct Rukmini that Rukmi and Krsna were right in not showing mercy to each other in the fighting, despite the family consideration that they happened to be brothers-in-law. Sri Balarama informed Rukmini that ksatriyas are typical emblems of the materialistic way of life; they become puffed up whenever there is a question of material acquisition. Therefore, when there is a fight between two belligerent ksatriyas for kingdom, land, wealth, women, prestige or power, they try to put one another into the most abominable condition.
5. Balarama instructed Rukmini that her affection toward her brother Rukmi, who had created enmity with so many persons, was a perverse consideration befitting an ordinary materialist. Her brother’s character was not at all admirable, considering his treatment toward other friends, and yet Rukmini, as an ordinary woman, was affectionate toward him. He was not fit to be her brother, and still Rukmini was lenient toward him.
6. “Besides that,” Balarama continued, “the consideration that a person is neutral or is one’s friend or enemy is generally made by persons in the bodily concept of life. Such foolish persons are bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord. The spirit soul is of the same pure quality in any embodiment of matter, but those who are not sufficiently intelligent see only the bodily differences between animals and men, literates and illiterates, rich and poor, which cover the pure spirit soul.
After hearing such enlightening instructions from Sri Balarama, Rukmini immediately became pacified and happy and adjusted her mind, which was very much afflicted by the degraded position of her brother Rukmi.
INCIDENT WITH GOPA KUMARA
Handsome Balarama, whose fair complexion was decorated with blue garments, who was dressed and decorated as His younger brother was, and who was only slightly older than He, with great fear quickly came from far away.
73 Balarama, the leader of the wise, cried at first, but then He became peaceful at heart. He looked about. He took my arms and carefully placed them around the neck of His younger brother.
74 He made my hand stroke Krsna’s handsome limbs. He made me call out to Him with wonderfully sweet words. He made me lift Him from the ground.
75 At once Krsna opened the charming lotus eyes that had been sealed by streams of tears. Seeing me, He happily embraced and kissed me, but then, looking around, He became embarrassed.
76 Having attained me, a friend more dear than life He had not seen for a long time, taking my hand in His left lotus hand, asking me wonderful questions, bringing happiness to all the people of Vraja, and walking as gracefully as an elephant, the handsome Lord entered the village of Vraja.
LORD BALARAMA KILLS RUKMI
The King of Kalinga was a friend of Rukmi and gave him the ill advice to play chess with Balarama and thus defeat Him in a bet. Among ksatriya kings, betting and gambling in chess was not uncommon. If someone challenged a ksatriya to play on the chessboard, the ksatriya could not deny the challenge. Sri Balaramaji was not a very expert chess player, and this was known to the King of Kalinga. So Rukmi was advised to retaliate against the family members of Krsna by challenging Balarama to play chess. Although not an expert chess player, Sri Balaramaji was very enthusiastic in sporting activities. He accepted Rukmi’s challenge and sat down to play. Betting was with gold coins, and Balarama first of all challenged with one hundred coins, then one thousand coins, then ten thousand coins. Each time, Balarama lost, and Rukmi was victorious.
Sri Balarama’s losing the game was an opportunity for the King of Kalinga to criticize Krsna and Balarama. Thus the King of Kalinga was talking jokingly and purposefully showing his teeth to Balarama. Because Balarama was the loser in the game, He was a little intolerant of the sarcastic joking words and became somewhat agitated. Rukmi again challenged Balarama and made a bet of a hundred thousand gold coins, but fortunately this time Balarama won. Nonetheless, out of cunningness Rukmi claimed that Balarama was the loser and that he himself had won. Because of this lie, Balaramaji became most angry with Rukmi. His agitation was so sudden and great that it appeared like a tidal wave in the ocean on a full-moon day. Balarama’s eyes are naturally reddish, and when He became agitated and angry His eyes became more reddish. This time He challenged and made a bet of a hundred million coins.
Again Balarama was the winner according to the rules of chess, but Rukmi again cunningly claimed that he had won. Rukmi appealed to the princes present, and he especially mentioned the name of the King of Kalinga. During the dispute there was a voice from the sky, and it announced that for all honest purposes Balarama was the actual winner of this game, that He was being abused, and that the statement of Rukmi that he had won was absolutely false.
In spite of this divine voice, Rukmi insisted that Balarama had lost, and by his persistence it appeared that he had death upon his head. Falsely puffed up by the ill advice of his friend, he did not give much importance to the oracle, and he began to criticize Balaramaji. He said, “My dear Balaramaji, You two brothers, cowherd boys only, may be very expert in tending cows, but how can You be expert in playing chess or shooting arrows on the battlefield? These arts are well known only to the princely order.” Hearing this kind of pinching talk by Rukmi and hearing the loud laughter of all the other princes present there, Lord Balarama became as agitated as burning cinders. He immediately took His club in His hand and, without further talk, struck Rukmi on the head. From that one blow, Rukmi fell down immediately and was dead and gone. Thus Rukmi was killed by Balarama on that auspicious occasion of Aniruddha’s marriage. These things are not very uncommon in ksatriya society.
The King of Kalinga, being afraid that he would be the next one attacked, fled from the scene. Before he could escape even a few steps, however, Balaramaji immediately captured him, and because the King had always shown his teeth while criticizing Balarama and Krsna, Balarama broke all the King’s teeth with His club. The other princes supporting the King of Kalinga and Rukmi were also captured, and Balarama beat them with His club, breaking their legs and hands. They did not try to retaliate but thought it wise to run away from the bloody scene.
During this strife between Balarama and Rukmi, Lord Krsna did not utter a word, for He knew that if He supported Balarama, Rukmini would be unhappy, and if He said that the killing of Rukmi was unjust, then Balarama would be unhappy. Therefore, Lord Krsna was silent on the death of His brother-in-law Rukmi on the occasion of His grandson’s marriage. He did not disturb His affectionate relationship with either Balarama or Rukmini. After this, the bride and bridegroom were ceremoniously seated on the chariot, and they started for Dvaraka, accompanied by the bridegroom’s party. The bridegroom’s party was always protected by Lord Krsna, the killer of the Madhu demon. Thus they left Rukmi’s kingdom, Bhojakata, and happily started for Dvaraka.
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