Balarama 2

Duryodhana and Bhima

We see that there was a disagreement between Krsna and Baladeva, which was not really a disagreement but a semblance of it for the purpose of the successful execution of Their pastimes together.

Also, in the final days of the battle of Kuruksetra, Bhima had a club-fight with Duryodhana. Both had learned club-fighting from Baladeva prabhu. In the beginning of the duel Baladeva arrived there. Then, in front of Baladeva, Krsna gave a signal to Bhima, and Bhima gave a heavy blow with his club on Duryodhana’s thigh. To beat someone below the waist is against the rules of club-fighting, but it was Krsna who advised Bhima to do so. In great anger, Baladeva raised his club, ready to kill Bhima

Krsna then remarked, “Today You are just in time, brother. But where were You when Duryodhana, Sakuni, and others murdered our dear nephew, Abhimanyu? When this wicked Duryodhana tried to burn the Pandavas alive in the shellac palace, where were You to save them? When he and his brothers tried to undress Draupadi in the Kaurava assembly, where were You to protect her? Where were You when Duryodhana did all this injustice to the Pandavas?

Baladeva then calmed his anger and left the scene in silence. He acted in accordance with Krsna’s desire.

Lord Baladeva’s pastimes are unlimited, His virtues are unlimited, and His love for Krsna is unlimited.

Balarama and Rukmi

The King of Vidarbha, Maharaja Bhismaka, was very qualified and devoted. He had five sons and only one daughter called Rukmini.
Naturally Rukmini had a chance to talk with them, and in this way she obtained information about Krsna. She was informed about the six opulences of Krsna, and simply by hearing about Him she desired to surrender herself to His lotus feet and become His wife.

Krsna had also heard of Rukmini. She was the reservoir of all transcendental qualities: intelligence, auspicious physical features, liberal-mindedness, exquisite beauty and righteous behavior. Krsna therefore decided that she was fit to be His wife.

All of the relatives of King Bhismaka decided that Rukmini should be given in marriage to Krsna. But her elder brother Rukmi, despite the desire of the others, arranged for her marriage with Sisupala, a determined enemy of Krsna. When the black-eyed, beautiful Rukmini heard of the settlement, she immediately became very morose.

She sent a brahmana to Krishna with a message to kidnap her.

Damaghosa, Sisupala’s father, executed all kinds of ritualistic performances to invoke good fortune for his son.

Krishna kidnaps Rukmini and the Yadava defeat the princes.

Rukmi:
He presented himself as a big commander and vowed before all the princes,
“Unless I kill Krsna in the fight and bring back my sister from His clutches, I shall not return to my capital city, Kundina. I make this vow before you all, and you will see that I shall fulfill it.”

Kridhna defeats Rukmi

Rukmini saves his brother life but Krishna humiliates him.

Balarama rebukes Krishna.

Pradyumna marries Rukmavati, daughter of Rumi, for affection he had for Rukmini

For the festivities of Aniruddha;s wedding with Rocana (Rukmi granddoughetr) Rukmi challenged Balarama at chess.

Rukmi wins, after Balarama wins. Rukmi accuses Balarama of chieating and a voice form the sky says Balarama had won.

Kauravas chastised

Samba, the darling son of Jambavati and Krishna, kidnapped Laksmana the daughter of Duryodhana from the assembly were she was supposed to choose her husband.
The furious Kauravas after a prolonged fight, finally arrested Samba by sending in six of their greatest warriors. When the Yadavas heard of this they prepared for battle but Lord Balarama pacified them, preferring to find a peaceful solution.
However when He requested the Kauravas to return Samba and Laksmana, the Kauravas responded by insulting Him and the Yadava dynasty.
Understanding them to be ignorant in their false prestige, Balarama took His plow and began to drag Hastinapura into the Ganges. The terrified Kauravas now surrendered to the lotus feet of Balarama, begging for His mercy.
They immediately returned Samba and Laksmana and had them married ceremoniously with many opulent gifts.

Yamuna devi chastised
Once Lord Balarama, Who was at the time living in Dwarka, came back to stay in Vrindavana for two months. At this time He enjoyed pastimes with His gopi friends (who were different from the gopis of Krishna). Enjoying such pastimes on the bank of Yamuna at Rama-ghata, the Lord summoned Yamuna so that He could sport in the waters. When Yamuna devi did not respond. Lord Balarama took up His favorite weapon, His plow, and began to drag Yamuna in a hundred streams. Understanding the position of Balarama, Yamuna devi personally appeared and offered her obeisances to the Lord with many prayers in His glorification. Thus appeased the Lord entered and bathed in the waters of the river.

Puranic

BALABHADRA. (Balabhadrarama, Balarama, Baladeva). The elder brother of Sri Krsna and the eighth incarnation of Mahavisnu.*

2) The colour of Balarama and Sri Krrna.
Sri Krsna is the eighth child of Devaki. The elder brother Balarama is white in complexion while the younger, Sri Krsna is black in complexion. There is a story behind this.

The devas decided to be born as Gopalas (shepherds) in the earth to be of help to Krsna in his duty of killing the wicked. They informed Mahavisnu of their decision and the Lord was immensely pleased. He then took one white hair from his head and said that it would go to Rohini’s womb and change into Balarama and taking a black hair said that it would go into Devaki’s womb and change into Sri Krsna. It was thus that Balabhadra became white and Sri Krsna black. (Chapter 199, Adi Parva, M.B.).

‘Since the life of Balabhadra is so mixed with that of Krsna a complete life story of Balarama could be had only if it is read along with that of Krsna.

3) Brothers.
Balabhadrarama had six brothers born of his mother Rohini. They were: Gada, Sarana, Durddama, Vipula, Dhruva, and Krta. (Navama Skandha, Bhagavata).

4) Till their marriage Sri Krsna spent his childhood in Arizbadi and Balarama, in Madhura. Once the sage Garga went to the house of Vasudeva and it was he who then told the story behind the births of Balarama and Krsna. Hearing this Vasudeva went to Madhura and brought Balabhadrarama also to Arhbadi. Gargamuni then performed all those sacred rites which were usually done to boys of that age and both of them then remained in Ambadi. Several important events happened during their stay here, notable among which are:

Demons killed
Putanamoksam (killing of the demoness Putana and giving her salvation).
Sakatasuravadha (killing the asura, Sakala),
Trnavarttavadha (killing the asura, Trnavartta) ,
Vatsasuravadha (killing the asura, Vatsa),
Bakavadha (killing the demon bird, Baka),
Aghasuravadha (killing the asura, Agha),
Dhenukasuravadha (killing the asura, Dhenuka),
Kaliamardana (beating the snake, Kalia) and
Pralambavadha (killing Pralamba). (See under Krsna for more details).

Kamsa
Kamsa conducted a Capapuja (worship of the bow) to kill Krsna. It was on a festive scale and both Krsna and Balarama went to Madhura to attend the same. There they killed Karizsa and after that went to the asrama of Sandipani Maharsi for education. When they completed their education they at the request of the preceptor gave as Gurudaksina (The fee you pay in the end for the instructions given) the lost child of the guru. Then they went to Madhura and there several events took place, important among which was the fight between Ki’sna and jarasandha. By this time the Yadavas were becoming lean financially and so to make some money Krsna and Rama went to the diamond-infested mountain of Gomantaka. On their way they met Parasurama doing penance under a Banyan tree. On the advice of Para’surama they killed Srgalavasudeva and got immense wealth. On their return Rama and Ksna along with many Yadavas went and settled down in* the island, Dvaraka, in the western ocean. (Dasama Skandha, Bhagavata).

Killing of Romaharsana

6) A pilgrimage. When the great Pandava-Kaurava battle started Krsna became the charioteer of Arjuna and Balarama went to the forest, Naimisa. He was not much interested in the battle.
At the forest of Naimisa he saw Suta telling Puranic stories to the several sages assembled there before him.
Suta did not rise up when he saw Balarama and the latter moved to anger very soon cut off thehead of Suta.
The sages assembled there decried the act of Balarama and lamented deeply over the incident. At this Balarama promised that he would give birth, from the dead body of Suta, to one who will be well versed in all the Vedas, ‘sastras and sciences. The sages then blessed Balarama.

During that time there lived in the vicinity of Naimisa forest a demon called Balvala (Vatkala). He used to annoy the sages there and the sages requested Balarama to put a stop to the atrocities of that demon. He immediately killed the demon by his weapon, Hala, and then raised from the dead body of Suta a pandita of great erudition. Later, to remedy the sin of killing Sata, Balarama, repentant, visited all the sacred places in Bharata.

Duryodhana and Bhima fight
Once when he heard, about the grim battle between Duryodhana and Bhimasena, he went to the battle-field and tried his best to stop the war. Disappointed he returned to Dvaraka. (Dasama Skandha, Chapter 79, Bhagavata) .

7) Death. Once the rsis Narada, Kanva and ViAvamitra came to Dvaraka. To make fun of them some of the Yadavas dressed a Yadava like a pregnant woman and producing her before the sages asked them what child she would deliver. Enraged at this the munis said in one voice that she would deliver a mace and that iron mace would be the cause of the end of all Yadavas.

After the Mahabharata battle the Yadava dynasty remained alive only for thirtysix years. After that by the curse of the brahmin the Yadavas were all killed in a drunken brawl between themselves in the very presence of Krsna and Balabhadra. This happened on the shore of Prabhasa tirtha and Balarama was sitting there then in deep meditation. Suddenly the soul of Balarama went out from his mouth in the shape of a white serpent and the serpent entering the nether world was given a warm welcome by the prominent serpents there. (Mausala Parva, M.B.).

8) Other details.

(1) It was Balabhadrarama who taught Bhimasena the mace-fight. ($loka 4, Chapter 138, Adi Parva, M.B.).

(2) Balabhadrarama was present along with Sri krsna at the marriage of Paiicali. (8loka 17, Chapter 185, Adi Parva, M.B. ).

(3) Balabhadrarama became very indignant when he heard about Arjuna carrying away Subhadra and it was Krsna who pacified him. (Chapter 22, Adi Parva, M.B. ). (4) He was present at the marriage of Abhimanyu conducted at the city of Upaplavya. (9loka 2 1, Chapter 72, Virata Parva, M.B.).

(5) He was very insistent that the Pandavas and Kauravas should come to a truce. (Chapter 2, Udyoga Parva, M.B.).

(6) He witnessed the battle of maces between Duryodhana and Bhimasena at Kuruksetra. (Chapter 34, Salya Parva, M.B.).

(7) Balarama conducted a pilgrim tour and visited all the holy places of Bharata at a time when the PandavaKaurava war was in full swing. (Chapter, 35-54, Salya Parva, M.B.).

(8) Balarama was of opinion that it was unjust of Bhimasena to have killed Duryodhana and was about to kill Bhimasena. (Sloka 4, Chapter 60, Salya Parva, M.B.). (9) Once Balar ama spoke in extolling terms about the secrets of Dharma. (Sloka 17, Chapters 126, Salya Parva, M.B.).

( 10) It was Balarama who performed the obsequies of Abhimanyu. (Sloka 6, Chapter 62, Asvamedha Parva, M.B.).

(11) He went to Hastinapura when Yudhisthira performed the Asvamedha yaga. (Sloka 4, Chapter 66, A’svamedha Parva, M.B.).

(12) Balardma introduced Prohibition in Dvaraka. (Sloka 29, Chapter 1, Mausala Parva, M.B.).

(13) Once he made dry the river Kalindi. (See Kdlindi) . BALABHADRARAMA II. A very mighty serpent. (Sloka 37, Chapter 1, Adi Parva, M.B.).

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