Balarama Puranic

Puranic

Balarama
Puranic

The elder brother of Sri Krsna and the eighth incarnation of Mahavisnu.*

1) Birth. When the number of wicked kings increased Bhumidevi (goddess of Earth) turned herself into a cow and took refuge in Mahavisnu.
Mahavisnu then promised to be born as the sons of Vasudeva named Balabhadrarama and Sri Krsna and destroy the wicked. Vasudeva was the son of the Yadava, Surasena, King of Madhura. To Devaka the brother of another Yadava King, Ugrasena, was born a daughter Devaki.
The marriage of Devaki with Vasudeva was celebrated but on the same day an Asaririni (a heavenly voice from above) said that the eighth child of Devaki would kill Kariisa. Instantly Kariisa put both Vasudeva and Devaki in jail. The first six sons born to Devaki were killed the moment they were born by striking them against the ground. Devaki became pregnant for the seventh time. The babe in the womb was Ananta incarnate by Visnu’s directive to be of help to him when he would also be born soon as K,rsna. Therefore it was necessary to save the child from the cruel hands of Kaxiisa as it was certain he would kill the babe the same way he had killed all the others before. So he ordered Mayadevi to take the child from the womb of Devaki and place it in that of Rohini, another wife of Vasudeva. Mayadevi did so and the boy got the name Samgharsana, also because of this. The news spread that Devaki aborted. Rohini delivered a boy and was named Sarirgharsana alias Balabhadrarama. ( Dasama Skandha, Bhagavata) .

2) The colour of Balardma 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 Rohixri’s womb and change into Balarama and

(Chapter ii, Dasama Skandha, Bh’agavata).

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

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: 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).

Kadrsa 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).

5) Marriage. Before the advent of Balarama and Krsna the island Dvaraka was known as Kusasthali. It was ruled over by a famous Rajarsi, Revata. This king was the son of King Anartta and grandson of emperor Saryati. Revata got a hundred sons, Kukudmin being the first and a daughter named Revati. When the time for marriage of his daughter came the King was anxious to find out a fitting husband for her and he went to Brahmaloka to take the advice of Brahma. Revati also accompanied him. There stupefied he saw Vedas, Yajnas, mountains, rivers, oceans, Rtus, all in divine figures standing before Brahma, worshipping him. The sweet celestial songs gave them both untold happiness. He then told Brahma the purpose of his visit and Brahma meditating for some time told him that Balabhadrarama, son of Vasudeva, was the only one person suited for her. The king returned to Dvaraka and gave his

daughter in marriage to Balarama. (Saptama Skandha, Devi Bhagavata).

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. 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) .

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