Oh best of Kurus, once Lord Balaram mounted his chariot eager to see his good friends and went to Gokul of Maharaj Nanda

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Balaram Visits Vrindavan

Suka Deva continued

Oh best of Kurus, once Lord Balaram mounted his chariot went to Gokul eager to see his good friends and the parents who brought them up in Gokul

Having been separated for a long time, Lord Balaram received a warm and emotional welcome. His parents prayed saying “May you and your younger brother Krishna always protect us “. Then they embraced him and made him sit in their lap with tears in their eyes. Then Balaram went to each of the Gopas. He bowed to all those who are elder to him. He embraced all his intimate friends holding their hands as long lost friends. With younger ones he greeted them appropriately. After resting he gathered all the Gopas and sat down with them to spend intimate time.The Gopas still remembered the old times and wanting to know about new events asked, ‘Oh Balaram are all our relatives doing well? Do you all still remember us? It is great that Kamsa has been killed. It is great that our relatives are all freed. It is even more great that our relatives defeated all enemies and built a fortress for taking shelter.” Balaram told them about Dwaraka and all other events associated with Krishna.

Then it was the turn of the Gopis who still remember Krishna. As always with Gopis it is many voices and many thoughts, all centered on Govinda. Some remembered him fondly, some with jealousy of others who seem to have had the benefit. Yet all of them reflecting the unbounded love they have for Krishna.

“Does he remember his father and mother and his family members? Will he come to see his mother once? Does he remember the steady service of us Gopis? O descendent of Dasarha, we left mothers, fathers, husbands and children for his sake. He left suddenly leaving all of us. Yet how could we not trust him? How do they, the intelligent ladies, accept him whose heart is not steady? Probably it is because of his sweet words and the smiles which create lust in their hearts !! . Indeed why talk about Him, let us talk of some other thing. As he passes time without us, let us pass time without Him !!“

In this way the Gopis remembered the past times and started crying.

Balaram too, being adept at conciliation consoled them by giving the confidential message from Krishna. Pleasing them with his message, Balaram spent two months. Balaram spent cool moonlit nights in the company of the Gopis on the banks of Yamuna.

Drinking wine available in the forests and intoxicated, Balaram desired River Yamuna to move to the place he was, so that he may play in the waters of Yamuna. Yamuna refused thinking him to be a drunkard. Then Lord Balaram dragged the river using his plough. Thus scolded by the Lord, Yamuna came trembling and sought his shelter. Then Lord Balaram released Yamuna and continued his enjoyment with Gopis. In this way all the nights at Vrindavan went like one night for Balaram whose mind was enchanted by the exquisite charm and beauty of the women of Vraja

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In this way all the nights went like one night for Balaram whose mind was enchanted by the exquisite charm and beauty of the women of Vraja