Narayana Krishna

Maharishi Śuka continued,

“At one point, Balarama’s team won the game. Then the members of Krishna’s team began to carry Balarama, Sridhama, Vŗshabha and other boys who belonged to Balarama’s team. Lord Śrikrishna carried Sridhama, Bhadrasena carried Vŗshabha while demon Pralambha, who was in the guise of the cowherd boy, carried Balarama, the son of Rohini.

Pralamba, the mightiest among demons, decided that it was impossible to carry Śrikrishna and hence, joining Krishna’s team he carried Balarama who was in the other team. Walking very swiftly he very quickly raced ahead of others and, continued to carry Balarama even past the limit where he was supposed to drop him off. Pralamba, who had worn golden ornaments was glittering like lightning.

As he moved ahead, Balarama suddenly turned as heavy as a mountain forcing Pralamba to reduce his speed. When the weight turned unbearable, Pralamba suddenly took on his original demonic form.

At that moment, he shone like the bright cloud, illumined by flashes of lightning, and carrying the Moon, the leader of all the stars. His eyes and hair were burning like fire. His body began to move swiftly in the skies. His terrifying tusks were touching the top portion of his eyes. With his glowing bracelets, earrings and crown, his appearance was both frightening and astonishing. Seeing his gigantic body, Balarama, who retains the plough as his weapon, slightly shivered. He was perplexed to see this demon who could increase his size to match his unbearable weight and yet travel swiftly in the skies. The demon was almost touching the skies.

Suddenly Balarama recovered his composure. He realized he was being kidnapped and that Pralamba was taking him swiftly through the path of the skies. Just as Indra had chopped off the mountains using his mighty thunderbolt in the past, in mad rage Balarama smashed the face of the demon forcefully using his strong fist.

Hit thus by Balarama, the demon vomited blood and his skull broke into innumerable pieces. He lost consciousness and instantly his life-force departed from his body. Just as the mountain hit by Indra fell with a thud to the Earth, the demon crashed down on Earth with a loud cry. The cowherd boys felt as if the sky itself had come crashing down. Seeing the mighty demon meet his end in the hands of Balarama, the cowherd boys were deeply astounded.”

‘Did a demon enter our group disguising as a cowherd boy? Oho, how are we to believe anyone?’ they gaped at each other in shock. In front of their eyes a tiny boy had transformed into a mighty demon and was running away with Balarama in the skies. They carefully scrutinized their friends and the boys nearby to ensure that there were no more demons in disguise amidst them. They looked at others around them suspiciously. Why is Krishna throwing us into another illusion? How are we to identify the Devatas from the demons in our group? They were confounded. Even before they could understand what was happening, Balarama had smashed the demon and reduced him to pulp.

“Seeing Balarama, the boys loudly shouted victory slogans, ‘Well done Balarama! Excellent deed!’ All of them eagerly rushed towards Balarama, who in their opinion had returned safely from the jaws of death, and embraced him lovingly. Boys who were elder to Balarama showered blessings upon him. With minds that were overflowing with affection, they praised him profusely. Balarama was deserving of their praises, wasn’t he?

Pleased with this wonderful deed of Balarama and happy that the demon had been eliminated, the Devatas rained flowers upon him. They sung hymns praising him”.

With this, the eighteenth chapter comes to an end.

Chapter Ten Chapter Nineteen

In this chapter, Śrikrishna rescuing the boys and the calves from the forest fire is covered.

Maharishi Śuka continued, “While the cowherd boys were totally immersed in play, their cattle strayed far away tempted by the greener grass in the forest. Gradually the goats, cows and the calves entered into an inaccessible dense part of the forest. Tormented by the peak summer heat and unable to quench their thirst, they now began to moan loudly. Sadly, there was no water body nearby for them to quench their thirst.

A little while later, Śrikrishna, Balarama, Sudama and other cowherd boys noticed the missing cattle. They felt remorseful that they had, immersed in playing, forgotten all about their cattle. They looked for the cattle in their surroundings but could not spot them anywhere. They ran in search of the cows but still there was no trace of them anywhere.

It was a vast, deep, huge, dense forest. The boys became agitated upon not locating the cows, which were their livelihood. In those areas where the cows graze, the blades of grass are cut by their teeth and their hooves, aren’t they? Hence the boys now followed the path taken by the cows based on their hoof marks.

In an area of the forest completely filled with dry grass, the cows, which had lost their way, were crying helplessly unable to quench their thirst. From a distance, the boys heard these cries and eagerly rushed towards them. They had spent a lot of time in search of the cows and hence they too were exhausted and thirsty. They drove the cows back out of the forest. At that moment, the Supreme Lord Śrikrishna, in a loud thunderous voice began to call out the cows by their names. Hearing their names, the cows, in great elation, mooed lovingly and thus responded to his calls. The cows felt as if their lost life was restored back to them.

As the boys were returning with their cattle, all of a sudden, a huge fire broke out in that forest enveloping them from all sides and its fiery tongue-like flames were rapidly burning down everything on its path.