Sri Garga Samhita
BY: SUN STAFF
Apr 16, CANADA (SUN) —
Canto Eight, Volume Two
Chapter Nine
Sri Rama-rasa-krida
Lord Balarama's Rasa Dance
Text 1
duryodhana uvaca muni-sardula bhagavan balabhadro naga-
kanyabhir gopibhih kada kalindi-kule vijahara.
Duryodhana said: O tiger of sages, when did Lord Balarama
enjoy the rasa dance on the Yamuna's shore with gopis that had
been snake-girls in their previous birth?
Text 2
sri-pradvipaka uvaca ekada dvaraka-nagarad dhi talankam
ratham asthapya suran didrikshuh param utkantho nanda-raja-gokula-
go-gopala-gopi-gana-sankulah sankarshana agatas cirotkanthabhyam
nandaraja-yasodabhyam parishvakto gopi-gopala-gobhir militva tatra
dvau masau vasantikau cavatsit.
Sri Pradvipaka Muni said: One day, eager to see His devotees,
Lord Balarama mounted His chariot bearing a palm-tree flag, left
Dvaraka, and, yearning to see the gopas, gopis, and cows, went to
Gokula. Yasoda and King Nanda embraced Him when He arrived. Later
He met with the gopas and gopis. He stayed there for two months.
Text 3
atha ca ya naga-kanyah purvoktas ta gopa-kanya bhutva
balabhadra-prapty-artham gargacaryad balabhadrapancangam
grihitva tenaiva siddha babhuvuh. tabhir baladeva ekada prasannah
kalindi-kule rasa-mandalam samarebhe. tadaiva caitra-purnimayam
purna-candro 'runa-varnah sampurnam vanam ranjayan vireje.
The previously described snake-girls became gopis and, in
order to attain Lord Balarama's association, on Garga Muni's
advice followed the five methods of worshiping Lord Balarama. In
this way they became perfect. Pleased with them, Lord Balarama
enjoyed a rasa-dance with them on the full-moon night of the
month of Caitra (March-April), a night when the red moon reddened
the whole of Vrindavana forest.
Text 4
sitala manda-yanah kamala-makaranda-renu-vrinda-
samvritah sarvato vayavah parivavuh kalinda-giri-nandini-cala-
laharibhir ananda-dayini pulinam vimalam hy acitam cakara. tatha
ca kunja-prangana-nikunja-punjaih
sphural-lalita-pallava-pushpa-paragair mayura-kokila-pumskokila-
kujitair madhupa-madhura-dhvanibhir vraja-bhumir vibhrajamana
babhuva.
Cooling, gentle, delightful, lotus-pollen filled breezes
pushed the Yamuna's waves and blew to the splendid shore. Then
the land of Vraja became very splendid, its many forest
groves and courtyards filled with the fragrant pollen of
playfully and gracefully blossoming flowers, with the cooing of
cuckoos and peacocks, and with the sweet humming of bees.
Text 5
tatra kvanad-ghantika-nupurah sphuran-mani-maya-kataka-
kati-sutra-keyura-hara-kirita-kundalayor upari kamala-patrair
nilambaro vimala-kamala-patraksho yakshibhir yaksha-rad iva gopibhir
gopa-rad rasa-mandale reje.
Decorated with tinkling ankle-bells, glittering gold and
jewel necklace, armlets, belt, crown, and earrings, and with many
lotus petals, dressed in blue garments, and His eyes like
glittering lotus petals, Lord Balarama was splendid with the
gopis in the rasa-dance circle. He was like Kuvera surrounded by
a host of beautiful yakshis.
Text 6
atha varuna-preshita varuni devi pushpa-bhara-gandhi-lobhi-
milinda-nadita-vriksha-kotarebhyah patanti sarvato vanam surabhi-
cakara. tat-pana-mada-vihvalah kamala-visala-tamraksho
makaradhvajavesa-calad-dhuryanga-bhango vihara-kheda-
prasvedambu-kanair galad-ganda-sthala-patra-bhango gajendra-
gatir gajendra-sundadanda-sama-dordanda-mandito gajibhir
gaja-rajendra ivonmattah simhasane nyasta-halo musala-panih
kotindu-purna-mandala-sankasah prodgamad-ratna-manjira-
pracala-nupura-prakvanat-kanaka-kinkinibhih kankana-sphurat-
tatanka-purata-hara-sri-kanthanguliya-siromanibhih
pravidambini-krita-sarpini-syama-veni-kuntala-lalita-ganda-
sthala-patravalibhih sundaribhir bhagavan bhuvanesvaro
vibhrajamano viraraja atha ca reme.
Then, sent by the demigod Varuna, Goddess Varuni, in the
form of honey oozing from the hollows of trees filled with the
humming of bees made greedy by the sweet scent of the flowers,
made the entire forest very fragrant. Eager to drink that honey,
His eyes now red lotus flowers, His limbs weakened by enjoying
amorous pastimes, perspiration born from the fatigue of His
pastimes now streaming down His cheeks and washing away the
pictures and designs drawn there, walking like an elephant king,
decorated with mighty arms like the trunks of elephant kings, as
if intoxicated, sitting on a throne, relinquishing His plow, His
club still in His hand, splendid like ten million full moons, His
jewel anklets, bracelets, and other ornaments tinkling, His gold
earrings, necklaces, finger-rings, and jewel crown glittering,
and surrounded by beautiful gopis, their cheeks decorated with
graceful pictures and designs and their black braids mocking the
beautiful snake girls, Lord Balarama, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, the master of the worlds, shone with great splendor, and
enjoyed transcendental pastimes.
Text 7
atha ha vava kalindi-kula-kantara-paryatana-vihara-
parisramodyat-sveda-bindu-vyapta-mukharavindah snanartham jala-
kridartham yamunam durat sa ajuhava. tatas tv anagatam tatinim
halagrena kupito vicakarsha iti hovaca ca.
His lotus face covered with perspiration born from the
fatigue of wandering along the Yamuna's shore and enjoying many
pastimes, Lord Balarama called for the Yamuna to come to Him so
He could bathe and enjoy water-pastimes. When the Yamuna did not
come, Lord Balarama became angry and began to drag it to Him,
scratching its shore with the tip of His plow. Lord Balarama said:
Text 8
adya mam avajnaya nayasi mayahutapi musalena tvam kama-
carinim satadha neshya eva nirbhartsita sa bhuri-bhita yamuna
cakita tat-padayoh patitovaca.
"Today you have no respect for Me. Even though I
call, you ignore My order and go your own way as you wish. Now I
will divide you into a hundred tiny streams." Rebuked with these
words and now very afraid, the Yamuna came before Lord Balarama,
fell at His feet, and said:
Text 9
rama rama sankarshana balabhadra maha-baho tava param
vikramam na jane. yasyaikasmin murdhni sarshapavat sarvam
bhu-khanda-mandalam drisyate. tasya tava param anubhavam
ajanantim
prapannam mam moktum yogyo 'si. tvam bhakta-vatsalo 'si.
"Rama! Rama! Sankarshana! Balabhadra! O mighty-armed
one! I did not know Your great power. The entire earth is
seen resting like a single tiny mustard-seed on one of Your many
heads. It is proper for You to release Me, who have now
surrendered to You and who did not know Your true glories. You
should release me because You are always affectionate to Your
devotees.
Text 10
ity evam yacito balabhadro yamunam tato vyamuncat punah
karenubhih kariva gopibhir gopa-rad jale vijagaha. punar jalad
vinirgatya tata-sthaya balabhadraya sahasa yamuna copayanam
nilambarani hema-ratna-maya-bhushanani divyani ca dadau ha vava tani gopi-yuthaya prithak prithak vibhajya svayam nilambare vasitva
kancanim malam nava-ratna-mayim dhritva mahendro varanendra iva
balabhadro vireje.
Begged in this way, Lord Balarama released the Yamuna. Then
He enjoyed in the Yamuna's waters, as an elephant enjoys with its
many wives. When He returned to the shore the Yamuna approached
and gave Him gifts of many blue garments and many ornaments of
gold and jewels. Lord Balarama divided the gifts among the girls,
giving some to each gopi. Then He dressed in one of the blue
garments and decorated Himself with a necklace of gold and nine
kinds of jewels. Then He enjoyed with the gopis as the king of
elephants enjoys with its many wives.
Text 11
ittham kauravendra yadavendrasya ramatah sarva vasantikir
nisa vyatita babhuvuh. bhagavato balabhadrasya hastinapuram iva
viryam sucayativa hy adyapi ca krishta-vartmana yamuna vahati. imam
ramasya rasa-katham yah srinoti sravayati ca sa sarva-papa-patalam
chittva tasya parasparam ananda-padam pratiyati. kim bhuyah
srotum icchasi.
O king of the Kauravas, in this way Lord Balarama, the king
of the Yadavas, spent that springtime night with the gopis. Even
today the Yamuna flows in many divided streams at that place, a
testimony to the great strength, equal to that of a host of
elephants, of Lord Balarama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
A person who hears or recounts these pastimes of Lord Balarama
destroys the entirety of a great host of sins and attains
transcendental bliss. What more do you wish to hear?
