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Sri Garga Samhita
Chapter Three
Kālindy-āgamana-varṇaṇa
Description of the Yamunā's Arrival
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Gopal Champu
Chapter Twenty- Balarāma Returns to Vraja
[1-3] In the morning discussion, Snigdhakaṇṭha began to think energetically, in order to introduce the auspicious topics of Balarāma’s return to Vraja.
“Śukadeva has described the reason for his coming:
balabhadraḥ kuru-śreṣṭha bhagavān ratham āsthitaḥ |
suhṛd-didṛkṣur utkaṇṭhaḥ prayayau nanda-gokulam ||
O best of the Kurus, once Lord Balarāma, eager to visit his well-wishing friends, mounted his chariot and traveled to Nanda Gokula. SB 10.65.1
He did everything in Vraja and Dvārakā according to the advice of Kṛṣṇa. He did not act independently. Vaiśampāyana says in Hari-vaṁsa:
kasyacit tv atha kālasya smṛtvā gopeṣu sauhṛdam |
jagāmaiko vrajaṁ rāmaḥ kṛṣṇasyānumate sthitaḥ ||
Remembering the friendship of the cowherds, Balarāma went to Vraja alone for some time, with the permission of Kṛṣṇa. Hari-vaṁśa 2.46.1
I will explain this event accordingly.”
[4] Then causing excitement in Nanda, Kṛṣṇa and others, he began speaking:
The great mutual longing of Kṛṣṇa and the people of Vraja that was previously described also applies to Balarāma and the residents of Vraja. When Balarāma revealed his eagerness to go in secret to Vraja, Kṛṣṇa pacified him by saying, “Today or tomorrow I will send you there.”
[5-6] One day, yearning to go there, he informed Kṛṣṇa privately while weeping with a choking voice. “O Kṛṣṇa! You did not go at once to satisfy Nanda and Yaśodā. That has burned their hearts. I do not understand your intentions. It seems you have forgotten all about them.” ||1||
[7] Kṛṣṇa said, “Oh! Oh! That love for Vraja is always within me! How can I separate it from me? But Nanda also says that it is not proper to go against the wishes of Vasudeva and Devakī. They never want me to go to Vraja. In order that I do not act against both of their desires, I cannot go to Vraja. Therefore I suffer. If you can adjust their desires, I will be glad to go immediately to Vraja.”
[8] Balarāma wanted Vasudeva and Devakī to give their consent for him and Kṛṣṇa to go to Vraja. He did not get permission for Kṛṣṇa to go. Thinking a great disaster would result if they allowed only him, with some anger he spoke to them.
“O mother and father! What is the difference between Kṛṣṇa and me? I am also the child of Nanda and Yaśodā.” ||2||
[9] He informed his brother: “On your request, I have avoided going to Vraja for a long time, stopping my feet from moving towards the place. Our parents have not given permission for you to go. Therefore please give permission for me alone to see the people of Vraja.”
[10] Informing Rohiṇī of everything, Kṛṣṇa then embraced Balarāma and, lamenting his own bad character, spoke with sadness on his face, remembering Nanda and others. First he spoke about Balarāma’s herding pastimes and the service of his many friends, using joking words:
“O greatest of lords, just see how these trees are bowing their heads at your lotus feet, which are worshipable by the immortal demigods. The trees are offering you their fruits and flowers to eradicate the dark ignorance that has caused their birth as trees. But above all, you have embraced the young cowherd women between your two arms–a favor hankered after by the goddess of fortune herself.” SB 10.15.8
Then he spoke of the horikā pastimes after killing Śaṅkhacūḍa, where shame from the viewpoint of scripture and common custom was overcome. This is described in the Bhāgavatam:
kadācid atha govindo rāmaś cādbhuta-vikramaḥ
vijahratur vane rātryāṁ madhya-gau vraja-yoṣitāṁ
Once Lord Govinda and Lord Rāma, the performers of wonderful feats, were playing in the forest at night with the young girls of Vraja. SB 10.34.20
Thus, he reminded Balarāma of their joyful companionship to extinguish the pain of separation, by taking representative, joyful events involving singing, joking and seeing which produced happiness. After that he expressed what he wanted:
The creator is against me, and thus you go from Dvārakā to Vraja alone. You, the elder brother, will bring me to Vraja. Your going first will bring me there quickly.||3||
Though I have consoled the people of Vraja through the mouth of Uddhava, you must give sweet instructions to Vraja, for you are more attracted to Vraja than I. ||4||
If you cannot completely satisfy them with your words, then promise them that I will come. If you see that they are still troubled, I will appear there as a sphūrti by my power. ||5||
If these methods of consolation do not work, do other actions on my request: accept for yourself those girls who are still quite young. ||6||
I have eagerly told them to you by name. The gopīs on your chest at the horikā festival gave pleasure to your eyes. ||7||
Filled with fresh prema, they have not had their desires fulfilled, for you were not aware of my heart filled with constant conjugal pastimes in Vraja. ||8||
Oh! Do not say, “I cannot do this since all the people of Vraja will see.” They will fulfill your desires. ||9||
[11] Until you live continually in Vraja with me, establish yourself in this way with some of the gopīs who are objects of your mercy. But do this secretly to cheat the cruel people. Get on your chariot alone and go quickly, so that no one will see. Going there, dress yourself as a cowherd with forest flowers and leaves. Then all will be accomplished.
[12] Saying this, anxious for the time that he also could go, he pleased Balarāma by accompanying him for a distance, and then with tears in his eyes entered his house.
[13] Balarāma went quickly on his chariot, so fast that travelers could barely see him, and finally reached the houses on the edge of Vraja. Secretly he changed in a cowherd form suitable to his mood as a cowherd. This is described in Hari-vaṁsa:
sa praviṣṭas tu vegena taṁ vrajaṁ kṛṣṇa-pūrvajaḥ |
vanyena ramaṇīyena veṣeṇālaṅkṛtaḥ prabhuḥ ||
Balarāma quickly entered Vraja dressed in attractive forest clothing. Hari-vaṁśa 2.46.3
[14] When Balarāma arrived, everyone gathered around and was happy to see him in cowherd dress, while longing to see Kṛṣṇa who would come later. It is understood that with Kṛṣṇa’s absence they felt pained, but since the topic splits my heart, I will not speak of this.
[15] The best of the intelligent, Balarāma, understanding their longing for Kṛṣṇa, compassionately informed Nanda and others of his arrival from a distance. Understanding he had arrived, they immediately gathered around him with joyful hearts along with their families. With their showers of tears externally and their melted hearts, they softened Balarāma, holder of the plough, supporter of the earth. Affectionate Balarāma became the topic of their discussion, so that even today those words are like a lotus in the river of his fame. After a few moments when priests and others offered kind words, their sons gathered and everyone shouted blessings. They exchanged heart-felt respects, uttering Balarāṁa’s and Kṛṣṇa’s name. After introducing themselves, they relieved him of his travel fatigue.
[16] His parents spoke: “O Dāśārha! You bring joy to the whole universe by your powers. May you and Kṛṣṇa protect us!” Nanda and Yaśodā bathed him in their words mixed with tears like streams of nectar. ||10||
Just as he offered respect to elders like Upananda, boys like Raktaka offered respects to him in joy. Those of Balarāma’s age exchanged friendship as equals. ||11||
It was Balarāma. When offered respects uttering Kṛṣṇa’s name, they took him as the equivalent of Kṛṣṇa in the confusion of their joy. ||12||
[17] They took Balarāma to the house and satisfied him with fragrant water. Then, to get relief from fatigue, they had him bathe, fed him and offered him betel nut.
[18] Resting for a time in a private house, he then got up and, going through the inner chambers, came to Nanda’s assembly. Nanda and others began asking about his health while shedding tears.
[19] Yaśodā said, “O Balarāma! Is your mother well? Is she taking care of you and Kṛṣṇa? Ah! If you are near me and Kṛṣṇa is near her by his will, I can experience happiness of presence of both of you directly.” ||13||
[20] Balarāma answered, “O mother! If you are near me what is the use of Rohiṇī? And if you are not near me, what is the use of Rohiṇī? Because of this, after some time I will bring Kṛṣṇa to you when the slightest opportunity arises.” ||14||
[21] Nanda said, “O son! After killing all the enemies and making the Yadus happy, how many enemies remain? If you two were to come to Vraja together and we could see you as previously, we would be saved from death.” ||15||
[22] He answered, “How many enemies remain for Kṛṣṇa who killed all the best warriors from Kaṁsa to Naraka? There are Paundraka, Śiśupāla, the king of Kāśī, Sālva, Jarāsandha and Dvivida.” ||16||
[23] After spending the night in discussions on many topics giving joy and sorrow, thinking of the benefit of Vraja, Balarāma with great desire visited all the houses separately to meet with his friends.
[24] He met the elders, their wives, the younger cowherds and his friends, and asked how they were. They also inquired from him about his health. The mind of the gentleman is one with his relatives. ||17||
Balarāma understood that the people of Vraja, for attaining Kṛṣṇa, were without enjoyment internally but cared for the cows externally to please him. Tears gushed from his eyes. ||18||
[25] Vyāsa says:
viśrāntaṁ sukham āsīnaṁ papracchuḥ paryupāgatāḥ |
pṛṣṭāś cānāmayaṁ sveṣu prema-gadgadayā girā |
kṛṣṇe kamala-patrākṣe sannyastākhila-rādhasaḥ ||
Then, after resting, the Lord accepted a comfortable seat, and they all gathered around him. With voices faltering out of love for him, those cowherds, who had dedicated everything to lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, asked about the health of their dear ones in Dvārakā, and Balarāma in turn asked about the cowherds’ welfare. SB 10.65.5-6
[26] When Balarāma inquired, the elders replied as follows: “Killing Kaṁsa, Kṛṣṇa freed our friends countless times and gave them great happiness. In Dvārakā you now enjoy with your wealth and sons. By those pastimes we have attained happiness. But what happiness do we get from remembering that you are there?” ||18||
[27] The younger residents said, “We had faith that today or tomorrow you two would return. We pass our time till then, maintaining our lives. Holding your feet we pray that you bring Kṛṣṇa from Dvārakā and do not go anywhere else.” ||20||
[28] His friends said, “Will you and Kṛṣṇa meet with any of us? Why do we have no attraction for the play that we had before you went to Mathurā? Our lives and the cows’ lives are now in a precarious position. Restore us so we can live and play as we did before.” ||21||
[29] The details are understood from Hari-vaṁsa:
taṁ ūcuḥ sthavirāḥ gopāḥ priyaṁ madhura-bhāṣiṇaḥ |
rāmaṁ ramayatāṁ śreṣṭhaṁ pravāsāt punar āgatam ||
svāgataṁ te mahā-bāho ….
diṣṭyā te nihatā mallāḥ kaṁsaś ca vinipātinaḥ |
ugraseno ’bhiṣiktaś ca māhātmyenānujena vai |
samudre ca śruto ’smābhis timinā saha vigrahaḥ ||
When Balarāma, the best among givers of bliss and with sweet speech, returned to Vraja from far away, the elder cowherd spoke to him. “Welcome! Your glorious brother killed the wrestlers and Kaṁsa and installed Ugrasena on the throne. We have heard that he fought with a big fish in the ocean. Hari-vaṁśa 2.46.6,11-12
It is also said there in the middle of the text:
pratyuvāca tato rāmaḥ sarvāṁs tān abhitaḥ sthitān |
yādaveṣv api sarveṣu bhavanto mama bāndhavāḥ || |
Balarāma answered all of the people who were around him, “Among all the Yadus, you are my friends.” Hari-vaṁśa 2.46.17
[31] The reciter thought to himself: “The words ‘returned from far away’ in Hari-vaṁsa indicate that the situation was between Balarāma and the cowherds was the same as previously, what to speak of when Kṛṣṇa would return. ‘Among all the Yadus’ (locative case) indicates ‘among all the kṣatriya Yadus.’ However it also can indicate difference, with the meaning of the ablative case ‘You are my friends more than the Yadus.’ Similarly one may say ‘The people of Mathurā are wealthier than the people of Sraughna.’ Some like Upananda of course were considered Yadus.”
He then spoke aloud:
Thus half the day Balarāma would speak with the elders politely, and with the juniors, with affection. He would speak with friends while laughing and holding their hands. After that he went to Nanda’s house, finished his meals and went to the assembly, making the members, as well as those outside and inside, happy by telling about the conquests of Kṛṣṇa. With Yaśodā’s permission, he then went to sleep.
But even though Balarāma played with the cowherds in Vraja, he was not happy internally, for Kṛṣṇa was his eyes and the cowherds’ eyes (for without him, they were blind). ||22||
Sad in separation from Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma simply looked at the cows in the morning and evening but did not herd them. ||23||
In the morning we will speak on another topic.
[32] Snigdhakaṇṭha thus concluded, “O Nanda! Balarāma who does not consider himself Balarāma without the presence of Kṛṣṇa, the life of all, is attached to Kṛṣṇa and is next to you, showing affection for you.” ||24||
[33] In the assembly of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, Snigdhakaṇṭha spoke:
When Kṛṣṇa instructed Balarāma, who was eager to go to Vraja, to pacify all the people of Vraja without mentioning the gopīs, Balarāma heard those instructions with tears in his eyes. “Oh! You, as if without pain, will not speak to those women whom we hear have almost died because of pains of separation?”
[34] Kṛṣṇa shyly looked at Uddhava’s face. Clever Uddhava said, “I will inform him.”
[35] Following Balarāma when he went to his room, Uddhava described to him the condition of beloved gopīs according to the conclusions indicated by Kṛṣṇa when Uddhava had the opportunity to go to Gokula. Leaving Balarāma, he informed Kṛṣṇa, “Balarāma, coming to Vraja, will see the intensity of the gopīs’ madness. I have already seen this. No one can pacify them as he can. He is the proper person to bring the message.”
[36] Writing down the words from Kṛṣṇa’s mouth, Uddhava, the best of ministers, gave the letter to Balarāma. As instructed by Uddhava, Balarāma sought them out and on the third day met with them.
Seeing Balarāma, they spoke with laughter without covering their heads. Thinking of their state of madness, my life air departs from my body. ||25||
[37] I will explain their laughter:
Kṛṣṇa vowed that he would return to Vraja. The gopīs wondered if Kṛṣṇa would quickly return. When only Balarāma returned and was respectful, in grief, they experienced the greatest pain, but expressed it as loud laughter. ||26||
[38] Though Kṛṣṇa did not come, the gopīs were not apathetic. Therefore they began speaking to Balarāma.
[39] The cause of their devotion to Balarāma may be explained as follows: “Uddhava was born in a far off place. He does not understand about us and Kṛṣṇa. But Balarāma who has been living with Kṛṣṇa since birth understands everything.” ||27||
[40]] Their conversation is now described. Thinking that Kṛṣṇa had left Vraja and was enjoying his kingdom, they spoke with smiles and suggestion.
They said, “Is Kṛṣṇa enjoying nicely in Dvārakā, his capital city?” With a laugh she again asked, “Is it astonishing, since he is one man among all the city women?”
On reflecting, they then said, “First I will ask, does he ever remember his friends, his father, his mother or even his house?” ||28||
They said with detachment, “Does he sometimes remember his friends, his father, his mother or not? Our confidence turns to doubt. What is the use of our remembering him? Previously our minds wanted to ask about him. Does he remember the service we did?” ||29||
[41] Remembering the sweetness of his arms, they were temporarily bewildered. Then they began to speak again with doubtful mind:
“Breaking their love, he has rejected those who gave up father, mother, brothers, sisters, nephews, managers of the house, to worship him. But our hearts keep following him. O best master! Why should the best of women not accept his words?” ||30||
[42] Someone else said, “If he has put us in this condition, curse him! Why do the city women with unsteady minds believe his words?”
Though she did not finish speaking, some others spoke, “Is there not some woman who can control this lots-eyed person who knows how to speak wonderful messages with incomparable sweetness?” ||31||
[43] A gopī, criticizing and instructing all the other gopīs, spoke last, “I have made all of them accept words filled with sharp arrows. A curse on me! I have said, ‘What use do we have of speaking about him? We should speak about some other pleasant subject. If he can spend his time without us, why can’t we pass our time without him?’” ||32||
When the gopīs’ hearts became hard, they remembered his smile, walk, speech, glance and embrace and began crying. ||33||
[44] Balarāma, most compassionate, stunned like an immobile pole, with tears streaming from his red eyes, remained bewildered about what to do for a moment.
[45] Calling them mothers, offering them praise, indicating various disturbances which caused Kṛṣṇa’s delay in coming, frightening them by saying that Kṛṣṇa would permanently faint on hearing of their pain, Balarāma, with various conciliatory words spoke to them:
Just as I have strong affection for Kṛṣṇa since childhood, I have strong affection for you. I swear this is true. O wives of my brother! I should not burn the heart of my brother with the embers lying in my heart. ||34||
Knowing Kṛṣṇa’s heart, I have come to Vraja. Knowing his heart deeply, I speak to you with consoling words. If I knew he was indifferent, I would not be able to do this or to speak with you. I would not be satisfied with him. ||35||
Staying in Dvārakā, my brother has given liberation to the enemies. Ah! I do not accept it when you say he has given you up, for, desiring him, you gave up local dharma, and without attachment to your houses, desire to give up your bodies immediately. ||36||
So much is he controlled by your qualities that he sent me to you though I am elder, to please you. His messages are most attractive. By them you will gain happiness. If not, the message writer himself will come. ||37||
[46] May his letter give you happiness!
All the messages that I sent after leaving are full of promises that I will return. I have sent Uddhava as my emissary to speak these messages. Ah! Fearing great obstacles in this attempt, I have instructed and sent Balarāma. But my intelligence is shamed by your intelligence. ||38||
If I make myself a liar, to hell with me! How can I make the greatest gentleman Uddhava a liar? Let that be! But how can I make Balarāma, famous as the greatest among the great, a liar? Dear gopīs! My words cannot be untrue. ||39||
I am residing close to you. The proof is that I am present in both Dvārakā and Vraja. If not, both places could not be perfect. Since I am most anxious, quickly killing the remaining seven or eight enemies of the devotees, I will come to Vraja in seven or eight days. ||40||
[47] The conciliation is described in Viṣṇu Purāṇa:
sandeśaiḥ sāma-madhuraiḥ prema-garbhair agarvitaiḥ |
rāmeṇāśvāsitā gopyaḥ kṛṣṇasyāti-manoharaiḥ ||
Balarāma pacified all the gopīs of Kṛṣṇa by his attractive message, sweet with conciliation, which was full of prema and without pride. Viṣṇu Purāṇa 5.24.20
This is stated in summary in the Bhāgavatam:
The Supreme Lord Balarāma, the attractor of all, being expert at various kinds of conciliation, consoled the gopīs by relaying to them the confidential messages Kṛṣṇa had sent with him. These messages deeply touched the gopīs’ hearts. SB 10.65.16
[48-49] Hearing this, the gopīs, experiencing that they had attained Kṛṣṇa by the power of the message, on another day, revealed a message though a confidante with embarrassment:
“We accept your words that you will bring Kṛṣṇa. If you accept all my associates, these thin-bodied gopīs, who saved their youthful bodies till now for you, rejecting all enjoyment, and who remain in their houses with sick bodies, then I will keep these women near me. You should go and bring your younger brother.”
[50] Balarāma, accepting the message, said, “Knowing that we must console you now, and though we should do this, which has not yet been done, I desire to take permission from the elders.”
[51] Hearing the desire to ask the elders’ permission some women then spoke: “The elders, fearing contamination by having made us marry someone else, knowing that our actions are ardently dedicated to Kṛṣṇa alone with our body mind and words, have become depressed. They will beg you to bring Kṛṣṇa.”
[52] Consenting to their request, with this on his mind, he went to Nanda’s house. Rādhā and the other gopīs through an assistant, having taken shelter of Yaśodā, went to the elders to request that Balarāma should accept the young unmarried gopīs. The elders then requested Balarāma to do this, through a messenger.
[53] They requested him several times, “Though it is not proper at this time, I act according to your wish. But until my brother comes to Vraja, I cannot accept marriage with great celebration.” The elders were happy and accepted this.
[54] Then Balarāma, accepting all the women according to Gāndharva rites, in a pleasant isolated grove, north of attractive Bhāṇḍira forest, he married them. There the Yamunā flowed at a distance. When he wanted to divide up the river into a thousand streams, Yamunā manifested her stubborn nature. Balarāma pulled her in order to bring her close. This gave joy to the people of Vraja. On being pulled by Balarāma, Yamunā glorified him.
[55] The sakhīs then inquired from Snigdhakaṇṭha, “Yamunā became the wife of Kṛṣṇa and went to Dvārakā. Then who was this?”
[56] Snigdhakaṇṭha said, “Just as Chāyā is the second form of Saṁjṣā (wife of the sun god), this river is a second form of Yamunā who is with Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā. Balarāma spoke to Yamunā when he pulled her, ‘O beautiful woman! Of daughter of the ocean! This is my order.’” (Hari-vaṁśa 2.46.51)
[57] The speaker thought to himself:
How did the gopīs develop attraction for Balarāma, when they usually had attraction for Kṛṣṇa? Let that question be. Some unintelligent people, not knowing the conclusions mentioned in Bhāgavatam, discuss this topic uselessly, thinking that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had affection for the same gopīs, though the word gopī is used with different meanings at different times. The gopīs of Kṛṣṇa, though distracted because of their state of madness, said to Balarāma, “Is Kṛṣṇa, the darling of the city women, living happily?” By this evidence from the Bhāgavatam, speaking about Kṛṣṇa, the gopīs state that their happiness arises from Kṛṣṇa’s and his friends’ happiness.
[58] Kṛṣṇa’s gopīs said, “Does he remember our services?” (SB 10.65.10) This means “We become successful if he remembers our service.”
[59] They said to Balarāma, “For Kṛṣṇa’s sake, O descendant of Dāśārha, we abandoned our mothers, fathers, brothers, husbands, children and sisters, even though these family relations are difficult to give up.” (SB 10.65.11)They reveal that they gave up mothers and fathers for his sake. They spoke to Balarāma, older that Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs and established that they were dedicated only to Kṛṣṇa.
[60] They said, “But now, O Lord, that same Kṛṣṇa has suddenly abandoned us and gone away, breaking off all affectionate ties with us.” (SB 10.65.12) By this they indicate that their affection for him can never be broken.
[61] They said, “How could any woman fail to trust his promises?” (SB 10.65.12) They indicate that he has attraction for other women though they are dedicated only to him with intense love.
[62] They said, “How can intelligent city women possibly trust the words of one whose heart is so unsteady and who is so ungrateful?” (SB 10.65.13) They show Kṛṣṇa’s unsteady and ungrateful mind and confirm their steady faithfulness to him.
[63] They said, “They must believe him because he speaks so wonderfully and also because his beautiful smiling glances arouse their lust.” (SB 10.65.13) By this they indicate that their hearts have been stolen by him.
[64] They said, “Why bother talking about him, dear gopī? Please talk of something else. If he passes his time without us, then we shall similarly pass ours.” (SB 10.65.14) By this they show determination to make themselves hard-hearted since they are overcome with great suffering from separation.
[65] “While speaking these words, the young cowherd women remembered Śauri’s laughter, his pleasing conversations with them, his attractive glances, his style of walking and his loving embraces. Thus they began to cry.” (SB 10.65.15) By Śukadeva’s words which produce all happiness, it is understood that their bodies had become liquid by submersion in the ocean of affection for Kṛṣṇa. Thus it is only fools who think that these gopīs could develop attachment for Balarāma.
[66] Their dedication to Kṛṣṇa alone is revealed also on their trip to Kurukṣetra. The first and last verses of their statement are given here:
While gazing at their beloved Kṛṣṇa, the young gopīs used to condemn the creator of their eyelids, which would momentarily block their vision of him. Now, seeing Kṛṣṇa again after such a long separation, with their eyes they took him into their hearts, and there they embraced him to their full satisfaction. In this way they became totally absorbed in ecstatic meditation on him, although those who constantly practice mystic yoga find such absorption difficult to achieve. SB 10.82.39
Dear Lord, whose navel is just like a lotus flower, your lotus feet are the only shelter for those who have fallen into the deep well of material existence. Your feet are worshiped and meditated upon by great mystic yogīs and highly learned philosophers. We wish that these lotus feet may also be awakened within our hearts, although we are only ordinary persons engaged in household affairs. SB 10.82.48
Their full dedication to Kṛṣṇa is indicated in Kṛṣṇa’s conversation with Uddhava. The first and last verses spoken by Kṛṣṇa are given here:
The residents of Vṛndāvana, headed by the gopīs, were always completely attached to me with deepest love. Therefore, when my uncle Akrūra brought my brother Balarāma and me to the city of Mathurā, the residents of Vṛndāvana suffered extreme mental distress because of separation from me and could not find any other source of happiness. SB 11.12.10
All those hundreds of thousands of gopīs, understanding me to be their most charming lover and ardently desiring me in that way, were unaware of my actual position. Yet by intimately associating with me, the gopīs attained me, the Supreme Absolute Truth. SB 11.12.13
Moreover Balarāma acted in this way:
saṅkarṣaṇas tāḥ kṛṣṇasya sandeśair hṛdayaṅgamaiḥ |
sāntvayām āsa bhagavān nānānunaya-kovidaḥ ||
The Supreme Lord Balarāma, the attractor of all, being expert at various kinds of conciliation, consoled the gopīs by relaying to them the confidential messages Kṛṣṇa had sent with him. These messages deeply touched the gopīs’ hearts. SB 10.65.16
The words of Kṛṣṇa should be considered the most effective means of consoling the gopīs for those words were accepted to have come from his heart. Balarāma was “expert at various kinds of conciliation.” However Balarāma, described by these words, should be accepted as the secondary conciliator. Though Balarāma is Bhagavān who is expert at conciliation, he should be understood to be secondary as Bhagavān. Therefore speaking of Balarāma as having attraction for Kṛṣṇa’s gopī is foolish. Those who are diligent should see these proofs which have been supplied.
[67] Though the word gopī is commonly used, the word *gopī (*Kṛṣṇa’s beloveds) in this context should not be taken to mean other women. The word is used to refer to Kṛṣṇa’s mother and others in the following examples from Bhāgavatam:
The gopī wives of the cowherd men were very pleased to hear that mother Yaśodā had given birth to a son. SB 10.5.9
The gopīs first executed the process of ācamana, drinking a sip of water from the right hand.
SB 10.6.21
Having long suffered the anxiety of separation, the cowherd men and their wives (gopīs) embraced Balarāma. The Lord then offered respects to his parents, and they joyfully greeted him with prayers. SB 10.65.2
Neither Lord Brahmā, nor Lord Śiva, nor even the goddess of fortune, who is always the better half of the Supreme Lord, can obtain from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the deliverer from this material world, such mercy as received by mother Yaśodā (gopī). SB 10.9.20
Nor should one take all of these statements about gopīs to mean that they were all Kṛṣṇa’s lovers. Similarly, in the Fifth Canto (5.11.12-13), there are contiguous statements (verses 12-13) with the word kṣetra-jṣa, but the word means jīva in the first instance and God in the second instance.
Some people think that since Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are both Bhagavān and have no difference there is no fault if they have the same gopī lovers. But then there would the fault of both of them enjoying the same queens at Dvārakā. Balarāma is not like Uddhava and is certainly not like Kṛṣṇa. Some will say that they pacify the gopīs as the Supreme Lord and that there is no difference. But this is not suitable for pacifying the gopīs. Thinking in this way, the idea of non-difference cannot be accepted.
Anyway, for two months continually Balarāma enjoyed pastimes with thousands of gopīs other than Kṛṣṇa’s, showing bold actions such as pulling Yamunā. Coming to give joy to Nanda and the others, he nourished their bliss. How could he do anything despicable? But what is the use of speaking of the harsh words of disputers who spoil the respect of the most honorable women?
[68] The reciter then concluded, giving happiness to the members of the assembly. “Let the previous talk be! It is astonishing! Please examine it carefully. Even in meeting Kṛṣṇa there is a glimmer of separation.” ||41||
[69] When the understanding of union had arisen and all were happy, as on previous days, everyone returned home. Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā in great joy went to their abode of enchantment.