97. Bhagavatha - Srikrishna Rescues Gopalas From Forest Fire

 97. Srimad Bhagavatam - Srikrishna Rescues Gopalas From Forest Fire

When Balarama slayed Demon Pralamba, gopalas were joyous and showered praise on him. 

Meanwhile, cows that were grazing nearby went a little farther into the forest attracted by green pastures. As none could be seen, gopalas panicked. 

They were afraid to go back home without their cattle wealth. They began tracking footprints of the cows and also half eaten grasses to find their movements. 

Deep inside the forest, cows were frightened due to heat generated by forest fire and were calling for help from gopalas. They were thirsty, too. 

On finding their cows, gopalas called out their cows by name. By then, forest fire engulfed them on all sides. 

With no way to escape and none to rescue, they sought Srikrishna's grace, knowing well that He is their savior. Their prayers were pure, and their surrender was total.

Srikrishna asked them to remain calm and close their eyes for a while. He swallowed up the terrible fire. Gopalas, on opening their eyes, were amazed to find themselves transported to the Banyan tree, their sport ground, 10 miles away.

The gopalas deeply felt that Srikrishna is none other than the Supreme Person appearing in human form. They offered their prayers to Him and went back to Gokulam. 

The gopalas narrated the whole incident of slaying of Pralamba by Balarama, about forest fire, and how Srikrishna transported them to a safer place to their family. 

The residents of Vraja, too, felt that these two brothers were none other than Almighty descended to protect the people of Vraja.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

96. Bhagavatha - Balarama Slains Demon Pralamba

 96. Srimad Bhagavatam - Balarama Slains Demon Pralamba

In the divine presence of Srikrishna and Balarama, Vrindavan experienced a unique spring-like atmosphere though summer had set in.

The trees were wet with a breeze constantly blowing from the snow-led waterfalls. The ponds, lakes were full of lotuses and water-lilies. Peacocks, cuckoos, and humming bees were giving out soothing cries. 

Srikrishna, Balarama, and gopalas were allowed to graze cattle in the Vrindavan forest. The gopalas adored tender leaves, flowers, and features of peacock.

The delighted Srikrishna chose to dance while some sang, some made sounds with their flutes, horns, and palms, and the rest watched and applauded. Their duty of taking care of cattle was not ignored. 

Games the Lord Played

The two brothers with their hands clapped together revolved around themselves. Along with cowherds, they played long jumps, tug of war, and wrestling. 

They would use bilva fruit as a ball and throw at each other, play hide and seek, shut another's eyes and allow him to touch another person.They would mimic beasts and birds, leap like frogs, swing using boughs of trees. 

They would also engage in acting with Srikrishna as King and a few others as ministers. Demon Pralamba could not tolerate the happy moments of Srikrishna and His team.

Presence of Demon Pralamba as Cowherd

When Srikrishna and Balarama were grazing the cattle, demon Pralamba appeared disguised as a cowherd in order to make shots of these two brothers. 

Srikrishna, the knower of all, allowed the demon to associate with other cowherds and contemplated the means to kill him. Srikrishna said to cowherds, “Let's play dividing ourselves into two camps”.  

The cowherds made Balarama and Srikrishna as their leaders. Some joined Srikrishna‘s camp while others went to Balaramas’. Pralamba deliberately chose Balarama's camp as he was aware of the danger from Srikrishna.

They played various games between each other's teams. It was agreed that the loser of a team is required to carry the winner for a distance, say up to a nearby Banyan tree.

Once, the defeated Srikrishna carried Sridama while Pralamba carried Balarama. Taking this opportunity, Pralamba carried Balarama beyond the prescribed distance with great speed. Suddenly, Pralamba could not keep up the speed as Balarama grew in weight as heavy as Mount Meru. 

Pralamba was perplexed and resumed his original demonic form with a huge body, burning eyes, and hair glowing as flames. 

Balarama, for a moment, was afraid, but having realized his true form, he took no time to hit Pralamba’ head with his strong fists. 

Pralamba's head was smashed instantly. Vomiting blood, the demon fell dead with a loud cry.

The cowherds witnessing the event were amazed and joyful. Slaying Pralamba, the Gods showered flowers on Balarama and applauded him.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

 

 

92. Bhagavatha - Balarama Slains Demon Dhenuka

 92. Bhagavatam - Balarama Slains Demon Dhenuka 

Once, Sridama, a cowherd boy, made a request to Srikrishna and Balarama and said, “ Not far off from here lies an extensive forest with a row of Palmyra trees fully ladened with fruits. 

A demon, Dhenuka, disguised as a donkey, is guarding them along with other donkeys. 

We, cowherds, are eager to taste those fruits. Kindly make us available if you feel it is fit for us”.

The two brothers had a hearty laugh to hear the request and agreed to proceed to the forest along with other cowherds.

Entering the forest, Balarama thoroughly shook the palm trees with both His arms, and as a result, all the palm fruits fell down. Hearing this sound, the angered demon Dhenuka donkey rushed towards Balarama. 

The donkey, using its hind legs, struck Balarama on His chest. It went a little far to strike again, but Balarama seized its feet with one hand, whirled and threw it against a palm tree. The donkey fell down lifeless.

The huge palm tree shaken by this event crashed on an adjacent tree, the latter hitting its neighbor in sequence. Demon Dhenuka’s family, too, met the same fate. The entire area was filled with heaps of palm fruits and carcasses of the demon donkeys. 

Thereafter, there was no fear of accessing palm fruits and cattle grazing. Observing this feat, Vidyadharas, Gandarvas, and others poured down showers of flowers. 

The cowherds were extremely happy and glorified Balarama and SriKrishna. They returned to Vraja and narrated the whole event to the residents.

Yasoda and Rohini, who were fond of their Sons, provided them with excellent food, relieved their fatigue by bath, and massage. 

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

91. Bhagavatha - Srikrishna and Balarama as Gopalas

 91. Srimad Bhagavata - Srikrishna and Balarama as Gopalas 

When Balarama and SriKrishna reached the age of 8 years, the elders of Vraja felt that these boys could now take care of cows. 

Being Gopalas (cowherds), they had the liberty to go beyond Vraja. Roaming around everywhere, they left their divine footprints in Brindavan. Commemorating this day, Kartika Shuda Ashtami, people celebrate it as Gopala Ashtami.

Srikrishna was never alone as other gopalas were with Him at all times. They were either narrating or remembering His deeds. They treated Him as their guru (preceptor).

At Brindavan, grasses had grown tall, and trees were heavy with flowers. Bees were humming, and animals were roaming around freely. Lotuses were emitting pleasant smells. SriKrishna was delighted and enjoyed the beauty of nature. 

Srikrishna was always with His brother, Balarama. He held high regards towards His brother and said, “These trees, burdened with flowers and fruits, seem like they are bowing to you, and bees are singing your glory. In all probability, these bees are none other than hermits concealed in this forest.

 

When Balarama felt tired after a long sport, Srikrishna would comfort him by massaging his legs. When Srikrishna needed rest, the cowherds would, in turn, take turns to serve Him. They would collect tender leaves, make a spread, and allow Him to sleep.  

Sri.Sukamuni said, “These cowherds must have earned great merits to serve Srikrishna directly, which would otherwise take yugas to get such opportunity”. 

In this way, Srikrishna and Balarama spent their childhood happily and also diligently did their duties.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana