Balarāma’s Nirvāṇa

Balarāma Nirvāṇa · bala-rāma-nirvāṇa, “the departure of Balarāma”

Balarāma’s nirvāṇa is his departure from the earth at Prabhāsa, told in Chapter 210 of the Brahma Purāṇa. When the Yādava line had ended in the fight of the eraka grass, and only Śrī Kṛshṇa and his charioteer Dāruka were left, they went to Balarāma, who sat at the foot of a tree, and saw a great serpent with great hoods come forth from his mouth. Worshipped by siddhas and nāgas, it went to the ocean; Samudra came to meet it with arghya, and honoured by the great Indras it entered the waters. Then Śrī Kṛshṇa sent Dāruka to tell Vasudeva, Ugrasena and Dvārakā of Balarāma’s nirvāṇa and of his own going.

The end of the Yādavas

Vyāsa tells the munis how Śrī Kṛshṇa, on the pretext of the munis’ śāpa, withdrew the Yadu clan. The Yādavas went with Kṛshṇa and Balarāma to Prabhāsa, and there, overpowered by fate, they fell on one another, at last with the eraka grass, which became like the vajra in their hands. In a single moment the Yādava line was ended, and of all the great heroes only Śrī Kṛshṇa and Dāruka were left.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 210

The serpent goes to the sea

Śrī Kṛshṇa and Dāruka went to Balarāma, who was seated at the foot of a tree, and saw a great serpent coming out of his mouth. That serpent, with great hoods, came forth from his mouth and, worshipped by siddhas and nāgas, went to the ocean. Samudra came to meet it, bearing arghya. Worshipped by the great Indras, it entered the water.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 210

Śrī Kṛshṇa’s words to Dāruka

Seeing the nirvāṇa of Balarāma, Hari said to Dāruka:

  • “Tell Vasudeva and Ugrasena all this: the nirvāṇa of Balarāma and the destruction of the Yādava clan.”
  • “Tell the people of Dvārakā that I too, standing in yoga-samādhi, have left this body.”
  • “The Ocean will submerge the city of Dvārakā. So make the chariots ready and wait for Arjuna.”
  • “When that Pāṇḍava leaves, do not remain in Dvārakā; wherever he goes, go with him.”
  • “Tell Arjuna, Kuntī‘s son, these words of mine: ‘Protect my wives as far as your strength allows.'”
  • “With Arjuna, take the people of Dvāravatī and go. Vajra will be king of the Yādavas.”

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 210

Revatī

Afterwards Arjuna sought out the bodies of Śrī Kṛshṇa and Balarāma and performed their last rites. Revatī embraced the body of Balarāma and entered the fire, which had been made cool by the bliss that arose from the touch of his body.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 212

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 210, 212