89 - Balarama returns to the cowherds' colony

Vyāsa said: 

1. Eulogised thus by that intelligent Mucukunda, the lord of all living beings, the lord who has no beginning or death spoke thus. SriKrishņa said: 

2. O lord of men, go to divine worlds as desired by you. You will be strengthened by my grace and your prosperity and prowess will be unimpeded. 

3. After enjoying the great divine pleasures, you will be born in a great family. By my favour you will be able to remember your previous births. Thereafter, you will attain salvation.

 Vyāsa said: 

4. Thus blessed by the lord the king bowed to Achyuta; the lord of the worlds came out of the cave. Then he saw short statured men.

5. The king understood that the Kaliyuga had arrived. He went to the abode of Nara and Narayana in order to perform penance on the mountain) Gandhamadana. 

6. Slaying the enemy by means of a stratagem, Krişhņa captured his army shining with horses, elephants and chariots after arriving at Mathura. 

7. After bringing it to Dväravati he offered it to Ugrasena. (Thereby) the army of the Yadus had no fear of the onslaught of enemies. 

8. O leading brahmins, having subdued all quarrels Baladeva became eager to see his kinsmen and so went to the cowherds' colony of Nanda. 

9. As before, the conqueror of enemies spoke to the cowherds and cowherdlasses with affection and respect. 

10. He was embraced by them. He embraced some of them. With some cowherds and cowherdesses he cracked jokes. 

11. The cowherds spoke many pleasing words to Balarama. Some cowherdesses spoke joyously in their love and others spoke with malice. 

12. Other cowherdesses asked thus:- "Is Krişhņa the lover of womenfolk of the city happy? Is he agitated by stirring emotions of love. 

13. Does not Krişhņa whose affection is momentary, deride our activities and increase the good fortune and pride of the ladies of Mathurā. 

14. Does Krişhņa ever remember our following him and singing alongwith him? Will he come here at least once to see his mother? 

15. Or, of what avail is this talk regarding him? May other stories be mentioned, for without us his life) is possible and without (him) our (life) is possible. 

16. Father, mother, brother, husband and kinsmen-who is not abandoned by us for his sake. (But) he had been ungrateful. 

17. Still, does Krishna cver (mention) anything about his coming here? Nectar-like words must be uttered by you. 

18. He appears to be devoid of love towards us because his mind is attached to the ladies of the city. It seems it will be difficult to see him." 

Vyāsa said: 

19. He (Balarāma) was called (by the cowherdlasses) by the words Krishna, Damodara etc. The cowherdlasses whose minds were attracted by Krishna laughed in good tune. 

20. The cowherdlasses were consoled by Rāma through gentle and sweet messages of Krishna couched in loving emotions and devoid of arrogance. The notes were as sweet as honey. 

21. As before Balarāma continued funny stories and jokes with the cowherds whose minds were attracted by Krishna, the cowherds who were the residents of Vraja.