90 - Balarama's sport with Ploughshare

Vyasa said: 

1-2. The noble lord Balarama was thus roaming about in the forest alongwith the cowherds. He was Sesa the supporter of the Earth, who had assumed the false guise of a human being. He had accomplished great tasks. It was for fulfilling a great task that he had taken up this incarnation. Hence, for the purpose of his enjoyment Varuņa spoke to Varuņi (wine). 

Varuņa said: 

3. O wine, you have always been liked by (Balarāma) of great prowess, O auspicious one, go now for his joy and enjoyment of pleasures.

 Vyasa said: 

4. Thus advised by him Varuņi (wine) stationed herself in the hollow of a Kadamba tree growing on the banks of Yamună in Vrundāvana. 

5. Roaming about that spot Balarama inhaled the intensive odour of wine. After smelling it he experienced the delight that he previously used to have in wine. 

6. Osages, thereafter, Balarama saw a current of liquor suddenly falling froin Kadamba. He derived great joy there from. 

7. He drank it joyously in the company of cowherds and cowhedesses while experts in songs and instrumental music sang elegantly. 

8. Shining with the pearl-like drops of sweat due to excessive heat and fatigue he became agitated and said - "O Yamuna, come hither. I wish to take my bath". 

9. The river disregarded those words of inebriated person. She did not approach him. The infuriated Balarama (there upon) seized his ploughshare. 

10. Agitated due to inebriation he caught hold of her by the tip of his ploughshare - "O evil-minded one, won't you come, won't you come? Then go elsewhere as you please". 

11. Dragged by him suddenly the river left her usual path and flooded the forest where Balarama was present. 

12. She approached him in an embodied form. Due to fear her eyes were agitated. She said to him "O you having lionclub as your weapon, be pleased, leave me off”. 

13. He said:- "If you disregard me in spite of my heroisim and strength I shall split you into a thousand bits with the blows of my ploughshare".

Vyāsa said: 

14. When he said thus, he was propitated by the river. When the ground there was flooded, Balarama released Yamunā. 

15-16. Splendour came to him in the forest when he had his bath. Lakşmi took with her a blue lotus as his ornament, an ear-ring, a garland of never-fading lotus flowers sent by Varuna and two blue cloths having the lustre of the sea and gave these presents to him. 

17. Having aborned himself with the blue lotus, embellishing himself with the beautiful ear-ring and clad in blue garments, the glorious one shone with splendour. 

18. Thus embellished, Rama sported there in the cowherds' colony. After two months he went to Dvarakā. 

19. Balarama married Revati the daughter of king Raivata. Two sons, Niśatha and Ulumuka were born of her.