श्रीशुक उवाच ।
ततः पर्वण्युपावृत्ते प्रचण्डः पांसुवर्षणः ।
भीमो वायुरभूद्राजन् पूयगन्धस्तु सर्वशः ॥ १॥
ततोऽमेध्यमयं वर्षं बल्वलेन विनिर्मितम् ।
अभवद्यज्ञशालायां सोऽन्वदृश्यत शूलधृक् ॥ २॥
तं विलोक्य बृहत्कायं भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमम् ।
तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुं दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीमुखम् ॥ ३॥
सस्मार मुसलं रामः परसैन्यविदारणम् ।
हलं च दैत्यदमनं ते तूर्णमुपतस्थतुः ॥ ४॥
तमाकृष्य हलाग्रेण बल्वलं गगनेचरम् ।
मुसलेनाहनत्क्रुद्धो मूर्ध्नि ब्रह्मद्रुहं बलः ॥ ५॥
सोऽपतद्भुवि निर्भिन्नललाटोऽसृक्समुत्सृजन् ।
मुञ्चन्नार्तस्वरं शैलो यथा वज्रहतोऽरुणः ॥ ६॥
संस्तुत्य मुनयो रामं प्रयुज्यावितथाशिषः ।
अभ्यषिञ्चन्महाभागा वृत्रघ्नं विबुधा यथा ॥ ७॥
वैजयन्तीं ददुर्मालां श्रीधामाम्लानपङ्कजाम् ।
रामाय वाससी दिव्ये दिव्यान्याभरणानि च ॥ ८॥
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Śrī Śuka began again : Parikṣit, on the next full-moon day a violent storm broke over the place, covering all with dust and bringing the foul odour of pus from all sides. Next, there was a shower of urine and faeces on the sacrificial ground, caused by Balwala, who himself afterwards appeared with a trident in his hand. (1-2)
Possessed of a dark gigantic body, he looked like a heap of soot. His hair, moustaches and beard had the colour of red-hot copper and his face with protruding teeth and (contracted) eyebrows looked most terrible. Seeing the demon, Balarāma thought of His celebrated pestle, which shatters the columns of the enemy's army, and His well-known plough, which subdues the demons; and both these weapons instantaneously presented themselves before Him. (3-4)
With the end of His plough Balarāma drew down Balwala coursing in the air, and full of rage struck that (sworn) enemy of the Brāhmaṇas on the head with His pestle. (5)
With his forehead split open the demon, bleeding profusely, fell on the ground, uttering a helpless cry, and looked like a mountain peak struck down with lightning and ejecting red streams (of molten character). (6)
The blessed sages (of Naimiṣāraṇya) applauded Balarāma (for this action), pronounced their unfailing benedictions on Him and sprinkled (holy) waters over His head even as the gods sprinkled water over their ruler Indra on his having killed the demon Vṛtra. (7)
(Then) they presented Balarāma with a pair of excellent pieces of cloth and ornaments and a beautiful Vaijayanti garland of never-fading lotuses. (8) (1-8)
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अथ तैरभ्यनुज्ञातः कौशिकीमेत्य ब्राह्मणैः ।
स्नात्वा सरोवरमगाद्यतः सरयुरास्रवत् ॥ ९॥
अनुस्रोतेन सरयूं प्रयागमुपगम्य सः ।
स्नात्वा सन्तर्प्य देवादीन् जगाम पुलहाश्रमम् ॥ १०॥
गोमतीं गण्डकीं स्नात्वा विपाशां शोण आप्लुतः ।
गयां गत्वा पितॄनिष्ट्वा गङ्गासागरसङ्गमे ॥ ११॥
उपस्पृश्य महेन्द्राद्रौ रामं दृष्ट्वाभिवाद्य च ।
सप्तगोदावरीं वेणां पम्पां भीमरथीं ततः ॥ १२॥
स्कन्दं दृष्ट्वा ययौ रामः श्रीशैलं गिरिशालयम् ।
द्रविडेषु महापुण्यं दृष्ट्वाद्रिं वेङ्कटं प्रभुः ॥ १३॥
कामकोष्णीं पुरीं काञ्चीं कावेरीं च सरिद्वराम् ।
श्रीरङ्गाख्यं महापुण्यं यत्र सन्निहितो हरिः ॥ १४॥
ऋषभाद्रिं हरेः क्षेत्रं दक्षिणां मथुरां तथा ।
सामुद्रं सेतुमगमन्महापातकनाशनम् ॥ १५॥
तत्रायुतमदाद्धेनूर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हलायुधः ।
कृतमालां ताम्रपर्णीं मलयं च कुलाचलम् ॥ १६॥
तत्रागस्त्यं समासीनं नमस्कृत्याभिवाद्य च ।
योजितस्तेन चाशीर्भिरनुज्ञातो गतोऽर्णवम् ।
दक्षिणं तत्र कन्याख्यां दुर्गां देवीं ददर्श सः ॥ १७॥
ततः फाल्गुनमासाद्य पञ्चाप्सरसमुत्तमम् ।
विष्णुः सन्निहितो यत्र स्नात्वास्पर्शद्गवायुतम् ॥ १८॥
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Now, with the permission of the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, Balarāma together with His Brāhmaṇa companions went to the Kauśiki river, and after bathing in that river went to the lake from which the Sarayū emanates. (9)
Following the downward course of the Sarayū, He thence came to Prayāga. After taking His bath there and propitiating the gods, Ṛṣis and manes by offering water to them, He went to the hermitage of the sage Pulaha. (10)
(Then) he bathed in the Gomati, Gaṇḍaki, Vipāśā and Sona rivers and, visiting Gayā, worshipped the manes (according to the instructions of His father Śrī Vasudeva). From Gayā He went to the mouth of the Gaṅgā where He took a bath (and performed other religious rites). (Then) He went to the Mahendra Hill, where He saw and paid His respects to the sage Paraśurāma. Having bathed in the seven branches of the Godāvan and in the Veṇā and Bhimarathi rivers as well as in the Pampā lake, He paid a visit to the shrine of Lord Kārtikeya and (thence) proceeded to Śrīśaila, the abode of Lord Śiva (known by the name of Mallikārjuna). From Śrīśaila He went to see the most holy mountain-peak of Veṅkaṭa in the Dravida territory. (11—13)
(Then) passing through Śiva-Kāñci and Viṣṇu-Kāñci and after taking a bath in the holy Kāveri, He reached the most sacred site of Śrīraṅga where Bhagavān Viṣṇu (eternally) dwells. (14)
From there He went to visit the Ṛṣabha Hill, sacred to Lord Viṣṇu, and the southern Mathurā and thence proceeded to the dam across the sea at Rāmeśwara, visitors to which are purged (even) of their greatest sins. (15)
There Balarāma gifted ten thousand cows to the Brāhmaṇas. (Then) after taking a bath in the Kṛtamālā and Tāmraparṇī rivers, He went to the Malaya mountain. It is one of the seven principal ranges of mountains of Bhāratavarṣa. (16)
Greeting and bowing to the sage Agastya residing there, and receiving his blessings and permission, He went to the southern sea and visited (the shrine of) Goddess Durgā (at Kanyākumāri) known by the name of Kanyā. (17)
Next He went to the Phālguna Tirtha (Anantaśayana) and the great lake of Pañcāpsarasa, another abode of Lord Viṣṇu. There after bathing in its holy waters, He gave away ten thousand cows (to the Brāhmaṇas). (18) (9-18)
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ततोऽभिव्रज्य भगवान् केरलांस्तु त्रिगर्तकान् ।
गोकर्णाख्यं शिवक्षेत्रं सान्निध्यं यत्र धूर्जटेः ॥ १९॥
आर्यां द्वैपायनीं दृष्ट्वा शूर्पारकमगाद्बलः ।
तापीं पयोष्णीं निर्विन्ध्यामुपस्पृश्याथ दण्डकम् ॥ २०॥
प्रविश्य रेवामगमद्यत्र माहिष्मती पुरी ।
मनुतीर्थमुपस्पृश्य प्रभासं पुनरागमत् ॥ २१॥
श्रुत्वा द्विजैः कथ्यमानं कुरुपाण्डवसंयुगे ।
सर्वराजन्यनिधनं भारं मेने हृतं भुवः ॥ २२॥
स भीमदुर्योधनयोर्गदाभ्यां युध्यतोर्मृधे ।
वारयिष्यन् विनशनं जगाम यदुनन्दनः ॥ २३॥
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Then Lord Balarāma visited the principalities of Kerala and Trigarta, and (from there He) went to Gokarna, sacred to Śiva, where Bhagavān Śaṅkara is eternally present. (19)
Thence He visited (the shrine of) Goddess Pārvati (known by the name of Āryā) located in an island, after which He went to Śūrpāraka. Then after bathing in the Tāpti, Payoṣṇi and Nirvindhyā rivers, He entered the Daṇḍaka forest. (20)
(From there) He went to the bank of the Narbadā, where stands the city of Māhiṣmati, and after bathing in the Manutirtha returned to Prabhāsa. (21)
There He heard from the mouth of Brāhmaṇas that in the historic fight between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas (almost) all the Kṣatriyas had lost their lives. He felt that the burden of the earth had been (greatly) relieved (by that terrible war). (22)
On the day Bhima and Duryodhana were engaged in a single combat with their maces on the battle-field, Śrī Balarāma reached Kuruksetra to prevent their fight. (23) (19-23)
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युधिष्ठिरस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा यमौ कृष्णार्जुनावपि ।
अभिवाद्याभवंस्तूष्णीं किं विवक्षुरिहागतः ॥ २४॥
गदापाणी उभौ दृष्ट्वा संरब्धौ विजयैषिणौ ।
मण्डलानि विचित्राणि चरन्ताविदमब्रवीत् ॥ २५॥
युवां तुल्यबलौ वीरौ हे राजन् हे वृकोदर ।
एकं प्राणाधिकं मन्ये उतैकं शिक्षयाधिकम् ॥ २६॥
तस्मादेकतरस्येह युवयोः समवीर्ययोः ।
न लक्ष्यते जयोऽन्यो वा विरमत्वफलो रणः ॥ २७॥
न तद्वाक्यं जगृहतुर्बद्धवैरौ नृपार्थवत् ।
अनुस्मरन्तावन्योन्यं दुरुक्तं दुष्कृतानि च ॥ २८॥
दिष्टं तदनुमन्वानो रामो द्वारवतीं ययौ ।
उग्रसेनादिभिः प्रीतैर्ज्ञातिभिः समुपागतः ॥ २९॥
तं पुनर्नैमिषं प्राप्तमृषयोऽयाजयन् मुदा ।
क्रत्वङ्गं क्रतुभिः सर्वैर्निवृत्ताखिलविग्रहम् ॥ ३०॥
तेभ्यो विशुद्धं विज्ञानं भगवान् व्यतरद्विभुः ।
येनैवात्मन्यदो विश्वमात्मानं विश्वगं विदुः ॥ ३१॥
स्वपत्न्यावभृथस्नातो ज्ञातिबन्धुसुहृद्वृतः ।
रेजे स्वज्योत्स्नयेवेन्दुः सुवासाः सुष्ठ्वलङ्कृतः ॥ ३२॥
ईदृग्विधान्यसङ्ख्यानि बलस्य बलशालिनः ।
अनन्तस्याप्रमेयस्य मायामर्त्यस्य सन्ति हि ॥ ३३॥
योऽनुस्मरेत रामस्य कर्माण्यद्भुतकर्मणः ।
सायम्प्रातरनन्तस्य विष्णोः स दयितो भवेत् ॥ ३४॥
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां दशमस्कन्धे उत्तरार्धे बलदेव-
तीर्थयात्रानिरूपणं नामैकोनाशीतितमोऽध्यायः ॥ ७९॥
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Yudhiṣṭhira, for his part, Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, all bowed to Him, as soon as they saw Him, and stood silent anxious to know the mission which had brought Him there. (24)
Bhima and Duryodhana, burning with rage, were then performing, mace in hand, their wonderful manoeuvres with a view to overthrowing one another. Seeing them thus engaged, Balarāma said. (25)
"King Duryodhana and Bhimasena, both of you are (renowned) warriors equally matched in strength. If Bhimasena is superior in strength, Duryodhana is more skilful in wielding the mace. (26)
To my mind, neither of you is likely to win or be vanquished, since you possess equal energy. Therefore, let this useless fight cease." (27)
Though this advice of Śrī Balarāma was salutary (to both), the enmity which they bore to each other was so deep-seated that they could not accept the same. They could not forget the offensive words and malevolent acts of each other. (28)
Balarāma thought they were being driven to their fate by destiny; therefore (without making further attempt at a compromise) He returned to Dwārakā. There He was welcomed by Ugrasena and other relations who were all delighted at His arrival. (29)
(Thence) Śrī Balarāma went to the Naimiṣa forest for the second time. There the sages, (acting as priests) gladly assisted Śrī Balarāma, who had kept Himself aloof from hostility and war, in performing all the sacrifices. Parikṣit, (really speaking) all sacrifices are but part and parcel of Śrī Balarāma (and yet He performed them in order to teach a lesson to the world). (30)
The almighty Balarāma imparted pure wisdom to the sages, by virtue of which they realized the whole universe in themselves, and the Self as permeating the whole universe. (31)
Then, performing the concluding ablutions with His consort, Revatī, and adorned with fine clothes and beautiful ornaments, He looked amidst friends and relations just like the moon accompanied by moonlight (in the midst of stars). (32)
Parikṣit, almighty Bhagavān Śrī Balarāma is the infinite Lord Himself, His nature is incomprehensible. He had assumed a human semblance simply out of sport. His exploits are indeed innumerable. (33)
He who contemplates on the wonderful deeds of the infinite, all-pervading Balarāma, both morning and evening, becomes the most beloved of God. (34)
Thus ends the seventy-ninth discourse entitled "An account of the pilgrimage of Baladeva" in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Sarhhitā. (24-34)
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