Verse Text
anyarūpeṇa, yathā –
hanta me katham udeti sa-vatse, vatsa-pāla-paṭale ratir atra |
ity aniścita-matir baladevo vismaya-stimita-mūrtir ivāsīt ||18||
Translation
The “other forms” are now explained as follows: “How is it that I have developed rati for the calves and the cowherd boys similar to my rati for Kṛṣṇa?” In this way Balarāma with indecision remained struck with wonder.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
How has Balarāma’s rati for Kṛṣṇa arisen in relation to the calves and cowherd boys? [Note: In this example the object of affection or rati is still Kṛṣṇa but in the form of the calves and cowherd boys.] Stimita means stunned. Iva is used as an ornament of speech (and does mean “somewhat astonished.”)
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is a statement in connection with the brahma-vimohana-līlā which demonstrates something of this impelling or impetus-giving feature of ecstatic love. When Brahmā was deluded by Kṛṣṇa, who expanded Himself into so many cowherd boys, calves and cows, Kṛṣṇa’s elder brother, Śrī Baladeva (a direct expansion of Kṛṣṇa Himself), felt astonishment and said, “How wonderful it is that My ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa is again being attracted to so many cowherd boys, calves and cows!” He was struck with wonder by thinking in this way. This is one of the examples in which Kṛṣṇa Himself becomes the object and reservoir of ecstatic love in the impelling aspect.