Chapter Three Śrī Baladeva-vivāhotsava Lord Balarāma's Wedding

GS 6.3.1

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca itthaṁ mayā te kathitaṁ dvārakā-vāsa-kāraṇam vivāhādi-kathāḥ sarvā vadiṣyāmi pareśayoḥ śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; ittham—thus; mayā—by me; te—to you; kathitam—spoken; dvārakā-vāsa—residence in Dvaraka; kāraṇam—the cause; vivāha—wedding; ādi—beginning with; kathāḥ—topic; sarva—all; vadiṣyāmi—I will tell; pareśayoḥ—of the two Supreme Personality of Godheads. In this way I have described to you the reason the Lord lives in Dvārakā. Now I will tell you everything of the marriages of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the two Supreme Personalities of Godhead.

GS 6.3.2

Verse text

pūrvaṁ śrī-baladevasya

vivāhaṁ śṛṇu maithila

sarva-pāpa-haraṁ puṇyaṁ

āyur-vardhanam uttamam

Synonyms

pūrvam — before ; śrī-baladevasya — of Lord Balarāma ; vivāham — the wedding ; śṛṇu — please hear ; maithila — O king of Mithila ; sarva-pāpa — all sins ; haram — removing ; puṇyam — sacred ; āyur-vardhanam — increasing the duration of life ; uttamam — transcendental.

Translation

O king of Mithilā, please hear the story of Lord Balarāma's wedding, a sacred and transcendental story that removes all sins and increases the span of one's life.

GS 6.3.3

Verse text

ānarto nāma rājābhūt

sūrya-vaṁse mahā-manāḥ

yan-nāmnānarta-deśaḥ syāt

samudre bhīma-nādini

Synonyms

ānartaḥ — Anarta ; nāma — name ; rājā — a king ; abhūt — was ; sūrya-vaṁse — in the sun-god's dynasty ; mahā-manāḥ — nible-hearted ; yan-nāmnā — by whose name ; ānarta-deśaḥ — the country of Anarta ; syāt — is ; samudre — in the ocean ; bhīma-nādini — filled with terrible sounds.

Translation

A noble-hearted king named Ānarta was born in the sūrya dynasty. The country of Ānarta-deśa, which was created where there once was only the ocean filled with terrible sounds, was named after him.

GS 6.3.4

Verse text

raivato nāma tat-putras

cakravartī guṇākaraḥ

rājyaṁ cakāra sa purīṁ

vinirmāya kuśasthalīm

Synonyms

raivataḥ — Raivata ; nāma — named ; tat-putraḥ — his son ; cakravartī — emperor ; guṇākaraḥ — virtuous ; rājyam — the empire ; cakāra — did ; sa — he ; purīm — to the capitol ; vinirmāya — created ; kuśasthalīm — Kuśasthalī.

Translation

His son was the virtuous king Raivata, who ruled the kingdom from his capitol Kuśasthalī.

GS 6.3.5

Verse text

tasya putra-śataṁ cāsīd

revatī nāma kanyakā

sarvottamaṁ cirañjīvaṁ

sundaraṁ varam icchatī

Synonyms

tasya — of him ; putra-śatam — a hundred sons ; ca — and ; āsīt — was ; revatī — Revatī ; nāma — named ; kanyakā — a daughter ; sarvottamam — the best of all ; cirañjīvam — who would live a long time ; sundaram — handsom ; varam — husband ; icchati — desires.

Translation

He had a hundred sons and one daughter. His daughter, who was named Revatī, yearned to have a husband that was handsome, lived eternally, and was better than all other men.

GS 6.3.6

Verse text

ekadā ratham āsthāya

hema-ratna-vibhūṣitam

āropya svaṁ duhitaraṁ

raivataḥ paryaṭan bhuvam

Synonyms

ekadā — one day ; ratham — a chariot ; āsthāya — mounting ; hema-ratna-vibhūṣitam — decorated with gold and jewels ; āropya — placing ; svam — own ; duhitaram — daughter ; raivataḥ — King Raivata ; paryaṭan — wandered ; bhuvam — the earth.

Translation

One day he placed his daughter on a chariot decorated with gold and jewels, and wandered the earth to find a proper husband.

GS 6.3.7

Verse text

prāpto yoga-balenāpi

brahmalokaṁ śubhāvaham

kanyā-varaṁ paripraṣṭuṁ

brahmāṇaṁ praṇanāma ha

Synonyms

prāptaḥ — attained ; yoga-balena — by mystic power ; api — also ; brahmalokam — Brahmaloka ; śubhāvaham — auspicious ; kanyā-varam — husband for her daughter ; paaripraṣṭum — to ask ; brahmāṇam — Brahma ; praṇanāma — bowed down ; ha — indeed.

Translation

By his mystic power he traveled to Brahmaloka. His intention to ask for a proper husband for his daughter, he bowed before the demigod Brahmā

GS 6.3.8

Verse text

gāyantyāṁ pūrva-cittyāṁ ca

sthito labdha-kṣaṇaḥ kṣaṇam

eka-cittaṁ vidhiṁ jṣātvā

svābhiprāyaṁ nyavedayat

Synonyms

gāyantyam — singing ; pūrva-cittyām — Purvacitti ; ca — and ; sthitaḥ — situated ; labdha-kṣaṇaḥ — finding a proper moment ; kṣaṇam — a moment ; eka-cittam — one thought ; vidhim — to Brahma ; jṣātvā — understanding ; svābhiprāyam — his intention ; nyavedayat — spoke.

Translation

As the apsarā Pūrvacitti was singing, he found his opportunity. Aware that now he had Brahmā's attention, he spoke what was in his heart.

GS 6.3.9

Content

śrī-raivata uvāca paraḥ purāṇo jagad-aṅkuro 'bhūḥ pūrṇaḥ parātmā parameśvaro 'si sthitaḥ sadā dhāmani pārameṣṭhya sṛjasy alaṁ pāsi ca hiṁsasīdam śrī-raivataḥ—Śrī Raivata; uvāca—said; paraḥ—great; purāṇaḥ—ancient; jagad-aṅkuraḥ—from whom the universe has sprouted; abhūḥ—you are; pūrṇaḥ—perfect; parātmā—the great soul; parameśvaraḥ—the supreme controller; asi—you are; sthitaḥ—situated; sadā—always; dhāmani—in your abode; pārameṣṭhya—O Brahmā; sṛjasy—you create; alam—greatly; pasi—protect; ca—and; hiṁsasi—destroy; idam—this universe. Śrī Raivata said: You are the greatest, the oldest, the seed from which this universe has sprouted, the great soul and the great controller. O Brahmā, you stay always in your own abode. You create, maintain, and destroy this universe.

GS 6.3.10

Verse text

vedā mukhaṁ dharma uras tathaiva

pṛṣṭhaṁ hy adharmaś ca manur manīṣā

aṅgāni devā asurāś ca pādāḥ

sarvā sṛtir deva tanus tava syāt

Synonyms

vedāḥ — the Vedas ; mukham — mouth ; dharma — religion ; uraḥ — chest ; tatha — so ; eva — indeed ; pṛṣṭham — back ; hy — indeed ; adharmaś — irreligion ; ca — and ; manuḥ — Manu ; manīṣā — intelligence ; aṅgāni — limbs ; devā — the demigods ; asurāś — the demons ; ca — and ; pādāḥ — feet ; sarvā — all ; sṛtiḥ — creation ; deva — O lord ; tanuḥ — the body ; tava — of you ; syāt — is.

Translation

O lord, the Vedas are Your mouth, religion is your chest, irreligion is your back, Manu is your intelligence, the demigods are your limbs, the demons are your feet, and this entire creation is your body.

GS 6.3.11

Verse text

karoṣi hastāmalakaṁ ca viśvaṁ

netuṁ prabhuḥ sārathivad guṇeṣu

ekas tvam ekaṁ ca vidhāya jālaṁ

grasiṣyase sarvam ivorṇanābhiḥ

Synonyms

karoṣi — you do ; hasta — in the hand ; āmalakam — an amalaka fruit ; ca — and ; viśvam — the universe ; netum — to bring ; prabhuḥ — able ; sārathivat — like a charioteer ; guṇeṣu — among the modes ; ekaḥ — one ; tvam — you ; ekam — one ; ca — and ; vidhāya — placing ; jālam — network ; grasiṣyase — you will swallow ; sarvam — all ; iva — like ; urṇanābhiḥ — a spider.

Translation

This universe is like a small āmalaka fruit in your hand. You are like a charioteer driving this universe through the modes of nature. You are like a spider and this universe is your web. In the future you will swallow up this entire universe.

GS 6.3.12

Verse text

mahendra-dhiṣṇyaṁ tava vaśyam asti

kiṁ sārvabhaumaṁ kim u yoga-siddhiḥ

yaḥ pārameṣṭhyaṁ ca sadā sthito 'si

tasmai namo 'nanta-guṇāya bhūmne

Synonyms

mahendra-dhiṣṇyam — the abode of Lord Indra ; tava — of you ; vaśyam — under the control ; asti — is ; kim — what? ; sārvabhaumam — supremacy ; kim — what? ; u — indeed ; yoga-siddhiḥ — the perfection of yoga ; yaḥ — what ; pārameṣṭhyam — supremacy ; ca — and ; sadā — always ; sthitaḥ — situated ; asi — you are ; tasmai — to him ; namaḥ — obeisances ; ananta-guṇāya — limitless virtues ; bhūmne — to the lord.

Translation

The realm of King Indra is under your control, what to speak of the realms of ordinary kings or the perfections of yoga. You always stay in the highest realm. To you, O lord of limitless virtue, I offer my respectful obeisances.

GS 6.3.13

Verse text

bhavān svayambhūr jagatāṁ pitāmaho

vidhe sura-jyeṣṭha iti prabhāvataḥ

asya varaṁ sarva-guṇaṁ cirāyuṣaṁ

vadāśu māṁ divyam aśeṣa-darśanaḥ

Synonyms

bhavān — you ; svayambhūḥ — self-born ; jagatām — of the universes ; pitāmahaḥ — the granfather ; vidhe — O Brahmā ; sura-jyeṣṭha — the best of the demigods ; iti — thus ; prabhāvataḥ — by the power ; asya — of him ; varam — husband ; sarva-guṇam — having all virtues ; cirāyuṣam — living eternally ; vada — please tell ; āśu — at once ; mām — to me ; divyam — divine ; aśeṣa-darśanaḥ — seeing everything.

Translation

You are self-born. You are the grandfather of all in the universe. You are the best of the demigods. You see everything. O lord, please tell me who should become my daughter's husband, a divine husband that lives forever and has all virtues.

GS 6.3.14

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca etac chrutvā tato brahmā svayambhūḥ sarva-darśanaḥ raivataṁ prāha rājānaṁ prahasann iva maithila śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; etac—this; chrutvā—hearing; tataḥ—then; brahmā—Brahmā; svayambhūḥ—self-born; sarva-darśanaḥ—seeing everything; raivatam—to Raivata; prāha—said; rājānam—King; prahasann—smiling; iva—like; maithila—O king of Mithila. Śrī Nārada said: O king of Mithilā, when he heard these words, self-born Brahmā, who sees everything, smiled and spoke to King Raivata.

GS 6.3.15

Content

śrī-brahmovāca atra kṣaṇena he rājan bhuvi kālo mahā-balī tvaraṁ vyatitas tri-nava- catur-yuga-vikalpitaḥ śrī-brahmā uvāca—Śrī Brahmā said; atra—here; kṣaṇena—in a moment; he—O; rājan—king; bhuvi—on the earth; kālaḥ—time; mahā-balī—very powerful; tvaram—quickly; vyatitaḥ—surpassing; tri-nava-catur-yuga-vikalpitaḥ—counted as four yugas. Śrī Brahmā said: O king, a moment in this realm of Brahmaloka is equal to four yugas on the earth.

GS 6.3.16

Verse text

na santi martya-loke tat-

putrāḥ pautrāḥ sa-bāndhavāḥ

tat-putra-pautra-naptṛṇāṁ

gotrāṇi ca na śṛṇmahe

Synonyms

na — not ; santi — are ; martya-loke — on the earth ; tat-putrāḥ — your children ; pautrāḥ — grandchildren ; sa-bāndhavāḥ — relatives ; tat-putra-pautra-naptṛṇām — their children, gandchildren, great-grandchilren ; gotrāṇi — descnedents ; ca — and ; na — not ; śṛṇmahe — we hear.

Translation

Your children, grandchildren, and other relatives are no longer on the earth. We do not hear anything of the descendents of your children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren. The dynasty no longer exists.

GS 6.3.17

Verse text

tad gaccha sarva-mukhyāya

nara-ratnāya śāśvate

kanyā-ratnam idaṁ rājan

baladevāya dehi bhoḥ

Synonyms

tat — therefore ; gaccha — go ; sarva-mukhyāya — to the best of all ; nara-ratnāya — the jewel of men ; śāśvate — eternal ; kanyā-ratnam — jewel of girls ; idam — this ; rājan — O king ; baladevāya — to Lord Balarāma ; dehi — give ; bhoḥ — Oh.

Translation

Therefore you should approach Lord Balarāma, who is the best of all, the jewel of men, and the person that lives eternally, and offer your jewel-daughter to Him.

GS 6.3.18

Verse text

paripūrṇatamau sākṣād

golokādhipatī prabhū

bhuvo bhārāvatārāyā-

vatīrṇau bala-keśavau

Synonyms

paripūrṇatamau — the two Supreme Personalities of Godhead ; sākṣāt — directly ; golokādhipatī — the two masters of Goloka ; prabhū — the two Lords ; bhuvaḥ — of the earth ; bhāra — the burden ; avatārāya — to remove ; avatīrṇau — descended ; bala — Balarāma ; keśavau — and Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are the two original Supreme Personalities of Godhead. They are Goloka's two masters, who have descended to remove the earth's burden.

GS 6.3.19

Verse text

asaṅkhya-brahmāṇḍa-patī

vasudevātmajau harī

dvārakāyaṁ virājete

yadubhir bhakta-vatsalau

Synonyms

asaṅkhya — numberless ; brahmāṇḍa — of universes ; patī — the masters ; vasudevātmajau — the sons of Vasudeva ; harī — the two Lords ; dvārakāyam — in Dvārakā ; virājete — are splendidly manifest ; yadubhiḥ — with the Yādavas ; bhakta-vatsalau — kind to Their devotees.

Translation

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who are the two Supreme Lords, who are the two masters of numberless universes, who are Vasudeva's two sons, and who are kind to Their devotees, are now spleniddly manifest in Dvārakā, with the Yādavas as Their companions.

GS 6.3.20

Content

śrī-nārada uvāca atha śrutvā vidhiṁ natvā raivato nṛpa-sattamaḥ āyayau dvārakāṁ bhūyaḥ samṛddhaṁ taṁ samṛddhibhiḥ śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; atha—then; śrutvā—hearing; vidhim—to Brahmā; natvā—bowing; revataḥ—Raivata; nṛpa—of kings; sattamaḥ—the best; āyayau—went; dvārakām—to Dvārtakā; bhūyaḥ—greatly; samṛddham—opulent; tam—that; samṛddhibhiḥ—with opulences. Śrī Nārada said: Hearing these words, the great king Raivata bowed down before Lord Brahmā and then quickly went to the supremely opulent city of Dvārakā.

GS 6.3.21

Verse text

pāribarhe rathaṁ dattvā

viśvakarma-vinirmitam

sahasra-haya-samyuktaṁ

divya-yojana-vistṛtam

Synonyms

pāribarhe — as a wedding present ; ratham — a chariot ; dattvā — giving ; viśvakarma-vinirmitam — made by Viśvakarmā ; sahasra — a thousand ; haya — horses ; samyuktam — with ; divya-yojana-vistṛtam — eight celestial miles long.

Translation

As a wedding present he gave a chariot built by Viśvakarmā that was eight celestial miles long and yoked with a thousand horses, . . .

GS 6.3.22

Verse text

divyāmbarāni ratnāni

brahma-dattāni maithila

datvāyayau tapas taptuṁ

badary-ākhyaṁ śubhāvaham

Synonyms

divya — splendid ; āmbarāni — garments ; ratnāni — jewels ; brahma-dattāni — given by Brahma ; maithila — O king of Mithila ; datvā — giving ; āyayau — went ; tapaḥ — austerities ; taptum — to perform ; badary-ākhyam — named Badarikasrama ; śubhāvaham — the auspicious place.

Translation

. . . and he also gave many splendid garments and jewels he had received from Brahmā. After giving these gifts he left to perform austerities at sacred Badarikāśrama.

GS 6.3.23

Verse text

tadā mahotsavaś cāsīd

yadu-puryāṁ gṛhe gṛhe

saṅkarṣaṇo 'tha bhagavān

revatyā virarāja ha

Synonyms

tadā — then ; mahotsavaś — a great festival ; ca — and ; āsīt — was ; yadu-puryām — in the capitol of the Yādavass ; gṛhe — in home ; gṛhe — after home ; saṅkarṣaṇaḥ — Lord Balarāma ; atha — then ; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; revatyā — with Revatī ; virarāja — was splendidly manifested ; ha — indeed.

Translation

Then there was a great festival in the capitol of the Yādavas. In home after home the Supreme Lord Balarāma appeared with Śrīmatī Revatī.

GS 6.3.24

Verse text

baladeva-vivāhasya

kathāṁ yaḥ śṛṇuyān naraḥ

sarva-pāpa-vinirmuktaḥ

parāṁ siddhim avāpnuyāt

Synonyms

baladeva — of Lord Balarāma ; vivāhasya — of the wedding ; kathām — the topic ; yaḥ — one who ; śṛṇuyān — hears ; naraḥ — a person ; sarva-pāpa — all sins ; vinirmuktaḥ — pree ; parām — the supreme ; siddhim — perfection ; avāpnuyāt — attains.

Translation

One who hears this story of Lord Balarāma's wedding becomes free of all sins and attains the supreme perfection. .pa