Srimad Bhagavatam 10.79.07-15 - Lord Balaram goes on Pilgrimage (download mp3)
by Bhakti Charudeshna Swami at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.com
SB 10.79.7
samstutya munayo ramam
prayujyavitathasisah
abhyasiñcan maha-bhaga
vrtra-ghnam vibudha yatha
Translation:
The exalted sages honored Lord Rama with sincere prayers and awarded Him infallible blessings. Then they performed His ritual bath, just as the demigods had formally bathed Indra when he killed Vrtra.
SB 10.79.8
vaijayantim dadur malam
sri-dhamamlana-pankajam
ramaya vasasi divye
divyany abharanani ca
Translation:
They gave Lord Balarama a Vaijayanti garland of unfading lotuses in which resided the goddess of fortune, and they also gave Him a set of divine garments and jewelry.
SB 10.79.9
atha tair abhyanujñatah
kausikim etya brahmanaih
snatva sarovaram agad
yatah sarayur asravat
Translation:
Then, given leave by the sages, the Lord went with a contingent of brahmanas to the Kausiki River, where He bathed. From there He went to the lake from which flows the river Sarayu.
SB 10.79.10
anu-srotena sarayum
prayagam upagamya sah
snatva santarpya devadin
jagama pulahasramam
Translation:
The Lord followed the course of the Sarayu until He came to Prayaga, where He bathed and then performed rituals to propitiate the demigods and other living beings. Next He went to the asrama of Pulaha Rsi.
Purport:
Pulahasrama is also known as Hari-ksetra.
SB 10.79.11-15
gomatim gandakim snatva
vipasam sona aplutah
gayam gatva pitrn istva
ganga-sagara-sangame
upasprsya mahendradrau
ramam drstvabhivadya ca
sapta-godavarim venam
pampam bhimarathim tatah
skandam drstva yayau ramah
sri-sailam girisalayam
dravidesu maha-punyam
drstvadrim venkatam prabhuh
kama-kosnim purim kañcim
kaverim ca sarid-varam
sri-rangakhyam maha-punyam
yatra sannihito harih
rsabhadrim hareh ksetram
daksinam mathuram tatha
samudram setum agamat
maha-pataka-nasanam
Translation:
Lord Balarama bathed in the Gomati, Gandaki and Vipasa rivers, and also immersed Himself in the Sona. He went to Gaya, where He worshiped His forefathers, and to the mouth of the Ganges, where He performed purifying ablutions. At Mount Mahendra He saw Lord Parasurama and offered Him prayers, and then He bathed in the seven branches of the Godavari River, and also in the rivers Vena, Pampa and Bhimarathi. Then Lord Balarama met Lord Skanda and visited Sri-saila, the abode of Lord Girisa. In the southern provinces known as Dravida-desa the Supreme Lord saw the sacred Venkata Hill, as well as the cities of Kamakosni and Kañci, the exalted Kaveri River and the most holy Sri-ranga, where Lord Krsna has manifested Himself. From there He went to Rsabha Mountain, where Lord Krsna also lives, and to the southern Mathura. Then He came to Setubandha, where the most grievous sins are destroyed.
Purport:
Usually one goes to Gaya to worship deceased forefathers. But as Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti explains, although Lord Balarama’s father and grandfather were still alive, it was on His father’s order that He carefully worshiped His forefathers at Gaya. Drawing insight from the Vaisnava-tosani, the acarya further explains that although Lord Balarama was in the immediate proximity of Jagannatha Puri, He did not go there, since He wanted to avoid the embarrassment of having to worship Himself among the forms of Sri Krsna, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
