SB 10.38.37 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

सङ्कर्षणश्च प्रणतमुपगुह्य महामना: । गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणी अनत्सानुजो गृहम् ॥ ३७ ॥ पृष्ट्वाथ स्वागतं तस्मै निवेद्य च वरासनम् । प्रक्षाल्य विधिवत् पादौ मधुपर्कार्हणमाहरत् ॥ ३८ ॥

Verse text

saṅkarṣaṇaś ca praṇatam upaguhya mahā-manāḥ gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇī anayat sānujo gṛham pṛṣṭvātha sv-āgataṁ tasmai nivedya ca varāsanam prakṣālya vidhi-vat pādau madhu-parkārhaṇam āharat

Synonyms

saṅkarṣaṇaḥ — Lord Balarāma ; ca — and ; praṇatam — who was standing with his head bowed ; upaguhya — embracing ; mahā — manāḥ — magnanimous ; gṛhītvā — taking hold of ; pāṇinā — with His hand ; pāṇī — his two hands ; anayat — He took ; sa — anujaḥ — with His younger brother (Lord Kṛṣṇa) ; gṛham — to His residence ; pṛṣṭvā — inquiring ; atha — then ; su — āgatam — about the comfort of his trip ; tasmai — to him ; nivedya — offering ; ca — and ; vara — excellent ; āsanam — a seat ; prakṣālya — washing ; vidhi — vat — in accordance with scriptural injunctions ; pādau — his feet ; madhu — parka — honey mixed with milk ; arhaṇam — as a respectful offering ; āharat — He brought .

Translation

As Akrūra stood with his head bowed, Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa [Balarāma] grasped his joined hands, and then Balarāma took him to His house in the company of Lord Kṛṣṇa. After inquiring from Akrūra whether his trip had been comfortable, Balarāma offered him a first-class seat, bathed his feet in accordance with the injunctions of scripture and respectfully served him milk with honey.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

As Akrūra stood with his head bowed, Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa [Balarāma] grasped his joined hands, and then Balarāma took him to His house in the company of Lord Kṛṣṇa. After inquiring from Akrūra whether his trip had been comfortable, Balarāma offered him a first-class seat, bathed his feet in accordance with the injunctions of scripture and respectfully served him milk with honey. KB 10.38.37-38 Balarāma also embraced Akrūra. Then the two Lords took him by the hand and brought him to Their sitting room, where They offered him a very nice sitting place and water for washing his feet. They also worshiped him with a suitable presentation of honey mixed with other ingredients.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

With his right hand, Balarama held Akrura’s folded hands. Akrura had previously revealed that desire in verse twenty three.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Akrūra treated Balarāma similarly since they were all from the same family. Balarāma’s mind excelled in qualities like affection for Kṛṣṇa’s devotees (mahā-manāḥ). At this time Balarāma played the main role and Kṛṣṇa was secondary, accompanying him (sānujaḥ), since as the elder brother he was the chief one to welcome guests. He took him to Nanda’s house, but he considered that his own house as well. He offered Akrūra the best seat, studded with jewels and according to the rules washed his feet and offered madhuparka. The phrase “according to the rules” should be added to all the items he offered.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

The name Saṅkarṣaṇa identifies Balarāma as a Yadu, though he was living as a cowherd. Yadūnām apṛthag bhāvāt: he was non-different from the Yadus. (SB 10.8.12) Or the name indicates that he attracted everyone, like Kṛṣṇa. He had previously offered respects to Kṛṣṇa. Or he again offered respects separately to Balarāma. Balarāma was generous (mahāmanā) because he received Akrūra properly as a guest. Or Kṛṣṇa had become helpless out of affection for his devotee and Nanda and others were within the house, as if filled with grief (at the impeding separation). Balarāma then thought, “Today there is no one except me to welcome him.” Or he welcomed Akrūra in order to hide the fact that he would cause great suffering Vraja by taking Kṛṣṇa away. Kṛṣṇa was in a secondary position (sānujaḥ) or could not lead Akrūra to the house because of his prema. He led him to Nanda’s house—where Yaśodā and Rohiṇī were also staying. After bringing Akrūra to the house Balarāma offered him an excellent seat made of gems. He washed his feet and offered madhuparka according to the rules. The phrase “according to the rules” should be added to all the items he offered. The rules are well known in the smṛtis.