SB 10.53.20 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

श्रुत्वैतद् भगवान् रामो विपक्षीयनृपोद्यमम् कृष्णं चैकं गतं हर्तुं कन्यां कलहशङ्कित: ॥ २० ॥ बलेन महता सार्धं भ्रातृस्‍नेहपरिप्लुत: त्वरित: कुण्डिनं प्रागाद् गजाश्वरथपत्तिभि: ॥ २१ ॥

Verse text

śrutvaitad bhagavān rāmo vipakṣīya nṛpodyamam kṛṣṇaṁ caikaṁ gataṁ hartuṁ kanyāṁ kalaha-śaṅkitaḥ balena mahatā sārdhaṁ bhrātṛ-sneha-pariplutaḥ tvaritaḥ kuṇḍinaṁ prāgād gajāśva-ratha-pattibhiḥ

Synonyms

śrutvā — hearing ; etat — this ; bhagavān rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma ; vipakṣīya — inimical ; nṛpa — of the kings ; udyamam — the preparations ; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; ca — and ; ekam — alone ; gatam — gone ; hartum — to take away ; kanyām — the bride ; kalaha — a fight ; śaṅkitaḥ — fearing ; balena — a force ; mahatā — mighty ; sārdham — together with ; bhrātṛ — for His brother ; sneha — in affection ; pariplutaḥ — immersed ; tvaritaḥ — swiftly ; kuṇḍinam — to Kuṇḍina ; prāgāt — went ; gaja — with elephants ; aśva — horses ; ratha — chariots ; pattibhiḥ — and infantry .

Translation

When Lord Balarāma heard about these preparations of the inimical kings and how Lord Kṛṣṇa had set off alone to steal the bride, He feared that a fight would ensue. Immersed in affection for His brother, He hurried to Kuṇḍina with a mighty army consisting of infantry and of soldiers riding on elephants, horses and chariots.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

When Lord Balarāma heard about these preparations of the inimical kings and how Lord Kṛṣṇa had set off alone to steal the bride, He feared that a fight would ensue. Immersed in affection for His brother, He hurried to Kuṇḍina with a mighty army consisting of infantry and of soldiers riding on elephants, horses and chariots. KB 10.53.20-21 Śrī Balarāma received the news that Kṛṣṇa had left for Kuṇḍina accompanied only by a brāhmaṇa and that Śiśupāla was there with a large number of soldiers. Balarāma suspected that they would attack Kṛṣṇa, and thus out of great affection for His brother He took strong military divisions of chariots, infantry, horses and elephants and went to the precincts of Kuṇḍina.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Hearing from a succession of persons, Balarama, though being Supreme Lord (bhagava), being omniscient and omnipotent, feared an upcoming battle, and therefore went to Kundina with a huge contingent of troops. This was because of his strong affection for his brother, which covered his omniscience, for it is human nature to worry about the dangers immanent for a friend.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Though word of mouth, Balarāma heard of what has just been described—that the inimical kings were eager to fight. First he heard from persons coming from Vidarbha and later he made inferences by going inside the palace (and not seeing Kṛṣṇa). He was worried that a fight would occur. Saṅkitaḥ is an agent derived from a past participle or follows the words ending in ita like tāraka. (Pāṇini 5.2.36) The cause of his worry was his great affection for his brother. He was flooded with an ocean of sweet prema related to his dear brother and became incapable of doing or thinking anything, even though he was endowed with all knowledge and action (bhagavān). With great strength of elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry, he went there quickly in half a prahara (one and a half hours), to meet with Kṛṣṇa in Vidarbha along with his troops. In doing this, though covered by the power of his troops, Balarāma showed his power of favorableness to Kṛṣṇa by his affection. The love for his brother was stronger than his awareness that Kṛṣṇa was the Lord (bhrātṛ-sneha-pariplutaḥ).

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Balarāma was endowed with all powers (bhagavān). Thus he went with a great army (balena mahatā), aroused with great energy (prāgāt). Why? He feared a battle between Kṛṣṇa and the enemies. Or he was afraid that quarrel would occur. Why would he be frightened, since he was by nature fearless and knew of Kṛṣṇa’s powers? He was absorbed in complete affection for his brother. His affection was without limit like the ocean. The word “brother” is used to indicate that his knowledge of Kṛṣṇa as the Lord disappeared, and he was aware of him only as a brother. Mention of elephants indicates that the four parts of the army were all present. He went quickly, almost with Kṛṣṇa, who had left previously in the morning. Later it is mentioned that Bhīmaka welcomed them both at the same time.