Chapter 18: Lord Balarâma Slays the Demon Pralamba

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'Surrounded by His happy-natured folk singing His glories Krishna thereafter [after the forest fire] entered Vraja that was so beautiful with its herds of cows. (2) While the two [Lords Balarâma and Krishna] thus were sporting in Vraja in the disguise of a cowherd, the summer season approached that is not so pleasant for the living beings. (3) Nonetheless because of the special qualities of Vrindâvana this place, were the Supreme Lord Kes'ava together with Râma personally was staying, manifested characteristics similar to those of spring. (4) The constant noise of the waterfalls drowned out the sound of the crickets there while the groups of trees embellishing the area were moistened by their spray. (5) From the waves of the lakes and the currents of the rivers cool breezes transported the pollen of the kahlâra, kañja and utpala lotuses. Because of them there was for the people living in the forest not the tormenting heat of the sun or the forest fires that belong to the summer season, but instead an abundance of grass. (6) The water of the very deep rivers drenched the shores, which caused muddy banks on all sides. The fierce sun radiating its venomous rays there could not drive away the moist from the earth and the greenery. (7) In the forest that was beautifully filled with flowers, all sorts of animals made their noises, birds were singing, peacocks [cried], bees [hummed] and cuckoos and cranes were cooing. (8) While sounding His flute Krishna, the Supreme Lord intent on playing there, entered the forest area in the company of Balarâma, the gopas and the cows. (9) Being decorated with fresh leaves, peacock feathers, bunches of small flowers, garlands and colorful minerals, the gopas headed by Krishna and Râma were singing, dancing and romping about. (10) While Krishna danced, some of them sang, some played on flutes, cymbals and horns while others offered praise. (11) The demigods disguised as cowherd folk oh King, worshiped [see 10.1: 22] Krishna and Râma in their form of cow protectors, just like professional dancers do when they encourage another dancer. (12) Whirling in circles, jumping distances, throwing with things, slapping their arms and pulling with ropes they played and sometimes they held, when they wrestled, each other by the locks of their hair. (13) When so now and then the others danced They were the ones who played the instruments, who sang and who were of praise oh King by saying: 'How good, how good this is!' (14) At times they played with bilva fruits and then again with kumbha fruits or with palmfuls of âmalaka fruits [myrobalan]. They played tag [aspris'ya] or blind man's buff [netra-bandha] and such games and sometimes they mimicked the animals and birds. (15) Then they jumped like frogs, told all kinds of jokes and then again they were playing on the swings or acted like kings. (16) The two this way being engaged in common human play, roamed the forests, mountains, rivers and valleys, bowers, lakes and surrounding groves.

(17) [One day,] while Râma and Krishna together with the gopas were herding the animals in that forest the demon Pralamba arrived there in the form of a gopa who wanted to kidnap Them. (18) Since He stemming from the house of Das'ârha was the omniscient Supreme Lord, He saw what he a was up to. Thinking of killing him, He accepted to be friends with him. (19) Krishna, the knower of all games thereupon called together the gopas and said: 'Oh gopas, let us play and divide us in two equal teams.' (20) For that purpose the gopas appointed Râma and Janârdana as their leaders so that some belonged to Krishna's group while others joined the group of Râma. (21) They engaged in several games of 'carrier and carried' [harinâkrîdanam] that were defined by the rule that the winners would climb on the back of the defeated ones who then had to carry them. (22) While carrying and being carried they tended the cows. Led by Krishna, they went to a banyan tree named Bhândîraka [*]. (23) After Râma's party consisting of S'rîdâmâ, Vrishabha and others had won the contest, each of them was carried by Krishna and the members of His party oh King. (24) Because Krishna, the Supreme Lord, was defeated He carried S'rîdâmâ, Bhadrasena carried Vrishabha and Pralamba [the Asura] carried the son of Rohinî [Balarâma].  (25) Considering Krishna invincible that foremost demon in great haste set off to carry [his passenger Râma] beyond the finish line where one should dismount. (26) Holding Him high the demon lost his momentum though because Râma became as heavy as the king of the earth and the planets [mount Meru]. As a consequence he resumed his original body that was covered by golden ornaments. He shone like a cloud flashing with lightening that carried the moon. (27) Seeing that body moving fast through the sky with blazing eyes, frowned eyebrows, rows of  terrible teeth, wild hair, with armlets, with a crown and with earrings, the Carrier of the Plow being amazed about the effulgence, was a bit put off. (28) Balarâma being carried away from His company like He was being kidnapped, regained His wits and fearlessly hit His enemy angrily hard with His fist on the head. That happened as vehemently as the king of the gods hitting a mountain with his thunderbolt. (29) The head of the demon being struck split immediately in two so that he unconscious and lifeless, spitting blood from his mouth, fell to the ground with a loud noise that sounded like a mountain being hit by Indra's weapon. (30) When the gopas saw how Pralamba was killed by the force of Balarâma's display of power, they were most astonished and exclaimed: 'Very good, well done!' ['sâdhu, sâdhu'] (31) Pronouncing benedictions they praised Him for His deserving action. With their hearts overwhelmed by love they closed Him in their arms as if He had returned from death. (32) After the sinful Pralamba had been killed, the demigods, utterly satisfied, heaped flower garlands upon Him and offered prayers exclaiming: 'Bravo, excellent!' '