Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great pleasure in eulogizing the object of their love -Sankarsana, Nityananda Prabhu. In the midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure devotee, SriSiva, and his consort pour out nectarean devotional hymns to Lord Sankarsana.All this is revealed in the Fifth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Balarama is worshiped by the entireVaisnava world with songs of praise. Balarama danced with His gopis in Vrndavana, and their rasadance is the pinnacle of sublimity. The Puranas describe that Balarama performed His rasa danceduring the two months of spring, Madhava and Madhu. The Srimad Bhagavatam verses narrating thissubject were spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit.Balarama spent the moonlit nights of the months of Vaisaka and Caitra with the cowherd damsels inthe supramundane abode of Vrndavana. The place was set aglow with the rays of the moon. The lotusand kadamba flowers bloomed freely under the influence of the moon's rays, and a soft breezecirculated their scent. In the groves on the bank of the Jamuna, Balarama danced with the gopis,increasing their conjugal mood. The Supreme Lord Balarama, like a exquisite gem decorated by thecluster of gopis, performed His pleasurable pastimes. He behaved like Indra's elephant Airavata - thecontroller of many she-elephants. The Gandharvas observed the rasa dance and offered their prayers.The sound of kettle drums rose from the heavens, the demigods joyously showered flowers uponThem, and the Gandharvas and sages worshiped the Supreme Lord Balarama with verses praising Hisactivities. The sages unequivocally denounce association with women, yet they sung hymns in praiseof Balarama's rasa dance with His cowherd damsels. The demigods attended Balarama's rasa dance toshower flower petals. They knew that there was no difference between Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama,Haladhara. The transcendental qualities of Balarama are obscure in the four Vedas, but the Puranasdescribe them boldly.What power do I have to describe them? Out of ignorance, some people disregard the Puranas andreject Balarama's rasa dance as inauthentic.The two brothers, Lord Krsna and Balarama, performed the rasa dance with the gopis in the same placein Vrndavana. On the radiant full moon night of holi, at the end of sivaratri vrata, Lord Krsna and LordBalarama, accompanied by Their cowherd boy friends, enjoyed Themselves in the midst of thebeautiful maidens of Vrndavana. They were both pleasingly decorated with the finest jewelry,sandalwood pulp, wildflower garlands and exquisite clothes. The fortunate gopis sang sweetly, theirhearts enraptured by love for Krishna and Balarama.Evening had not set in; the moon and the stars appeared. The fragrance of Arabian jasmine intoxicatedthe bumblebees, and a light breeze carried the aromas of white lilies and lotus flowers. Consideringthat very moment to be appropriate, Krsna and Balarama began Their pleasurable dalliances. Theysang together for the pleasure of all living entities, Their voices rising and falling melodiously.If a person, after reading Srimad Bhagavatam, is not affectionately inclined towards Lord Balarama,then he is rejected by the Supreme Lord Vishnu and His devotees. In the words of Srimad Bhagavatam,a non-believer is a yavana (a barbarian). He is destined to suffer in hell, birth after birth.There are others who, like eunuchs, make emotional gesticulations, challenging, "Which scripturedescribes the rasa dance of Balarama?" Who is so sinful that even after reading the scriptures, he cannot accept the truth, but misinterprets the real meaning and gives his own distorted understanding?Lord Balarama is the abode of Lord Caitanya's deep affection. Offense at Balarama's lotus feetdestroys all possibilities for salvation. In His incarnation as Laksmana the younger brother of LordRamacandra, Balarama enacted the role of the Lord's servitor. Yet in His manifestation as the SupremeLord, Balarama serves Himself in every respect - as a friend and a brother, by fanning Him, puttingHim to sleep, glorifying Him with Vedic invocations and expanding Himself as His house, umbrella,attire, jewelry and seat. "O Lord ! Your direct, partial expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the source of all thevarious ingredients for Your service in the transcendental realm of Vaikuntha. Ananta Sesa is famousbecause He is manifest as Your residence, bed, throne, shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc. When shall I see
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