SRI KRISHNA LEELAMRUTHAM (THE NECTARINE STORIES OF THE DEEDS OF LORD KRISHNA)

19. LORD BALARAM KILLING THE DEMON "PRALAMBASURA"

Vrindavan is a magnificent forest where in flowers were always blooming, presence of many kinds of adorned deer, bees were constantly humming, peacocks were crowning and dancing all the time, birds were chirping always and cuckoos in the forest used to sing at five distinct tones. Lord Krishna, the supreme whole used to blow His flute with His brother Lord Balaram and other friends. Everyone entered the beautiful forest. Lord Krishna, Lord Balaram, Sridama, Bhadrasena and Vrishabha while walking in the forest, they decorated themselves with saffron chalk on their forehead, red corals, a bunch of peacock feathers, garlands and  beautiful forest flowers. They looked very charming. They would play hide and seek and blindman's buff by challenging and touching each one. The two Demigods would immerse in ecstasy when dancing. The companions of Them used to praise Them, "My dear friends, You both are dancing very well!". Sometimes, the cowherd boys also used to dance and the supreme Gods used to praise them like an artist encourages a person. On that time, hair cutting ceremony hadn't underwent by Krishna and Balaram. So, Their hair looked dense like a clustered feathers of crow.

Sometimes, They used to perform fighting and wrestling with each other and enjoyed alot. They would play by throwing fruits and would catch it. They also used to imitate jumping of frogs and monkeys and modeled the sounds made by cuckoo, cows and other birds. At times, They would play like  king and other ministries. In this way, Lord Krishna, Lord Balaram and other cowherd boys enjoyed their days in the beautiful forest of Vrindavan. 

Meanwhile, a demon named "pralambasura" transformed himself as a new cowherd boy and mixed with other boys. His motive was to kill both Krishna and Balaram. Lord Krishna very well knows the past, present and future of all living entities. And thus, He knows about Pralamba. Lord Krishna was thinking how to kill Pralamba. Lord Krishna pretented to have friendship with him in order to kill that demon. Krishna made a proposal to His companions, "Hey friends! We will play a game. We will divide two groups among ourselves and play". With this proposal, some boys joined Krishna and some joined Balaram. The rule of the game was the victorious ones should be carried by the defeated ones on their backs. In the course of play, Sridama and Bhadrasena from Balaram's side gained victory and Krishna carried Sridama and Bhadrasena while, Pralamba carried Balaram. The defeated ones were supposed to carry the victorious person to a point in bhandiravana forest in Vrindavan.

Though Pralambasura was so strong, he couldn't carry Balaram Who is compared to mountain with respect to His strength. The demon was running beyond the exact point while carrying Balaram. Lord Balaram suspected that he would be a demon. At a certain point, Pralamba revealed his original form when he unable to carry Balaram anymore. The demon was very high touching the sky, the sockets in his eyes were firing, had sharpened teeth and resembled a cloud carrying lightning as moon. Initially, Balaram was astonished to see such a gigantic demon. But the Lord quickly understood that the demon came to kill Him and Krishna. Lord Balaram with His unlimited strength, hit Pralamba with His powerful fist on the demon's head. As soon as Lord Balaram attacked Pralambasura, the demon's head was smashed.

The weak Pralambasura began to vomit blood from his mouth. The demon fell dead as a great hill was struck by a  thunderbolt. Pralambasura got deliverance. The boys began to praise Lord Balaram with His majestic power, "Bravo Balaram! well done!". 

CONCLUSION:

"Thought" is a boomerang. If we love others, everyone will love us. If we reveal hatred to others, they in turn show hatred to us. So, in this lila, Pralambasura aimed to kill the two Demigods. He was so brutal. Thus Karma, reflected upon him. Karma is the end product of our doings which can be either good or bad. Even though the demon tried to kill the Lord, the supreme God showed mercy on him and gave deliverance. 

TO BE CONTINUED............