Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 24
Balarāma Visits Vraja: Consoling the Gopīs and Dragging the Yamunā
स्रग्व्येककुण्डलो मत्तो वैजयन्त्या च मालया । बिभ्रत् स्मितमुखाम्भोजं स्वेदप्रालेयभूषितम् । स आजुहाव यमुनां जलक्रीडार्थमीश्वर: ॥ २४ ॥ निजं वाक्यमनादृत्य मत्त इत्यापगां बल: । अनागतां हलाग्रेण कुपितो विचकर्ष ह ॥ २५ ॥
sragvy eka-kuṇḍalo matto vaijayantyā ca mālayā bibhrat smita-mukhāmbhojaṁ sveda-prāleya-bhūṣitam
Intoxicated with joy, Lord Balarāma sported flower garlands, including the famous Vaijayantī. He wore a single earring, and beads of perspiration decorated His smiling lotus face like snowflakes. The Lord then summoned the Yamunā River so that He could play in her waters, but she disregarded His command, thinking He was drunk. This angered Balarāma, and He began dragging the river with the tip of His plow.
FAQs
In Canto 10, Chapter 65, Balarāma—joyful and adorned—summons the Yamunā to approach so He may enjoy water pastimes, showing His divine lordship even over sacred rivers.
The verse highlights Balarāma’s divine beauty and royal, transcendental opulence; the Vaijayantī garland signifies the Lord’s auspiciousness and supremacy during His līlā.
It reminds devotees to see sacred nature (like rivers) in relation to the Lord and to approach joy and celebration as offerings connected to devotion rather than mere indulgence.