Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 6
Balarāma Visits Vraja: Consoling the Gopīs and Dragging the Yamunā
गोपवृद्धांश्च विधिवद् यविष्ठैरभिवन्दित: । यथावयो यथासख्यं यथासम्बन्धमात्मन: ॥ ४ ॥ समुपेत्याथ गोपालान् हास्यहस्तग्रहादिभि: । विश्रान्तं सुखमासीनं पप्रच्छु: पर्युपागता: ॥ ५ ॥ पृष्टाश्चानामयं स्वेषु प्रेमगद्गदया गिरा । कृष्णे कमलपत्राक्षे सन्न्यस्ताखिलराधस: ॥ ६ ॥
gopa-vṛddhāṁś ca vidhi-vad yaviṣṭhair abhivanditaḥ yathā-vayo yathā-sakhyaṁ yathā-sambandham ātmanaḥ
Lord Balarāma then paid proper respects to the elder cowherd men, and the younger ones all greeted Him respectfully. He met them all with smiles, handshakes and so on, dealing personally with each one according to age, degree of friendship, and family relationship. Then, after resting, the Lord accepted a comfortable seat, and they all gathered around Him. With voices faltering out of love for Him, those cowherds, who had dedicated everything to lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, asked about the health of their dear ones [in Dvārakā], and Balarāma in turn asked about the cowherds’ welfare.
FAQs
This verse describes devotees whose voices become faltering and choked due to intense affection, showing that genuine bhakti naturally expresses itself through emotion-centered remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.
Because Kṛṣṇa is their very life and refuge; the verse states they entrusted all their ‘rādhas’—their means, efforts, and inner burdens—unto the lotus-eyed Lord.
Do your duties responsibly, but mentally offer outcomes and anxieties to Kṛṣṇa through prayer and remembrance—treating Him as the ultimate shelter while acting with sincerity.