Shloka 17
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s Forest Games and the Slaying of Pralamba
पशूंश्चारयतोर्गोपैस्तद्वने रामकृष्णयो: । गोपरूपी प्रलम्बोऽगादसुरस्तज्जिहीर्षया ॥ १७ ॥
paśūṁś cārayator gopais tad-vane rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ gopa-rūpī pralambo ’gād asuras taj-jihīrṣayā
Während Rāma und Kṛṣṇa mit ihren Hirtenfreunden das Vieh in jenem Wald hüteten, drang der Dämon Pralamba in ihre Mitte ein, als Hirtenjunge verkleidet, in der Absicht, Kṛṣṇa und Balarāma zu entführen.
Having described how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma acted just like ordinary boys, Śukadeva Gosvāmī will now reveal one of the Lord’s transcendental pastimes that is beyond the range of human activity. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the demon Pralamba disguised himself as a particular cowherd boy who on that day had remained at home with duties to perform.
FAQs
Pralamba is a demon who enters Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s Vraja pastimes by disguising himself as a cowherd boy, intending to kidnap Them.
Because direct attack would fail; he tried deception—blending in with the cowherd boys—to get close enough to abduct Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa.
Spiritual obstacles can appear in familiar forms; devotees stay alert, take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, and rely on divine protection rather than outward appearances.