Shloka 15
Balarāma Slays the Ape Dvivida
Dvivida-vadha
तं ग्राव्णा प्राहरत् क्रुद्धो बल: प्रहरतां वर: । स वञ्चयित्वा ग्रावाणं मदिराकलशं कपि: ॥ १४ ॥ गृहीत्वा हेलयामास धूर्तस्तं कोपयन् हसन् । निर्भिद्य कलशं दुष्टो वासांस्यास्फालयद् बलम् । कदर्थीकृत्य बलवान् विप्रचक्रे मदोद्धत: ॥ १५ ॥
taṁ grāvṇā prāharat kruddho balaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ sa vañcayitvā grāvāṇaṁ madirā-kalaśaṁ kapiḥ
Angered, Lord Balarāma, the best of fighters, hurled a rock at him, but the cunning ape dodged the rock and grabbed the Lord’s pot of liquor. Further infuriating Lord Balarāma by laughing and by ridiculing Him, wicked Dvivida then broke the pot and offended the Lord even more by pulling at the girls’ clothing. Thus the powerful ape, puffed up with false pride, continued to insult Śrī Balarāma.
FAQs
This verse portrays Dvivida as “madoddhata” (inflated by intoxication), and his drunken arrogance drives him to insult Lord Balarāma—showing how intoxication fuels adharma and degradation.
Dvivida, described as a rogue (dhūrta) and wicked (duṣṭa), deliberately enrages Balarāma to escalate the conflict; his mockery and humiliation are expressions of demoniac defiance toward dharma and the Lord’s associates.
Avoid behaviors that inflate ego—especially intoxication and mockery of the righteous—because they cloud judgment and lead to disrespect, conflict, and eventual ruin.