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    • July 14, 2015 at 8:02 pm #708
      DG Servant
      Keymaster

      Question

      I vaguely recall hearing that Lord Balarama has His own gopis, who are different than Krishna’s gopis. Yet in the story of Lord Balarama visiting Vrindavan, it appears that the gopis He was pacifying, particularly by dancing with them at night, were Krishna’s gopis, who were suffering separation from Krishna, rather than His own. Do you know anything about this?

    • July 14, 2015 at 8:04 pm #710
      DG Servant
      Keymaster

      Answer by Danavir Goswami

      Here is an appropriate verse from Sri Garga samhita 1.5.22:

      nägendra-kanyakäù çeñaà

      bhejur bhaktyä varecchayä

      saìkarñaëasya räsärthaà

      bhaviñyanti vraje ca täù

      näga—of snakes; indra—of the king; kanyakäù—the daughters; çeñam—

      Lord Çeña; bhejuù—worshiped; bhaktyä—with devotion; vara—a husband;

      icchayä—with the desire; saìkarñaëasya—of Lord Saìkarñaëa;

      räsa—of the räsa dance; artham—for the purpose; bhaviñyanti—will be;

      vraje—in Vraja; ca—also; täù—they.

      TRANSLATION

      Snake princesses that, desiring Him as their husband, worshiped Lord Çeña,

      will take birth in Vraja (to attain) Lord Balaräma’s räsa dance.

      PURPORT (Ours)

      The Srimad-Bhagavatam describes that many nagas or multi-hooded snakes reside in the lower planetary systems such as Patala. The master nagas such as Vasuki, Sankha and Kulika all give respect to the greatest and most beautiful snake incarnation of Godhead, Sesa, who has 1,000 hoods. The daughter-princesses of the naga kings worshipped Lord Sesa and desired to have Him as their lover. Since Lord Balarama expands as Sesa-naga, it was fitting for the princesses to become gopis in Vrndavana and enjoy dancing with Him. Thus, Lord Balarama’s rasa-lila dance features distinct gopis, who had been praying to become His consorts for a long time.

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DG ServantHome › Forums › Pastimes › Balarama’s Gopis? This topic has 1 reply, 1 voice, and was last updated 8 years, 6 months ago by DG Servant. Viewing 1 reply thread Author Posts July 14, 2015 at 8:02 pm #708 DG ServantKeymaster Question I vaguely recall hearing that Lord Balarama has His own gopis, who are different than Krishna’s...Disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada