Great pastime with Balarama.
The Marriage of Samba, Krishna Book Volume 2 Chapter 13
Really get a feel for the Kshatriya spirit. Very high-spirited.
Yudhishthira was advised... when he was going incognito as an attendant to King Virata, ...Not to get too close to a King... A king is like fire.
These kshatriyas are all like that. Fiery.
When they die in battle they go to the sun planet.
Samba, Krishna's first born son by Jambavati and a pet favorite of his father and mother, kidnaps Duryodhana's daughter Laksmana during her svyamvara. But it is not that Lakmana is praying like Rukmini to be kidnapped. Actually she was not at all inclined to chose Samba. He swooped in and stole her against her will.
The Kauravas are in an uproar. Dhrtarashtra, Bhismadeva and even Arjuna are all upset at the outrage and of course Duryodhana is in a fit of rage. Six of the strongest Kuru warriors led by Karna attack Samba and overpower him in an unfair manner, arrest him and hold him captive. Narada muni tells the Yadavas what has happened and they want to attack the Kurus.
Here comes Balaramaji, Krishna's older brother. Always looking out for the welfare of everyone. He decides to pay a visit to the Kurus and try to negotiate a solution rather than have any bloodshed.
He receives a wonderful reception from the Kurus. All worship and glorification. It is clear that the Kurus know full-well the glories of Lord Balarama and are devoted to him. But when Balarama begins to speak, he has come as messenger from the Yadavas and as a kshatriya, the Kurus become indignant.
Baladeva asks for the release of Samba along with his new wife Laksmana. The Kurus hurl abuse at the Yadavas completely disregarding the presence of Balarama... who has appeared as a member of the Yadavas. They speak with complete arrogance and offense to Krishna. They take the position that they the Kurus are the lords of the world, that everyone even the demigods are dependent on their mercy. No one is going to demand anything of them. Not even the Yadavas, which obviously includes Krishna and Balarama.
Balarama remains calm. But after the Kurus return to inside the city gates, they met in a garden just outside Hastinapura, He begins to seethe. The thing that riles him the most is the Kurus belittling Krishna. Indirectly they demanded that the Yadavas and Krishna not be considered the ruling class. That the only reason the Yadus had any position in the ruling class was due to the generosity of the Kurus. That really pushed Balarama over the top.
He vows to completely destroy the Kurus then and there. Burning with anger, Jaya Balarama!! He uses his plow to separate Hastinapur from the land and begins to drag the entire city into the Ganges. Everyone in Hastinapura is frantic. It feels like an earthquake about to destroy everything. All the Kuru leaders come running out of the city with Samba followed by Laksmana to present to Balarama and offer profuse apologies and prayers of glorification. How they had some how or other forgotten themselves. And beg to be forgiven.
What an incredible pastime!!!
Srila Prabhupada explains in further detail some of what was really going on under all the thrills and chills:
"For the most part it was the practice of the kshatriya kings to inaugurate some kind of fighting between the parties of the bride and bridegroom before the marriage. When Samba forcibly took away Laksmana, the elderly members of the Kuru dynasty were pleased to see that he was actually the suitable match for her. In order to see his personal strength, however, they fought with him, and without any respect for the regulations of fighting, they all arrested him. When the Yadu dynasty decided to release Samba from the confinement of the Kurus, Lord Balarama came personally to settle the matter, and as a powerful kshatriya, He ordered them to free Samba immediately. The Kauravas became superficially insulted by this order, so they challenged Lord Balarama 's power. They simply wanted to see Him exhibit His inconceivable strength. Thus with great pleasure they handed over their daughter to Samba, and the whole matter was settled. Duryodhana, being affectionate towards his daughter Laksmana, had her married to Samba in great pomp."
The Marriage of Samba, Krishna Book Volume 2 Chapter 13
Really get a feel for the Kshatriya spirit. Very high-spirited.
Yudhishthira was advised... when he was going incognito as an attendant to King Virata, ...Not to get too close to a King... A king is like fire.
These kshatriyas are all like that. Fiery.
When they die in battle they go to the sun planet.
Samba, Krishna's first born son by Jambavati and a pet favorite of his father and mother, kidnaps Duryodhana's daughter Laksmana during her svyamvara. But it is not that Lakmana is praying like Rukmini to be kidnapped. Actually she was not at all inclined to chose Samba. He swooped in and stole her against her will.
The Kauravas are in an uproar. Dhrtarashtra, Bhismadeva and even Arjuna are all upset at the outrage and of course Duryodhana is in a fit of rage. Six of the strongest Kuru warriors led by Karna attack Samba and overpower him in an unfair manner, arrest him and hold him captive. Narada muni tells the Yadavas what has happened and they want to attack the Kurus.
Here comes Balaramaji, Krishna's older brother. Always looking out for the welfare of everyone. He decides to pay a visit to the Kurus and try to negotiate a solution rather than have any bloodshed.
He receives a wonderful reception from the Kurus. All worship and glorification. It is clear that the Kurus know full-well the glories of Lord Balarama and are devoted to him. But when Balarama begins to speak, he has come as messenger from the Yadavas and as a kshatriya, the Kurus become indignant.
Baladeva asks for the release of Samba along with his new wife Laksmana. The Kurus hurl abuse at the Yadavas completely disregarding the presence of Balarama... who has appeared as a member of the Yadavas. They speak with complete arrogance and offense to Krishna. They take the position that they the Kurus are the lords of the world, that everyone even the demigods are dependent on their mercy. No one is going to demand anything of them. Not even the Yadavas, which obviously includes Krishna and Balarama.
Balarama remains calm. But after the Kurus return to inside the city gates, they met in a garden just outside Hastinapura, He begins to seethe. The thing that riles him the most is the Kurus belittling Krishna. Indirectly they demanded that the Yadavas and Krishna not be considered the ruling class. That the only reason the Yadus had any position in the ruling class was due to the generosity of the Kurus. That really pushed Balarama over the top.
He vows to completely destroy the Kurus then and there. Burning with anger, Jaya Balarama!! He uses his plow to separate Hastinapur from the land and begins to drag the entire city into the Ganges. Everyone in Hastinapura is frantic. It feels like an earthquake about to destroy everything. All the Kuru leaders come running out of the city with Samba followed by Laksmana to present to Balarama and offer profuse apologies and prayers of glorification. How they had some how or other forgotten themselves. And beg to be forgiven.
What an incredible pastime!!!
Srila Prabhupada explains in further detail some of what was really going on under all the thrills and chills:
"For the most part it was the practice of the kshatriya kings to inaugurate some kind of fighting between the parties of the bride and bridegroom before the marriage. When Samba forcibly took away Laksmana, the elderly members of the Kuru dynasty were pleased to see that he was actually the suitable match for her. In order to see his personal strength, however, they fought with him, and without any respect for the regulations of fighting, they all arrested him. When the Yadu dynasty decided to release Samba from the confinement of the Kurus, Lord Balarama came personally to settle the matter, and as a powerful kshatriya, He ordered them to free Samba immediately. The Kauravas became superficially insulted by this order, so they challenged Lord Balarama 's power. They simply wanted to see Him exhibit His inconceivable strength. Thus with great pleasure they handed over their daughter to Samba, and the whole matter was settled. Duryodhana, being affectionate towards his daughter Laksmana, had her married to Samba in great pomp."
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