Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.14.28-29
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesBalarāma’s Mercy Leads Us to Kṛṣṇa
“Are Ugrasena, whose son was the mischievous Kaṁsa, and his younger brother still living? Are Hṛdīka and his son Kṛtavarmā happy? Are Akrūra, Jayanta, Gada, Sāraṇa and Śatrujit all happy? How is Balarāma, the Personality of Godhead and the protector of devotees?”
What the purport teaches
- Balarāma, the eldest brother of Lord Kṛṣṇa, is the Lord’s immediate expansion, or prakāśa-vigraha. He is therefore addressed as the Personality of Godhead.
- The viṣṇu-tattva expansions are qualitatively and quantitatively equal with the Supreme Lord. Ordinary living beings, belonging to jīva-śakti, are not equal with Him.
- Balarāma protects the Lord’s devotees and acts as their spiritual master. Only by His divine grace can one approach the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Try this today
Offer a brief prayer to Śrī Balarāma for mercy to approach and serve Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How does knowing Balarāma as the protector and spiritual master of devotees deepen my desire for His mercy?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.