Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.79.11-15
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesPilgrimage With Reverence for the Supreme Lord
“Lord Balarāma bathed in the Gomatī, Gaṇḍakī and Vipāśā rivers, and also immersed Himself in the Śoṇa. He went to Gayā, where He worshiped His forefathers, and to the mouth of the Ganges, where He performed purifying ablutions. At Mount Mahendra He saw Lord Paraśurāma and offered Him prayers, and then He bathed in the seven branches of the Godāvarī River, and also in the rivers Veṇā, Pampā and Bhīmarathī. Then Lord Balarāma met Lord Skanda and visited Śrī-śaila, the abode of Lord Giriśa. In the southern provinces known as Draviḍa-deśa the Supreme Lord saw the sacred Veṅkaṭa Hill, as well as the cities of Kāmakoṣṇī and Kāñcī, the exalted Kāverī River and the most holy Śrī-raṅga, where Lord Kṛṣṇa has manifested Himself. From there He went to Ṛṣabha Mountain, where Lord Kṛṣṇa also lives, and to the southern Mathurā. Then He came to Setubandha, where the most grievous sins are destroyed.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Balarāma bathed in sacred rivers, offered prayers to Lord Paraśurāma and visited many holy places. These included Śrī-raṅga, where Lord Kṛṣṇa has manifested Himself, and Ṛṣabha Mountain, where He also lives.
- Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Lord Balarāma carefully worshiped His forefathers at Gayā on His father’s order, although His father and grandfather were still alive.
- Drawing on the Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī, the ācārya explains that Lord Balarāma avoided Jagannātha Purī to avoid the embarrassment of worshiping Himself among the forms of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Balabhadra and Subhadrā. His pilgrimage is thus the activity of the Supreme Lord Himself.
Try this today
Recall Śrī-raṅga for a moment and offer a brief prayer to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, making devotional service your aim.
Ask yourself
How does remembering the Lord’s presence help you approach holy places with devotion?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.