Harina Kridana
Harina Kridana
It was a warm, sunny day in
VrajBhumi. Krishna, Balarama and others were playing a game. The game was
called Harina Kridana. (Deer play) Harina Kridana was a game were the boys jumped
in pairs. Whoever jumped higher was the winner. The loser had to carry the
winner up to a banyan tree and return to the starting point.
The boys made pairs. Krishna was
paired with Sridaman. Balarama was paired with Pralamba. The other boys did
their own pairing. They all started jumping. Krishna easily defeated Sridaman.
With a smile, he let Sridaman carry him on his back.
Balarama defeated Pralamba.
Balarama, who was tall and heavy for his age, felt sorry for the small looking
Pralamba. He almost thought of letting him go free of the punishment. Pralamba,
on the other hand did not seem to mind. He lifted Balarama and started moving
towards the tree. Balarama was actually surprised with the ease at which
Pralamba was carrying him.
Pralamba reached the tree.
Balarama was waiting to be put down. Pralamba kept walking past the tree.
Balarama who was being carried
and pressed in the legs and shoulders by Pralamba’s hands could not move.
Balarama also felt an increased pressure from Pralamba. He started telling
Pralamba “Hey Pralamba, what are you doing? You are pressing me too hard. The
game is over. Put me down. I did not realise your hands were so strong.”
Pralamba did not answer but kept
walking and kept pressing harder. Now Balarama started getting angry. ”Hey. Put
me down. Enough of this game.”
By that time, the other boys
also started shouting. “Look at Pralamba. He has grown into a giant. Our fat
and muscly Balarama looks small in his hands. Pralamba looks scary.” They tried
to chase Pralamba. Pralamba turned and looked at them with angry eyes. The boys
to their shock realised that this was not their friend but a rakshasa who was
in disguise. They started screeching and backing away.
Balarama started shouting too “Krishna,
Krishna. This Pralamba, who we thought was a cowherd is a rakshasa. Save me/”
Krishna who was busy in his part
of the game turned and saw what all the commotion was about. He realized in a
few seconds that Pralamba was an asura who was living as a cowherd in disguise.
He shouted back to Balarama
“Brother, remember who you are. Remember your strength. You and I are the same.
You can take care of yourself.”
At first Balarama was confused.
He wondered why Krishna was just talking some words without rushing to help
him. Then he realized that this was Krishna’s way of reminding him of the
purpose of his birth and also to show the world the power of the avatar of
Balarama.
Within a few minutes, Balarama
made himself heavier and heavier. Pralamba, even in his giant state, could not
carry him. He dropped Balarama and tried to hammer him with his fists. Freed of
Pralamba, Balarama got up and started fighting the asura.
A fight ensued between Balarama
and Pralamba. Krishna watched the entire fight with a mischievous smile on his
face. After a few hours, Pralamba could not keep up. Balarama lifted the asura
over his head and threw him down and killed him.
Krishna and the rest of the
Gopis rejoiced.
(This incident finds place in
the Brahma Purana and aims to bring out the strength and valour of the Balarama
Avatar.)
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