Category:God's Plow
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His first plenary expansion as Lord Balarāma, eternally carries a plow and a club as His primary weapons. While Śrī Kṛṣṇa tends the cows and plays the flute, representing go-rakṣya, Lord Balarāma represents agriculture and handles the plow, representing kṛṣi-rakṣya. However, the plow of Lord Balarāma is not merely an ordinary farming tool; it is a powerful transcendental weapon used to chastise the arrogant, punish disobedient universal forces, and establish absolute religious principles. Whether He is dragging the river Yamunā to correct her pride, conquering powerful demons like Balvala, or threatening to submerge the entire city of Hastināpura, Lord Balarāma's plow pastimes beautifully display His immense physical strength and His protective nature over the cosmic order.
- The Symbol of Spiritual Agriculture: Lord Balarāma carries the plow to signify the essential duty of land cultivation and the development of a God-centered rural economy.
- Chastising the Disobedient Yamunā: When the river Yamunā refused to obey His order, Lord Balarāma used His supreme plowshare to scratch the earth, carving out multiple channels to forcefully pull her toward Him.
- The Subjugation of Arrogant Powers: Lord Balarāma utilizes His transcendental plow to drag down celestial demons and shift entire cities, proving that no material power can resist His divine will.
- The Eternal Source of Strength: As the bearer of the plow, Lord Balarāma is the source of all spiritual and physical strength, perfectly protecting the mission of the Supreme Lord.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Transcendental Pastimes of God's Plow.
Pages in category "God's Plow"
The following 19 pages are in this category, out of 19 total.
A
- As soon as He (Balarama) saw the demon, Lord Balarama prepared to attack him. He first considered how He could smash the great demon to pieces. Lord Balarama then called for His plow and club, and they immediately appeared before Him
- At that time Baladeva took up His plow weapon and gazed upon Jarasandha with colored eyes
B
- Balarama represents plowing the land for agriculture and therefore always carries in His hand a plow, whereas Krsna tends cows and therefore carries a flute in His hand. Thus the two brothers represent krsi-raksya and go-raksya
- Balarama said to Yamuna, "You wretched river! You didn't care for My order. Now I shall teach you a lesson! You didn't come to Me voluntarily. Now with the help of My plow I shall force you to come. I shall divide you into hundreds of scattered streams"
H
- He (Balarama) immediately wanted to scratch the land near the river with His plowshare (because Yamuna neglected His order)
- He (Balarama) stood up steadily and, taking His plow in His hand, began striking the earth with it, separating the whole city of Hastinapura from the earth, and then He began to drag the city toward the flowing water of the river Ganges
- He pleases His personal associates, the heads of the demigods, by the sweet vibrations emanating from His mouth. Dressed in bluish garments and wearing a single earring, He holds a plow on His back with His two beautiful and well-constructed hands
L
T
- The demon Balvala was flying in the sky, and at the first opportunity Lord Balarama dragged him down with His plow and angrily smashed the demon's head with His club
- The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (11-16) declares that although Sri Nityananda Prabhu appeared as Lord Caitanya’s assistant, He is none other than Baladeva, the carrier of the plow. Advaita Acarya is the incarnation of Sadasiva from the spiritual world
- The gorilla was striking Him with his (Dvivida's) hands, Balarama would not strike him back with His own weapons, club or plow
- The river Yamuna still has many small branches due to being scratched by the plowshare of Lord Balarama
- This time He (Balarama) wanted to bring the Yamuna by force, and He took the help of His plow. He wanted to punish the Yamuna because she did not come in obedience to His order
Y
- Yamunakarsana-lila is the pastime of attracting the Yamuna. One day, Sri Baladeva wanted the Yamuna River to come before Him, and when the river Yamuna refused, He took His plow, wanting to dig a canal so that the Yamuna would be obliged to come there
- Yawning so hard as to make ripples on His abdomen, Lord Baladeva, the bearer of the plow, returned to His deep sleep. This is an instance of sleepiness in ecstatic love