132 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

beautiful forest of Vrndavana to enjoy the atmosphere. They walked into
the midst of newly grown leaves of trees whose flowers resembled peacock
feathers. They were garlanded by those flowers and decorated with saffron
chalk. Sometimes they were dancing and singing and sometimes wrestling
with one another. While Krsna danced, some of the cowherd boys sang,
and others played on flutes; some bugled on buffalo horns or clapped
their hands, praising Krsna, “Dear brother, You are dancing very nicely.”
Actually, all these boys were demigods descended from higher planets to
assist Krsna in His pastimes. The demigods garbed in the dress of the
cowherd boys were encouraging Krsna in His dancing, just as one artist
encourages another with praise. Up to that time, neither Balarama nor
Krsna had undergone the haircutting ceremony; therefore Their hair was
clustered like crows’ feathers. They were always playing hide-and-seek
with Their boy friends or jumping or fighting with one another. Some-
times, while His friends were chanting and dancing, Krsna would praise
them, “My dear friends, you are dancing and singing very nicely.” The
boys played at catching ball with bell shaped fruits and round amalaki.
They played blindman’s buff, challenging and touching one another.
Sometimes they imitated the forest deer and various kinds of birds. They
joked with one another by imitating croaking frogs, and they enjoyed
swinging underneath the trees. Sometimes they would play like a king and
his subjects amongst themselves. In this way, Balarama and Krsna, along
with all Their friends, played all kinds of sports and enjoyed the soothing
atmosphere of Vrndavana, full of rivers, lakes, rivulets, fine trees and
excellent fruits and flowers.

Once while they were engaged in their transcendental pastimes, a great
demon of the name Pralambasura entered their company, desiring to
kidnap both Balarama and Krsna. Although Krsna was playing the part of
a cowherd boy, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead He could under-
stand everything—past, present and future. So when Pralambasura entered
their company, Krsna began to think how to kill the demon, but externally
He received him as a friend. “O My dear friend,” He said. “It is very good
that you have come to take part in our pastimes.” Krsna then called all
His friends and ordered them: “Now we shall play in pairs. We shall
challenge one another in pairs.” With this proposal, all the boys assembled
together. Some of them took the side of Krsna, and some of them took
the side of Balarama, and they arranged to play in duel. The defeated
members in duel fighting had to carry the victorious members on their
backs. They began playing, and at the same time tended the cows as they
proceeded through the Bhandiravana forest. The party of Balarama,
