Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.16.22
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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kṛṣṇa - prāṇān
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the men whose very life and soul was Kṛṣṇa
Compound: kṛṣṇa + prāṇa (life). The gopas' prāṇa-vāyu is Kṛṣṇa Himself. Gauḍīya signature of vraja-prema: physical life is borrowed; real life is the beloved.
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anubhāva - vit
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knower of (His) power
Compound: anubhāva (effective potency) + vit (knower). Balarāma is anubhāva-vit — He knows what Kṛṣṇa can do. The contrast with atat-vidaḥ in verse 14 is exact: same līlā, two registers of knowing.
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pratyaṣedhat
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He restrained (them)
From prati + √sidh — to ward off. Balarāma's intervention is itself an act of mercy: He spares the gopas the false rescue, lets the līlā unfold.
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī explains that Lord Balarāma checked some of the cowherd men by speaking to them, others by physically holding them and still others by casting upon them His potent smiling glance. Distraught over the situation, they were prepared to give up their lives for Lord Kṛṣṇa by entering the serpent’s lake.
Balarama prevented Nanda and others from jumping in the river. "Garga has said, that you will be saved from all obstacles by this son. Keeping this in mind, don’t you think he will be saved from this danger? Just be patient. If after you all jump in the river, Krsna comes back, who will care for and raise my little brother? You will be neglecting Gagra’s order to take care of the boy well. How will he be raised?" This was Balarama’s reasoning.
He (saḥ), who was made to leave his house by Kṛṣṇa in order to protect the people, or he who is famous for his affection for his friends, saw the cowherds headed by Nanda attempting to enter the lake together, after having recovered their senses after some time. “How was it possible for him to prevent everyone from entering?” He was endowed with all powers (bhagavān). He gave pleasure (rāmaḥ) to all by his good advice, by his show of strength and by internal inspiration. “Why did he remain undisturbed in this situation?” He knew the powers (anubhāva) the form of the Supreme Brahman, Kṛṣṇa.
He (saḥ), who was made to leave his house by Kṛṣṇa in order to protect the people, or he who is famous for his affection for his friends, saw the cowherds headed by Nanda attempting to enter the lake together, after having recovered their senses after some time. “How was it possible for him to prevent everyone from entering?” He was endowed with all powers (bhagavān). He gave pleasure (rāmaḥ) to all by his good advice, by his show of strength and by showing that Kṛṣṇa was safe by his smiling face. “Why did he remain undisturbed in this situation?” He knew the powers (anubhāva) of the form of the Supreme Brahman, Kṛṣṇa. It is understood that, overcome with intense affection they fell to the ground and fainted because they felt great pain on seeing Kṛṣṇa in that situation and experienced great sorrow because they could not enter the lake to help him. Later it is mentioned that they rose from the ground. (SB 10.17.14)
- Where am I trying to rescue Kṛṣṇa's situation when the wiser move is restraint and trust?
- Whose hand of restraint on me right now am I resenting that I should heed?
Nanda and the gopas, having no theology, are about to walk into a poisoned lake to die with Kṛṣṇa. Balarāma, who alone knows what is happening, stops them. His knowing-restraint and their not-knowing-resolve are equally beautiful — and both expressions of vraja-prema, refracted through different rasas.
My note
Source: vedabase.io