Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.53.20-21
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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bhrātṛ - sneha - pariplutaḥ
—
immersed in affection for His brother
Compound: bhrātṛ (brother) + sneha (affection) + pari + pluta (overflowed). Same sneha-word as verse 7, but now redeemed — the sneha that misled Bhīṣmaka here moves Balarāma rightly, because its object is Bhagavān.
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kalaha - śaṅkitaḥ
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fearing a fight
Compound: kalaha (quarrel, fight) + śaṅkita (apprehensive). Balarāma is not afraid for Kṛṣṇa's safety but for the inevitable carnage. Gauḍīyas note: even when Bhagavān is the actor, His associates feel ordinary concern, because rasa requires the cover of vyavahāra.
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ekam gatam
—
gone alone
Accusative of eka + past participle. Kṛṣṇa goes alone — the bridegroom does not need an army to claim His own. Gauḍīyas savor the contrast with the kings' sahasraśaḥ (verse 17): One against thousands.
Hearing from a succession of persons, Balarama, though being Supreme Lord (bhagava), being omniscient and omnipotent, feared an upcoming battle, and therefore went to Kundina with a huge contingent of troops. This was because of his strong affection for his brother, which covered his omniscience, for it is human nature to worry about the dangers immanent for a friend.
Though word of mouth, Balarāma heard of what has just been described—that the inimical kings were eager to fight. First he heard from persons coming from Vidarbha and later he made inferences by going inside the palace (and not seeing Kṛṣṇa). He was worried that a fight would occur. Saṅkitaḥ is an agent derived from a past participle or follows the words ending in ita like tāraka. (Pāṇini 5.2.36) The cause of his worry was his great affection for his brother. He was flooded with an ocean of sweet prema related to his dear brother and became incapable of doing or thinking anything, even though he was endowed with all knowledge and action (bhagavān). With great strength of elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry, he went there quickly in half a prahara (one and a half hours), to meet with Kṛṣṇa in Vidarbha along with his troops. In doing this, though covered by the power of his troops, Balarāma showed his power of favorableness to Kṛṣṇa by his affection. The love for his brother was stronger than his awareness that Kṛṣṇa was the Lord (bhrātṛ-sneha-pariplutaḥ).
Balarāma was endowed with all powers (bhagavān). Thus he went with a great army (balena mahatā), aroused with great energy (prāgāt). Why? He feared a battle between Kṛṣṇa and the enemies. Or he was afraid that quarrel would occur. Why would he be frightened, since he was by nature fearless and knew of Kṛṣṇa’s powers? He was absorbed in complete affection for his brother. His affection was without limit like the ocean. The word “brother” is used to indicate that his knowledge of Kṛṣṇa as the Lord disappeared, and he was aware of him only as a brother. Mention of elephants indicates that the four parts of the army were all present. He went quickly, almost with Kṛṣṇa, who had left previously in the morning. Later it is mentioned that Bhīmaka welcomed them both at the same time.
- Whose 'Balarāma' could you call to back up a risky mission?
- Where do you go alone when an elder's army would serve the outcome better?
An elder brother saddles his horse the moment he hears his younger brother has ridden out alone. Balarāma's anxiety is not doubt; it is the protective vātsalya of agraja-bhakti — Bhagavān's own brother loves Him as a brother loves.
When Rāma was exiled, Lakṣmaṇa packed his bow and arrows without consulting anyone — kingdom, mother, wife all left behind. He could not bear that Rāma should be without him for a single night.
Gauḍīyas read Balarāma's race to Kuṇḍina in this same light: agraja-sneha. Where the younger has gone, the elder follows with an army, because love does not separate well from worry.
My note
Source: vedabase.io