According to Hari Vamsa, Madhava means master (dhava) of intelligence (ma). Balarama is here described as the master of intelligence and knowledgeable of the power of Krsna’s lila sakti (prabhava jna). Though he had the greatest affection for his younger brother Krsna, he understood there was a concealing of Krsna’s powers through his lila sakti, operating under Krsna’s will. Because of this, it would have to be Balarama who would prevent Nanda and others from drowning themselves in the Yamuna out of grief. Balarama smiled: "Krsna is not interesting in playing with me, Sesa naga. Rather he gets enjoyment from playing with a common material snake." Remembering Krsna’s pastimes as an ordinary mortal, Balarama smiled. He did not speak a word, as this covering of knowledge did not seem proper and the situation was beyond tolerance. However, when he gave a mere smile, they lost their lamentation, and they thought that nothing unfortunate could possibly happen. Becoming joyful after his smile, they gave up their desire to give up their lives.

Seeing them in such distress, though he was strongly attached to Gokula (balaḥ), though he was endowed with all powers (bhagavān), though he was the master of all knowledge (mādhavaḥ), he did nothing. As if incapable and as if ignorant he did not give any instructions. Though suffering because of their suffering, he smiled visibly (pra--- hasya) to help them recover a little while remaining silent. He knew the true nature of Kṛṣṇa. He smiled out of affection for him, and to show the people that he was not worried about him. And to maintain the lives of the people he smiled. He smiled because, as a pastime of the Lord, this action was naturally endowed with the śakti which makes all adjustments. Why did he not show his own powers even when the people were in this condition and why did he not tell them about Kṛṣṇa’s powers? Knowing Kṛṣṇa (prabhāva-jṣaḥ), he could not do so without Kṛṣṇa’s desire. The word Mādhava is derived as follows in Hari-vaṁśa: mā vidya ca yataḥ proktā tasyā iśo yato bhavet tasmān mādhava-nāmāsi dhavaḥ svāmīti kīrtitaḥ Mā means knowledge and dhava means master or lord. These two words form the name Mādhava.

Seeing them directly (vikṣya) fearful or agitated (kātarān) though they were full of all knowledge (tathā) or seeing them in such a (tathā) fearful state, he who was dear to his younger brother (saḥ), Balarāma, laughed loudly but said nothing at all. Or he slightly laughed and said nothing, because he was omniscient (bhagavān), and more particularly had appeared in the dynasty of Madhu (mādhavah) and thus knew the powers of his younger brother. Or he knew the intentions of his brother in acting this way to punish Kāliya. He smiled in order to lighten their lamentation. He said nothing to assure the people that he knew Kṛṣṇa’s intentions. Or his laughter and silence is an indication of Śukadeva’s anger in love towards Balarāma: he was supremely independent or indifferent (bhagavān) and appeared in the Madhu dynasty, without the soft heart of a cowherd. Or he was a drinker of honey liquor (mādhavaḥ) and strong (balaḥ) but not intelligent, because he was holding a plough (saḥ). Therefore his laughing and silence were suitable to him.