The friends of Nanda ask this question. In thinking of the well being of their relatives they ignore their own suffering. Now they also gave great respect to the welfare of the Yādavas because they helped Kṛṣṇa. How much more regard they gave to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma! First they spoke of the pastime of killing Kaṁsa. Then they spoke of their friends being freed, which produced happiness for themselves as well, since then the Yādavas could help the two brothers defeat more demons. They praised the event using the word diṣṭyā (by good fortune.) It is our good fortune that other demons were defeated or killed and that the Yadus took shelter of a fortress, since it stopped the anxiety that the remaining demons could attack again though it has made it more difficult for you to return. Even though it was difficult for you to come, we are happy. Hari-vaṁśa describes the meeting: tam ūcuḥ sthavirā gopāḥ priyaṁ madhura-bhāṣiṇaḥ / rāmaṁ ramayatāṁ śreṣṭhaṁ pravāsāt punar āgatam // svāgataṁ te mahābāho yadūnāṁ kula-nandana / adyā sma nirvṛtās tāta yat tvāṁ paśyāmahe vayam // prītāś caiva vayaṁ vīra yat tvaṁ punar ihāgataḥ / tridaśānāṁ vayaṁ mānyā dhruvam adyāmalānana / ye sma dṛṣṭās tvayā tāta kāṅkṣamāṇās tavāgamam // tava cāgamanaṁ dṛṣṭvā sabhāgyāḥ sma yathā purā / pratyuvāca tato rāmaḥ sarvāṁs tān abhitaḥ sthitān / yādaveṣv api sarveṣu bhavanto mama bāndhavāḥ ity āvayor gataṁ bālyam ihā caivāvayoratam bhavadhir varddhitās caiva yāsyāmo vikriyām kathaṁ // gṛheṣu bhavatāṁ bhuktaṁ gāvaś ca pari-rakṣitāḥ / asmākaṁ bāndhavāḥ sarve bhavanto baddha-sauhṛdāḥ // The older cowherds said affectionately with sweet words to Balarāma, the best of those who give pleasure, who had come back after going elsewhere. “O joy to the dynasty of the Yadus! Welcome mighty warrior. We are joyful to see you today. O warrior! We are pleased that you have again come here. O Balarāma with pure face! We are certainly honored by the gods. O child! We whom you see were anxious for your return. Seeing you come, we are fortunate like before.” Balarāma replied to the people of Vraja, who had surrounded him. “Among all the Yādavas you are my friends. We passed our childhood here and played together here. Nourished by you how can we harm you? We ate in your houses and we herded the cows. You are all our friends, bound in deep friendship to us. “ In saying that he went and returned, they indicate that Vraja is his actual home. O joy to the dynasty of Yadus. That includes the cowherds. Their use of the word tvām (you) indicates that Balarāma is affectionate to them. Tava ca “seeing you come we are fortunate” indicates that you are merciful to us, but Kṛṣṇa is indifferent. Balarāma then indicated that he accepted them as Yādavas, showing pure affection to them as his parents. He then emphasized that he and Kṛṣṇa were one by saying “the two of us.” I passed my childhood in Vraja just as he did. Ratam means playing. The plural varddhitāḥ (we were raised by you) is used instead of the singular to show his respect for them. He did not use the dual number since that would show disrespect for Kṛṣṇa. The cause of being friends with the cowherds is their natural affection (baddha-sauhrḍāḥ). They maintained parental affection in spite of being upset by his leaving. He indicated by his statement that the pain of separation should no longer remain.

By bad fortune or various obstacles, he does not remember us. But our good fortune is that you have conquered your enemies and are safe. Kaṁsa was killed because he was sinful and all our relatives, or servants (suhṛj-janaḥ) have been freed. Or our friends the Yadus have been freed from Kaṁsa’s persecution. Some enemies have been killed and others have been conquered. With friends you have taken shelter of Dvārakā a place impossible to approach (durgam), since it is surrounded by the sea. That is good fortune. There is no worry that the remaining enemies can go there. Hari-vaṁśa describes other details: tam ūcuḥ sthavirā gopāḥ priyaṁ madhura-bhāṣiṇaḥ / rāmaṁ ramayatāṁ śreṣṭhaṁ pravāsāt punar āgatam // svāgataṁ te mahābāho yadūnāṁ kula-nandana / adyā sma nirvṛtās tāta yat tvāṁ paśyāmahe vayam // prītāś caiva vayaṁ vīra yat tvaṁ punar ihāgataḥ / tridaśānāṁ vayaṁ mānyā dhruvam adyāmalānana / ye sma dṛṣṭās tvayā tāta kāṅkṣamāṇās tavāgamam // tava cāgamanaṁ dṛṣṭvā sabhāgyāḥ sma yathā purā / pratyuvāca tato rāmaḥ sarvāṁs tān abhitaḥ sthitān / yādaveṣv api sarveṣu bhavanto mama bāndhavāḥ ity āvayor gataṁ bālyam ihā caivāvayoratam bhavadhir varddhitās caiva yāsyāmo vikriyām kathaṁ // gṛheṣu bhavatāṁ bhuktaṁ gāvaś ca pari-rakṣitāḥ / asmākaṁ bāndhavāḥ sarve bhavanto baddha-sauhṛdāḥ // The older cowherds said affectionately with sweet words to Balarāma, the best of those who give pleasure, who had come back after going elsewhere, “O joy to the dynasty of the Yadus! Welcome mighty warrior. We are joyful to see you today. O warrior! We are pleased that you have again come here. O Balarāma with pure face! We are certainly honored by the gods. O child! We whom you see were anxious for your return. Seeing you come, we are fortunate like before.” Balarāma replied to the people of Vraja, who had surrounded him. “Among all the Yādavas you are my friends. We passed our childhood here and played together here. Nourished by you how can we harm you? We ate in your houses and we herded the cows. You are all our friends, bound in deep friendship to us.”