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BALADEVA'S GOING TO HEAVEN
311
his name, was saluted by Kṛṣṇa, who had got up, with great eagerness.
Bala said to him: " Brother, Sri Nemi said at that time that the pleasure of the senses would end in pain. Now it is present before you. I am not able to take you, chained by karma, to heaven. So I remain near you to give you mental pleasure, Hari.”
A 12-1973, AT 750
Kṛṣṇa said: "O brother, what is the use of your staying here? Even with you here, the hellish-age karma, which was acquired, must be consumed. At that time 301 joy and depression of enemies and friends took place because of that state of mine which led to pain in hell. So go to Bharata. Show me going in an aerial car, carrying disc, bow, conch, and club, wearing yellow garments, with a Tarkṣya-banner. Show yourself always and everywhere in an aerial car, wearing blue clothes, with a palm-tree banner, carrying a plow and pestle. There should be a rumor among the people, destroying former disrespect, Rama and Kṛṣṇa are wandering at will, imperish
C
999
able.'
Rāma agreed and went to Bharata. After making them just so, he showed the two figures everywhere. He said: "O people! After making auspicious statues of us, worship zealously with the idea that we are exalted deities. For we alone, the makers of origination, permanence, and perishing, 302 came here from heaven and go to heaven as we like. Dvārakā was made by us and was destroyed by us wishing to go. There is no other Creator nor Destroyer; and we alone bestow heaven."
From this speech of his, all the people in villages, cities, et cetera made many statues of Kṛṣṇa and Halin and worshipped them. The god gave great prosperity to the makers and worshippers of the statues and all the people everywhere became
301 79. At the time of Nemi's prediction.
302 85. The three steps. The more usual terminology is utpäda, dhrauvya, and vigama. See I, p. 209. They were not makers of the three steps. This must be boasting to justify their claims to worship.
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