546:4 Balaráma was thus visible in his real character of Śesha, the chief of serpents, the couch of Vishńu, and supporter of the world.

546:5 Or rather, he beheld Ghanaśyáma, an appellation of Krishńa, who is so called from being as black (śyama) as a cloud (ghana).

547:6 Tad, 'that;' all that is, or that can be conceived.

547:7 Akrúra's piety is here prophetic; the son and grandson of Krishńa (see p. 440) are not yet born: but this is the Vaishńava style of addressing Krishńa or Vishńu, as identical with four Vyúhas, 'arrangements' or 'dispositions,' Krishńa, Balaráma, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. See As. Res. XVI. 35. In this, as in several other places, the Vishńu P. differs from some of the other narratives of Krishńa, by the length and character of the prayers addressed to Vishńu. The Hari Vanśa, for instance, here has no prayer or panegyric at all: the Bhágavata inserts one.

Next: Chapter XIX

Hinduism

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