Balaram Sets the Example

[Guest guest]

**When Raja Kuru Weilded the Golden Plough**

 

Preparations for the great Mahabharata war were going on. Lord Krishna had

declared that He would only act as Arjun's chariot-driver and would not wield

arms. Balaram, His elder brother, had left on the pretext of pilgrimage. He

kew that if He remained he would be drawn by the Kauravas and Pandavas to

fight.

 

In the course of his own travels Kuru Raja had come to Kurukshetra. There he

found that the land was suffering from drought for twelve years. Raja Kuru

perfomed the Rain Yajna and it profusely rained. All the land was wet.

 

But by this time the people had forgotten how to plough. It was therefore

necessary for someone to show them the art. Balarama reached the place just at

this moment. Balarama was a very good farmer and therefore He was called

Haladhar, i.e., the Holder of the Plough.

 

Raja Kuru invited Balaram to his palace and told Him his problem. Balaram

said, "O King! I am a born farmer. I always carry a plough with Me. This wet

land is very suitable for ploughing. You should take advantage of the time."

 

The king said, "Please let me know how this can be done?"

 

Balarama replied, "The land should be deeply ploughed."

 

King: "But who should do so? The people have forgotten the art."

 

Balaram: "If the people are in difficulty, it is the duty of the king to help

them. You should take up a golden plough and have your queens sow the field.

I will use My plough and plough with you."

 

So the drums beat all round, and the people were called to see how the land is

ploughed. Kuru wielded the golden plough and his queens sowed the seeds.

 

The gods in heaven blessed them and showered flowers. The land had rich crops.

Thus, the people of Harayan are excellent farmers to this day.

 

*********

 

from: Folk Tales of Haryana, by Indu Roy Chaudhury and Veena Srivastava. Vol.

17 Folk Tales of India. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers, 1983.

 

Graphic: Lord Balaram and Kuru Raja each drive a team of bullocks, as Kuru

Raja's queens scatter grains over the field, with the village farmers gathered

round to watch the agricultural demonstration.