ORIENTAL SERIES.

BALA-RAMA BALH1. 41
refused, lie thrust his ploughshare tinder the ramparts of the
city, and drew them towards him, thus compelling the Kauravas
to give up their prisoner. Lastly, he killed the great ape
Dwivida, who had stolen his weapons and derided him.
Such are some of the chief incidents of the life of Bala-rama,
as related in the Puranas, and as popular among the votaries of
ELnshwa. In the Maha-bharata he has more of a human cha-
racter. He taught both Dur-yodhana and Bhima the use of the
mace. Though inclining to the side of the Paft^avas, he refused
to take an active part either with them or the Kauravas. He
witnessed the combat between Dur-yodhana and Bhima, and
beheld the foul blow struck by the latter, which made him so
indignant that he seized his weapons, and was with difficulty
restrained by Knslma from falling upon the Pandavas. He
died just before Knslma, as ho sat under a banyan tree in the
outskirts of Dwaraka.
Another view is held as to the origin of Bala-rama. Accord-
ing to this he was an incarnation of the great serpent $esha, and
when he died the serpent is said to have issued from his mouth.
The " wine-loving " Bala-rama (Madhu-priya or Priya-madhu)
was as much addicted to wine as his brother ELnslwa was
devoted to the fair sex. He was also irascible in temper, and
sometimes quarrelled even with Knslma : the Puranas represent
them as having a serious difference about the Syamantaka jewel
He had but one wife, Revati, daughter of King Raivata, and
was faithful to her. By her ho had two sons, Nisatfha and
TJlmuka. He is represented as of fair complexion, and, as Mla-
vastra, clad in a dark-blue vest/ His especial weapons are a club
(klietaka or saunanda), the ploughshare (hala), and the pestle
(musala), from which ho is called Phala and Hala, also Hala-
yudha, e
J
plough-armed ; Hala-bhnt, '
plough-bearer ;' Langali
and Sankarshawa, <
'
ploughman ; and Musali, 'pestle-holder/
As he has a palm for a banner, he is called Tala-dhwaja.
Other
of his appellations are Gupta-chara, 'who goes secretly;* Kam-
pala and Sarnvartaka.
BALA-BAMAYAJVA, A drama by Kaja-sekhara, It has been
printed.
BALEYA. A descendant of Bali, a Daitya.
BALITT. A northern country, Balkh. Said in the Haha-
bharata to bo famous for its horses, as Balkh is to the present time.