Krishna and Balarama were born to Vasudeva and Devaki in Kamsa's prison. Krishna was spirited across the Yamuna to safety that same night, while Balarama's embryo had already been transferred by Yogamaya from Devaki's womb to Rohini's.
Balarama married Revati, daughter of King Kakudmi, after Brahma himself ordained the match when Kakudmi visited Brahmaloka seeking a suitable husband for her.
Balarama descended to earth as an incarnation of Shesha, the cosmic serpent upon whom Vishnu reclines, born as Krishna's elder brother to accompany the eighth avatar through his earthly life.
Balarama appears in several Dashavatara lists as one of Vishnu's ten principal avatars, replacing the Buddha in traditions that count Krishna and Balarama separately.
⚠ The Bhagavata Purana (1.3.23, 10.1.24) identifies Balarama as an incarnation of Shesha rather than a direct Vishnu avatar. The Agni Purana and some Vaishnava lists include him among the Dashavatara.
Balarama slew the great ape Dvivida, who had been terrorizing the countryside in revenge for his friend Narakasura's death, crushing him with a single blow of his fist after the ape dared to insult him and Revati on Mount Raivataka.
Balarama trained both Bhima and Duryodhana in mace combat. He cursed Bhima for striking Duryodhana's thighs, a blow forbidden in mace dueling.
When the Yamuna refused to come to Balarama as he lounged on her banks, he hooked the river with his plough Hala and dragged her from her course, scarring the landscape until she begged forgiveness in human form.
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