THE ORIGIN IS ONE, MAY BE THE MANIFESTATIONS MANY
There is only a single source or origin for whatever we see in this universe. They are all from the Supreme Being, and vice versa the very universe in itself is that Being alone. That being so, all the divine personalities described in our scriptures are also from the same source, though they may appear to be in the form of different beings in our understanding.
The manifestations (or avatars) from that single entity known as the Supreme Being (the Ultimate Truth or the Brahman) take place from time to time depending upon the need and the circumstances. Thus, they need not be in the human form alone. Coming to specifically Shri Krishna and Balarama, though they appear to be two separate personalities, they are one and the same opulence. While Shri Krishna is considered as complete manifestation (purna avatar) because of the full potency of that Supreme Being, Balarama is His own associate, the manifestation of Lord Vishnu Himself. He is known as Adi Sesha upon Whom Sriman Narayana rests in the ocean of waters, where Shri Lakshmi presses Sriman Narayana’s feet and Lord Brahma being seated on the lotus flower sprouted from His navel. These have been described in various scriptures for our understanding of the principle of oneness.
There cannot be a better description about the concept of oneness of that Supreme Being, despite the different manifestations, than to go through and understand the stanzas 5 to 8 in Chapter 15, Volume 10 of Srimad Bhagavatam. Through these stanzas Shri Krishna is addressing Lord Balarama as the very same Supreme Being. Apart from the concept of oneness and single origin, the poetic beauty in these stanzas are par excellent. They are described below.
Shri Krishna, along with Balarama, is entering the forest of Vrindavana along with their cows and cowherd boys. Shri Krishna is enthralled by seeing the scenic beauty of the forest. He admires the nature and connects their happiness to the presence of the very same Supreme Being in the form of Balarama among them. What follows is the description by Shri Krishna as to how the nature in the forest feel within themselves. He addresses Lord Balarama in the following words:
Hey the Great Divine Personality ! (Lord Balarama) What a wonder ! In order to atone for the sins they had committed, because of which they have now turned into the forms of trees, these trees are offering their flowers and fruits in the form of obeisances and prostrating with the head of their branches at Your pious lotus feet which are worshipped by all the demigods very devotedly.
Hey the Very First Being ! These bees make all the worlds pure with the praises of that Supreme Being sung by them at each and every step and thereby they offer their worship to You. It is possible that these bees might have been the prominent devotees of the groups of saints and sages. Hey the Most Pure Being ! Though they are hiding in the forest, they never have abandoned their inherently positioned Personality that is Yourself. Hey the One Who is worth worshipping ! These peacocks dance because they are very happy. All the female deer looking at you with their beautiful glance just like the Gopa women, and the groups of kokilas (the cuckoos ) with their mellifluous singing express their pleasant happiness towards You as You have come to their place of residence. All the animals living in the forest are also very fortunate. Because, this is exactly the natural characteristic of good people (to welcome those who come to their residence).
This earth is very grateful today. The grass and the bushes which feel the sense of touch of Your feet are very contented and grateful. The trees and other creepers which sensed the touch of your foot nails feel they have accomplished their purpose. Having received your compassionate glance, the rivers, the mountains, the birds and the animals are all very satisfied and contended. All the Gopa women are happy with your chest region in between both your arms. Even Goddess Lakshmi always yearns to be positioned in that chest region.
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