Whilst the mighty Sesha, the upholder of the globe, was thus engaged in
wandering amidst the forests with the herdsmen, in the disguise of a
mortal—having rendered great services to earth, and still considering
what more was to be achieved—Varuna, in order to provide for his
recreation, said his wife Vāruni (the goddess of wine), "Thou, Madirā,
art ever acceptable to the powerful Ananta; go therefore, auspicious and
kind goddess, and promote his enjoyments". Obeying these commands,
Vāruni went and established herself in the hollow of a Kadamba bee in
the woods of Vrindāvana. Baladeva, roaming about, came there, and
smelling the pleasant fragrance of liquor, resumed his ancient passion
for strong drink. The holder of the ploughshare observing the vinous
drops distilling from the Kadamba tree, was much delighted, and gathered
and quaffed them along with the herdsmen and the Gopis, whilst those who
were skilful with voice and lute celebrated him in their songs. Being
inebriated with the wine, and the drops of perspiration standing like
pearls upon his limbs, he called out, not knowing what he said, "Come
hither, Yamunā river, I want to bathe". The river, disregarding the
words of a drunken man came not at his bidding: on which Rāma in a rage
took up his ploughshare, which he plunged into her bank, and dragged her
to him, calling out, "Will you not come, you jade, will you not come?
Now go where you please (if you can)". Thus saying, he compelled the
dark river to quit its ordinary course, and follow him whithersoever he
wandered through the wood. Assuming a mortal figure, the Yamunā, with
distracted looks, approached Balabhadra, and entreated him to pardon
her, and let her go: but he replied, "I will drag you with my
ploughshare in a thousand directions, since you condemn my prowess and
strength". At last, however, appeased by her reiterated prayers, he let
her go, after she had watered all the country. When he had bathed, the
goddess of beauty, Lakshmi, came and gave him a beautiful lotus to place
in one ear, and an ear-ring for the other; a fresh necklace of lotus
flowers, sent by Varuna; and garments of a dark blue colour, as costly
as the wealth of the ocean: and thus decorated with a lotus in one ear,
a ring in the other, dressed in blue garments, and wearing a garland,
Balarāma appeared united with loveliness. Thus decorated, Rāma sported
two months in Vraja, and then returned to Dwārakā, where he married
Revati, the daughter of king Raivata, by whom he had two sons, Nishātha
and Ulmuka.