Interpretation of Baladeva and Yamunā at Harivaṃśa 83

Brodbeck, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8517-8665 2021. Interpretation of Baladeva and Yamunā at Harivaṃśa 83. International Journal of Hindu Studies 24 (3) , pp. 313-343. 10.1007/s11407-020-09281-5

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Abstract

In Harivaṃśa chapter 83, Kṛṣṇa’s brother Baladeva changes the course of the river Yamunā, using his plough. This article reviews previous interpretations of Baladeva’s deed by André Couture and Lavanya Vemsani and develops in detail an interpretation briefly proposed by A. Whitney Sanford, whereby the deed is viewed, among many superimposed views, as at some level a sexual assault. This angle is explored in the article in various ways, with close reference to the Sanskrit text. The article includes discussion of the dialogue between Baladeva and the personified Yamunā, Baladeva’s connection to plough agriculture, the dynamic between Baladeva and Kṛṣṇa, and Vaiśaṃpāyana’s commentary on the events.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	History, Archaeology and Religion
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion P Language and Literature > PI Oriental languages and literatures P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General)
Publisher:	Springer
ISSN:	1022-4556
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	11 November 2019
Date of Acceptance:	3 November 2019
Last Modified:	04 May 2023 21:14
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/126568

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