In honour of the appearance of Sri Balarama, we offer this meditation from Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, chapter 15:

Once, when Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was looking over the Vrindavana forest, which resounded with the charming sounds of bees, animals and birds, and which was enhanced by a lake whose clear water resembled the minds of great souls and by a breeze carrying the fragrance of hundred-petaled lotuses, He decided to glorify His elder brother, Sri Balarama.

Gently smiling, Krishna said to Balarama, “O greatest of Lords, just see how these trees are bowing their heads at Your lotus feet, which are worshipable by the immortal demigods. These bees must all be great sages and most elevated devotees of Yours, for they are worshiping You by following You along the path and chanting Your glories, which are themselves a holy place for the entire world. Though You have disguised Yourself within this forest, O sinless one, they refuse to abandon You, their worshipable Lord.

“O worshipable one, these peacocks are dancing before You out of joy, these doe are pleasing You with affectionate glances, just as the gopīs do, and these cuckoos are honouring You with Vedic prayers. All these residents of the forest are most fortunate, and their behavior toward You certainly befits great souls receiving another great soul at home. This earth has now become most fortunate, because You have touched her grass and bushes with Your feet and her trees and creepers with Your fingernails, and because You have graced her rivers, mountains, birds and animals with Your merciful glances. But above all, You have embraced the young cowherd women between Your two arms — a favor hankered after by the goddess of fortune herself.”

Thus feeling satisfied within the beautiful forest of Vṛndāvana, Krishna and Balarama enjoyed tending the cows and other animals with Their friends on the banks of the river Yamunā below Govardhana Hill.