The Strength Behind All Strength: Lord Krishna, Lord Balarama, and Hanuman Ji
अहंकार का अंत: भगवान कृष्ण, बलराम जी और हनुमान जी की दिव्य लीला
A True Spiritual Story | TrueQuotesWithMaster
There is a beautiful spiritual story that teaches us one of the most important lessons of life: Whatever strength, talent, wisdom, or power we possess comes from the Almighty. When we forget this truth and become proud of our abilities, God lovingly reminds us of our true place.
This story takes us back to the time of Lord Krishna and His elder brother, Lord Balarama.
When Pride Entered Lord Balarama's Heart
Lord Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna, was renowned for his immense strength and extraordinary martial abilities. He was the incarnation of Sheshnag, the divine serpent associated with Lord Narayana. His mighty weapon was the plough, which was so powerful that even the greatest warriors would hesitate to challenge him.
Yet, a time came when pride began to arise in his heart.
He started believing that no warrior in the three worlds could match his strength. He even felt that had he participated in the great Mahabharata war, he could have won the entire battle single-handedly.
One day, Lord Balarama expressed these thoughts before his younger brother, Lord Krishna.
“Krishna, tell me, who in this world is stronger than me? There is no warrior who can stand against me. Had I entered the Mahabharata war, I would have won it on my own. No one could have defeated me!”
Lord Krishna listened quietly.
Lord Krishna did not argue with His elder brother or attempt to hurt his feelings. Instead, Lord Krishna remained calm, understanding that pride had clouded Balarama's awareness of the divine truth.
Lord Krishna knew that when the ego grows within a person, even great strength can become a source of ignorance. And when the time is right, the Almighty finds a way to guide that person back to humility.
Lord Krishna's Divine Plan
After listening to Balarama's claims, Lord Krishna gently said,
“Dear Dau, perhaps you are right. I cannot say who is stronger than you. But there are many warriors in this world.”
Balarama immediately responded,
“Where are those warriors? Who can challenge me? Show me someone who can match my strength!”
Lord Krishna smiled and turned His attention towards a nearby tree.
There, resting peacefully on a branch, was an old-looking monkey.
Krishna pointed towards him and said,
“Dau, look! There is a monkey sitting on that tree. I feel that he might be willing to fight you. Why don't we ask him?”
Balarama looked at the monkey and became amused.
“This old monkey? Does he think he can fight me? I could tear him apart in an instant!”
However, Lord Krishna remained composed.
“Let us ask him first,” He replied.
What Balarama did not know was that the seemingly ordinary monkey was none other than Hanuman Ji, the great devotee of Lord Rama, whose strength was inseparable from his devotion to the Almighty.
Lord Krishna had called Hanuman Ji to help His elder brother understand a profound spiritual truth.
Hanuman Ji's Extraordinary Strength
Lord Krishna approached the tree and addressed the monkey.
“O Vanar, my elder brother believes that no warrior in the three worlds is stronger than him. I wonder whether you would like to test his strength.”
Upon hearing these words, Hanuman Ji turned towards them. He looked at Balarama and smiled gently.
Balarama interpreted that smile as a challenge.
His pride was hurt, and he decided to teach the monkey a lesson.
Nearby lay an enormous rock. Balarama lifted it effortlessly, swung it with tremendous force, and hurled it towards Hanuman Ji.
But something extraordinary happened.
Hanuman Ji simply raised one finger and stopped the massive rock in midair. With a slight movement, he shattered it into pieces.
Balarama was astonished.
He had never imagined that anyone could stop such a powerful attack so effortlessly.
Still, he refused to accept defeat.
“If you think you can stop a rock, let me show you the power of my weapon!”
He lifted his mighty plough, the weapon for which he was renowned throughout the three worlds, and struck towards Hanuman Ji with all his strength.
Yet Hanuman Ji remained perfectly calm.
He raised one finger again and stopped Balarama's mighty weapon as though it weighed nothing.
Balarama pulled with all his might, but the plough would not move.
Hanuman Ji sat peacefully, completely unmoved.
At that moment, Balarama began to realise that the being before him was no ordinary monkey. Someone possessing such extraordinary power could not be judged by outward appearance.
He stopped struggling and asked,
“Who are you? You are no ordinary warrior. Please reveal your true identity!”
The Divine Revelation
By the grace of the Almighty, Hanuman Ji revealed his true form.
Balarama was astonished to see the great devotee of Lord Rama standing before him. Hanuman Ji humbly folded his hands and offered his respects.
Balarama asked,
“Hanuman Ji, your strength is extraordinary. How were you able to stop my mighty weapon with just one finger?”
Hanuman Ji replied with complete humility,
“Dau, I possess no strength of my own. Whatever power you witnessed belongs to my beloved Lord Rama. It is His strength that works through me.”
He continued,
“You believe that your strength belongs to you, but this is the very misunderstanding that I have come to help you overcome. Lord Krishna, has brought me here for this purpose.”
Then Hanuman Ji revealed the deeper truth.
“The One whom you know as Krishna is none other than the same Supreme Lord Rama whom I worship. Rama and Krishna are not different. The Supreme Lord is one, though He manifests in different forms.”
Hearing these words, Balarama began to understand the divine purpose behind the encounter.
Hanuman Ji explained that his strength did not arise from pride, physical power, or personal achievement. His entire being was devoted to Lord Rama. His heart continuously resounded with the sacred name of Rama.
Whenever Hanuman Ji performed extraordinary deeds, he never thought, “I am powerful” or “I have accomplished this.”
Instead, his heart remained filled with the remembrance of his beloved Lord.
He knew that without the grace of Rama, he was nothing.
Whose Strength Is It, Really?
Hanuman Ji gently reminded Balarama,
“Dau, never think that your strength belongs to you alone. You are Sheshnag, the divine being upon whom Lord Narayana rests. You are blessed with immense power, but that power is also a gift of the Almighty.
“Instead of saying, ‘This is my strength,’ remember your Lord and say, ‘This is the strength of my beloved Krishna. Whatever I possess is because of His grace.’
“If I were to claim that Hanuman is powerful, I would be forgetting the very truth of my existence. Without my Lord Rama, I am nothing. The strength that you witnessed was His strength working through me.”
These words touched Balarama's heart.
He realised that he had become so absorbed in his own greatness that he had forgotten the divine source of his power. His strength was real, but his belief that he was its independent owner was the mistake.
Lord Krishna had not come to diminish His elder brother. He had arranged this divine encounter to free him from the burden of ego.
Balarama understood that true greatness does not lie in proving oneself superior to others. It lies in recognising the Almighty as the source of all strength and remaining humble despite one's abilities.
The Spiritual Lesson: Let God Work Through You
This divine story carries a message that applies to every one of us.
Some people are proud of their physical strength. Others take pride in their intelligence, wealth, knowledge, beauty, professional success, or spiritual achievements. We begin to believe that everything we have accomplished is solely the result of our own efforts.
But have we ever stopped to reflect on the source of our abilities?
Who gives us the breath of life? Who sustains our existence? Who gives us the opportunity to learn, grow, work, and achieve? Who knows what lies beyond our understanding?
Our efforts are important, but we should never forget the grace of the Almighty that sustains us.
The moment we begin to believe that we are the ultimate doers, ego begins to grow. We start comparing ourselves with others, seeking recognition, and feeling superior to those who appear less capable.
True spirituality teaches us a different way of living.
Work sincerely, develop your abilities, fulfil your responsibilities, and make the best use of the gifts you have received. But never allow success to make you arrogant. Instead, let every achievement deepen your gratitude towards the Almighty.
Hanuman Ji possessed extraordinary strength, yet he remained the humblest devotee because he never separated himself from his Lord.
His life reminds us that the greatest strength is not the power to defeat others, but the humility to recognise that all power comes from God.
Keep the Divine Name Within Your Heart
Hanuman Ji's devotion to Lord Rama was not merely an expression of words. The sacred name of Rama was deeply rooted in his heart.
His life teaches us the importance of remembering the Almighty in every situation, whether we are experiencing success or failure, happiness or difficulty.
When we remember God with sincerity, we begin to loosen the grip of ego. We become more patient, compassionate, and humble. We learn to use our abilities for the good of others rather than for self-glorification.
Whether one lovingly remembers Rama, Krishna, Waheguru, or the Divine Name received through one's spiritual Master, the essential lesson is to cultivate sincere remembrance and surrender.
When the Divine Name becomes the centre of our lives, we begin to understand that we are not separate from the grace that sustains us.
We become instruments of the Almighty, doing our duties with dedication while leaving pride behind.
Final Message
The story of Lord Krishna, Lord Balarama, and Hanuman Ji reminds us that no matter how powerful, intelligent, or successful we become, we should never forget the source of our blessings.