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The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all
incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and the
same identity. They differ only in form. Balarama is the first bodily
expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna's transcendental
pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-
guru, the original spiritual master.
He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps in the
pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other
forms called the catur-vyuha (four armed) forms known as Vasudeva,
Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Anirudha. He executes the orders of Lord Krishna
in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Sri Krishna
in various ways. In all the forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of
serving Krishna. No one can approach Krishna without first getting the
mercy of Baladeva.
