In the pastime of Dhenukā, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says that Dhenukāsura is a demon who represents avidyā (ignorance). The donkey gets a lot of bad publicity. Although some people appreciate that donkeys can be very nice, there's a lot in śāstra comparing low-class people to donkeys. For instance, 'śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ na yat-karṇa-pathopeto jātu nāma gadāgrajaḥ' (SB 2.3.19) states that those who are like hogs, dogs, camels, and asses praise those people who never listen to the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa (gadāgrajaḥ).

So, the ass is known for its pursuit of sense gratification. Especially during mating season, an ass will approach a female ass and get kicked in the face multiple times but that doesn't stop him. This is compared to trying to find happiness in the material world, being kicked in the face again and again by material nature, and being punished repeatedly, but just for a little bit of happiness or sense gratification, one keeps trying. This is avidyā, a completely mistaken idea about what human life is for.

So, Balarāma kills that tendency for avidyā and awakens us to the fact that the real goal in life is to serve Kṛṣṇa. He does it himself, as we talked about this morning, by expanding himself in multiple ways to serve Kṛṣṇa in all the different rasas.

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