your bridge home
Tales of the Gods
The ninth avatar has two occupants, and the argument between them is older than most of the texts that record it.
Nine of the ten seats are settled.
The ninth has two names on it. They have both been there a long time, and the tradition has never taken either one off.
Balarama was born before Krishna and very nearly was not born at all. He was Devaki's seventh child, and Devaki's children were being killed at birth by her brother Kamsa.
So the embryo was transferred. The texts use that word - drawn out, and placed into Rohini in Gokul.
He is called Samkarshana for it. The one who was pulled across.
He is the only figure in the tradition whose name records a womb transplant.
Balarama grew up in the cowherd settlement alongside his younger brother, and he grew up enormous.
The rest of this story, read aloud, and a new one every day.