Gopalacampu 1.15.42

1.15.42

[21] dṛṣṭvā ca tac-chalam evāsvaccha-svacchalāyāvalambya-bhadra, kathaṃ vilambam ālambathās, tathāpi bhadraṃ dudyūṣā-samaya eva samayitas tvam asi iti vihasya tad-anukṛta-gopa-bāla-sambandha-viśeṣa-sambandhaṃ parihasya ca bahu-paritoṣitena tena saha sahacaratvaṃ balasya bala-nirjayārtham eva kalayāñcakre | ūce ca-adyārabhya, sabhya, mama parama-suhṛd bhavān eva | tvām aham akṣi-gatatayā sthāpayiṣyāmi | śrīdāmā rāmam evānvetu, sa kila hy antar-vardhana-spardhaḥ spardhana-gaṇam evārhati iti |

[21] And having seen him, employing his very deceit for an impure deceit: “Good friend, why did you delay? Still, it is well; you have arrived at the very time when we desire to play!” Laughing thus and joking about the particular kinship of the cowherd boy whom he imitated, [Kṛṣṇa] arranged companionship for Bala with that well-pleased [demon], solely to defeat Bala’s strength. And he said: “From today onward, O worthy boy, you alone are my supreme friend. I will keep you before my eyes. Let Śrīdāman follow Rāma alone, for he who vies in inner growth is indeed worthy of the company of rivals.”