Astonishing Activities

Chapter 8, 9, 10, 11

Baby Antics: After Their discreet name-giving ceremony, Gargamuni, an expert astrologer, clearly established the supreme identity of the brothers. Despite this, Krishna and Balarama performed a variety of charming, childlike activities that delighted the Vrindavana residents, causing them to abandon any sense of awe and reverence. The cowherd ladies would lovingly complain to Mother Yasoda about Krishna’s nefarious antics of untying the calves, stealing freshly made butter, breaking pots and defiling homes.

Universal Form: When Krishna’s playmates complained that He had eaten dirt, Yasoda immediately examined His mouth and astonishingly saw the entirety of the cosmos there! Baffled, she momentarily questioned Krishna’s identity and her relationship with Him, but quickly returned to her natural state of maternal affection. []

Binding Krishna: When Yasoda attended to a pot of overflowing milk while feeding Krishna, the Lord became annoyed. He angrily broke a pot of butter, started eating it, distributed it to the monkeys and then ran away in fear of punishment. Seeing His mischief, His mother called Him, chased Him, caught Him, and decided to bind Him to a wooden grinding mortar. Despite tying multiple ropes together, it just wouldn’t fit around the Lord’s body! Seeing His mother’s intense endeavour, Krishna finally allowed Himself to be bound. Later, to actualise the benediction of Narada Muni, Krishna uprooted the twin yamala-arjuna trees in the courtyard and delivered Nalakuvera and Manigriva from their curse which had lasted for one hundred celestial years. They then prayed to be fully immersed, mind, body and words, in the service of Krishna.

Fruit Vendor: Krishna and Balarama would charm the cowherd ladies, stay out beyond their lunch-time and frolic all day in transcendental joy. When a vendor liberally gave Krishna many fruits without consideration of return, she found that her basket magically became filled with jewels; one who gives to Krishna is never a loser.

Being disturbed by a variety of demons, the cowherd leaders decided to leave Gokula and relocate to Vrindavana. They went towards the transcendental forest in a convoy, festively singing the glories of Krishna. Seeing Vrindavana, Govardhana and Yamuna, they became overjoyed. This is when Krishna and Balarama finished their childhood pastimes and began tending calves on the pasturing ground.