Chapter 38
The Boyish Pranks of Krishna
"Master!
I am eager to hear about the boyish pranks, games and
adventures that Krishna, as the cowherd lad, (Gopala),
did engage Himself in with His comrades of the Vraja
community in the groves and wilds during the eleven
years, He spent in Brindavan, after reaching there, from
the Mathura Prison, where He chose to be
born."
When Parikshith prayed
thus, Suka was rendered very happy. He smiled and said,
"It is not possible for me to describe to you all the
leelas of that Divine Gopala, each of which fills the
mind with sweetness. The Vraja cowherd boys who shared
that joy were really blessed. The Lord will not pay any
attention to external distinctions, the name of the
individual, his nationality, his caste, his profession,
his attitude. Whatever may be the attitude with which a
person approaches Him, He will welcome him, draw him
near, fulfil his wishes, and confer happiness; that was
the nature of Gopala.
Ever since He was left
in the home of Nanda by his father, Vasudeva, Krishna
granted great joy on Nanda and the grateful shouts of
'Victory' echoed and re-echoed in that home as a result
of the child's Divine Prowess. He grew day by day, with
increasing charm; he shone as the most endearing treasure
of the mother, and played on her lap; toddled and crossed
the door-step; He held the finger of His father or
mother, and venturesomely walked a few steps; though the
parents tried their best to hide Him from view, so that
the many ambassadors of death that Kamsa dispatched
without respite, could not get at him, he would somehow
make himself available. He used to go forward to meet
them, and introduce himself to them. Who could keep
Gopala, the Provider and Protector of the Universe,
hidden - and where? Who could carry Him off - and how? O,
Parikshith, it is all Divine Sport!
Growing day by day, He
started going to the sacred sandbanks of the holy Yamuna
river with children of His age from the homes of the
cowherds, and play; the parents endeavoured to stop Him,
but could not. Like His comrades, He drove cows to the
pastures. Really, the eyes that saw the entrancing scene
- when Gopala was in the midst of the herd of clean sleek
happy cows and calves - are worthy to be called so; for
they saw the Sight of all sights. Picture to yourself, 0
King! The spotless white herd of calves and cows; the
dark Divine Boy! They were drawn to Him, close; they will
not leave Him and stray away. Nor could Krishna, for He
loved them, as His own brothers and sisters, or as His
own children! Let but His hand touch their backs ever so
lightly, the calves and their mothers forgot all about
themselves, opened their mouths, raised their tails, hung
out their tongues, and lovingly licked His face and
hands. Gopala too, often clasped their necks and swung to
and fro, in great joy - His eyes closed. His face beaming
with a radiant smile. The calves playfully butted at His
soft Body with their just - emerging horn-ends. On the
ever-fresh ever-spring sands of the cool Yamuna, He
played about gracefully and gladly, regardless of night
and day, with His friends: the calves and the cowherd
boys. The parents had to send servants to seek them out
and bring Him with His followers, willy nilly, to heir
home.
As the days passed thus
at home and outside He grew up into a charming boy.
Though the parents did not want Him to, He unleashed the
cows and calves of the stall, drove them along the route
taken by the village cattle, and put them too, on the
common road to the verdant pasture ahead. Like the other
boys, He had a stick leaning on His shoulder, a length of
cloth wound round His head. Walking along with supreme
self-confidence He appeared as magnificent as a royal
Lion cub.
He played in fun with
His companions; He sang aloud the sweetest tunes, with
the left palm covering the left ear. At this, the cows
who were voraciously munching the green grass would stop
as if too entranced to continue they stared delightedly,
listening to the Divine melody. They stood, with ears
alert, lest they miss the Message calling them to bliss;
with eyes half-closed, as if they were immersed in the
depths of Dhyana!
The calves that had nuzzled at the udders eager to have
their fill stood still, drinking instead the Divine
strains of Krishna's song. It was a thrilling scene, for
all who witnessed it.
O, King! I cannot tell
you the number of nature of the Leelas of Gopala. All
were wondrous and awe-inspiring, all were full of
Ananda,
conferring Ananda. Sometimes, He would challenge His
comrades and swing round the stick in His hand, so fast
that the eye could see no stick! At this, the comrades,
gathered around Him and prayed that they may be taught
how to turn it so. For Him who turns the Universe with
all its contents so fast around, turning a stick is no
special accomplishment; it is a feat that no teaching can
impart. The poor fellows did not grasp this Reality,
behind their playmate.
Often-times, He played
on trees, the game of the hunt for the thief! When the
pursuers climbed behind Him, He took refuge, on the
topmost branch, a branch so thin and weak, that it will
swing when a squirrel walks on it! He could not be
captured at all! Yes, indeed! How can He be caught by one
and all? Only the pure heart can capture Him.
To all appearance,
Gopala will be with His comrades, in the woods and
groves; He will be playing with them, making them happy
with many a practical joke and hilarious game; He will
move with them, His hands placed endearingly on their
shoulders; but, in a moment, he will disappear and be
away from sight. Meanwhile, He would confront His
companions in a clever disguise, so perfect that they
will deem Him to be a stranger, with whom they shall not
talk. But, He will surprise them with a burst of laughter
and the exclamation, "It is I, It is I, you couldn't
discover Me." This threw the boys into amazement, or
sometimes, even fright.
The day passed thus;
when dusk fell, He returned to the village with His
friends, quite innocently, as if nothing had happened to
disturb His equanimity. On certain days, the mother
insisted that He should stay at home and not go into the
pastoral groves. Those days, the cowherd boys and the
cows and calves walked heavy with grief, slowly to the
grove: they lay under the trees listless and alone, not
caring to eat or drink, but, with eyes longing for the
arrival of Ananda-Krishna, who alone can put life into
them.
Many a day, the wicked
Uncle, Kamsa, sent his emissaries, the ogres, in
disguise, with playthings and delicious sweets. The boys
gathered round the pedlars, and enquired the cost of the
things they desired. But, the ogre was intent on the
chance to catch Krishna; he was looking out for the
moment when He will come near. Krishna did not cast his
glance at the toys and sweets. Krishna used to wait until
evening, and, then, approach the wicked men, allowing
them to believe that He had fallen into their trap, but,
only to fall upon them, pull them to pieces and throw the
carcasses afar! Such adventures filled the people of the
village with amazement, fear and wonder, besides
delighting them at the happy escape from
danger.
Another day, the
village was packed with carts full of mangoes! Krishna
knew that this was another evil plan of the ogres, the
emissaries of Kamsa. So, He took the fruits and killed
those who brought them. He felt that it was not proper to
refuse the fruits that the Uncle had sent; so He accepted
them. But, He did not send any one back alive to inform
him what had happened. That was the fate of all whom the
Uncle dispatched on his evil mission.
0, King! From the day
the Lord took residence in the Vraja region, the place
was changed into a treasure-house of the Goddess of
Wealth and Welfare, Lakshmi. It appeared as if She was
scattering Her Graceful Smiles all over the place. There
were thousands upon thousands of cows; there was no
shortage of curds, milk, or butter. In fact, there was
such a plenty that they did not know how to consume all
they had or how to keep or preserve them, for future
consumption. Gopala loved the cows so much that He could
not tolerate any idea of throwing away the precious gift.
That is the reason why He was pleased to receive them
into His own stomach. This act of Grace is the basis for
the appellation: Milk and Butter Thief!
Observing that He was
being named as such, Indra decided to demonstrate to the
World that Krishna was, indeed, God come on earth; so, he
manipulated a situation, where Indra Puja was cancelled
by the people of Vraja, where Indra retaliated with heavy
downpours of rain, and where Krishna had to lift up the
Govardhana Peak, in order to shelter the cowherds and
cows from the onslaught of the downpour! It was all part
of a play. Indra had no anger, nor did he entertain any
idea of revenge or retaliation! Nor would Krishna ever
advise people to give up Puja. Such miracles were decided
upon, in order to make them identify the Divine already
amidst them. Such incidents confirm the view that nothing
can happen, without an underlying purpose.
[See
also Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter
25]
Meanwhile, Parikshith
intervened with his joyous exclamation, and said, "0, How
sweet are the Leelas,
the sport and pranks of the Divine Boy, Gopala! The more
we hear, the greater grows the appetite! Master, Let me
listen to a few more, and attain the state of
Liberation."
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