Joyful Celebrations in Gokula
When Nanda Mahārāja returned from Mathurā after paying taxes to King Kaṁsa, he brought with him the most precious treasure—Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, now appearing in the humble form of a newborn baby in the house of Yaśodā-devī.
The entire village of Gokula erupted in celebration. The gopas and gopīs sang joyfully, danced with abandon, and decorated their homes with flowers, lamps, and colorful patterns. The air resounded with the melodious notes of flutes, mṛdaṅgas, and karatālas as everyone came to see the child, to bless Him, and to share in the ecstasy of His divine appearance.
Yaśodā’s Overflowing Affection
Though she had no recollection of giving birth, Yaśodā-devī was entirely absorbed in boundless love for her son. She nursed Him, bathed Him in fragrant water, cradled Him tenderly, and spent hours gazing at His lotus-like face, lost in bliss. Her breast milk flowed without effort, driven not by biology but by her overflowing prema and spiritual ecstasy.
The elderly gopīs, watching her serve the divine child, exclaimed with wonder:
“How blessed is Yaśodā! Even Lakṣmī-devī herself cannot serve the Lord so intimately!”
Demons Sent by Kaṁsa
Kaṁsa, tormented by fear and the prophecy that Devakī’s eighth son would be his slayer, dispatched many powerful demons to Gokula in various disguises to eliminate the child. Yet each of them met their end at the tiny hands of the Lord, who revealed His divinity through innocent play.
- Pūtanā, a fearsome rakṣasī, came disguised as a nurse with poison smeared on her breast. Kṛṣṇa drank not only her milk but her very life—liberating her and granting her a motherly position in His eternal realm.
- Tṛṇāvarta, the whirlwind demon, swept Kṛṣṇa high into the sky, but the Lord became unbearably heavy and crushed him to death on the earth.
- Śakaṭāsura, a ghostly being who entered a cart, was destroyed when baby Kṛṣṇa casually kicked the cart with His tender foot, reducing it to splinters.
Kṛṣṇa’s Mischief: Crawling and Butter-Stealing
As Kṛṣṇa began to crawl on His hands and knees, the entire village was enchanted by His innocent play, gentle smile, and mischief-filled eyes.
He became notorious for stealing butter from the gopīs’ homes, breaking pots, and feeding monkeys. After committing these antics, He would stand with an innocent look, as if unaware of any wrongdoing.
The gopīs would complain to Mother Yaśodā:
“Your son leads a gang of butter thieves! He climbs up using grinding mortars, breaks our pots, and steals our butter!”
Yet as they spoke, their hearts melted with affection, and they secretly prayed that they might have His darśana in every lifetime. Their complaints were drenched in love.
Dāmodara-līlā: Bound by Love
One day, Kṛṣṇa broke a pot of yogurt and scattered it across the floor. Mother Yaśodā, frustrated yet loving, attempted to tie Him up. Strangely, every rope she used fell two fingers too short.
At last, seeing her persistence, exhaustion, and deep love, Kṛṣṇa allowed Himself to be bound. This became the famous pastime of Dāmodara-līlā, revealing that the all-pervading Supreme Lord can be bound—not by rope, but by pure love.
Deliverance of Nalakūvera and Maṇigrīva
Still bound to the mortar, Kṛṣṇa crawled between two tall yamala-arjuna trees. The mortar became stuck, and with a firm tug, the trees came crashing down. From within them emerged two shining celestial beings—Nalakūvera and Maṇigrīva, sons of Kuvera.
Cursed to become trees due to their pride, they were now freed by Kṛṣṇa’s touch. With folded palms, they offered heartfelt prayers:
“O Lord, You are causelessly merciful. Though we were fallen, You have delivered us through Your playful līlā. Now, we desire nothing but devotion at Your lotus feet.”
Every Moment in Gokula Was a Festival
To the Vrajavāsīs, Kṛṣṇa was not God. He was their child, their darling, their little boy. Every cow gave more milk for Him, the birds sang for Him, the Yamunā flowed for Him, and even the trees bent low to offer their fruits to His small hands.
The divine essence of Vraja-bhakti—the love of the residents of Gokula—shone most brightly in this innocent, spontaneous affection for the Lord who had chosen to dwell among them.
Lessons to Be Learned
- The Supreme Lord takes the form of a child to enjoy loving exchanges with His devotees.
- Even great demons attain liberation when touched by His divine presence.
- Pure motherly love, as shown by Yaśodā, can bind the unbound Supreme.
- What appears mischievous becomes sacred when performed by the Lord in love.
- Kṛṣṇa’s childhood pastimes teach that He desires to live, laugh, and play among His devotees—not only to be worshipped with awe, but embraced with love.
