Wonderful Krishna

“Since this boy has performed such astonishing activities he cannot be an ordinary boy. He must be God. But if that is so, how could he be born in a cowherd family and become the object of criticism?” Use of the word asau to denote Krsna indicates that he was not present but had gone to the forest. The full expression of feelings could take place only in his absence. “Even the lesser avataras are not born in such low family as ours , what to speak of the outstanding avataras.”

“If this child is not the Lord, how could he perform such astonishing feats?” This is the intention of the next twelve verses. “How did he who is only seven years old, remain holding (vibhrat) Govardhana in one hand for seven days, like an elephant holding a lotus.” In the following verses “how could he “ is understood.

How could he when he was a baby with half closed eyes sucked out her life air with the milk. “Half closed eyes” indicates that this was done unseen by others, just as, unnoticed, time sucks up youth from the body.

How could he when only three months old moving his feet upwards, strike the cart and make it turn over and collapse?

How could he who, when one year old, was stolen by Trnavarta, kill the demon?

How could he who was tied up because he had stolen butter crawl around and knock down the two arjuna trees?

How could he take the mouth of the baka demon and starting with the mouth, tear him in two?

Though balarama killed dhenakasura, in this verse it is said that Krsna along with balarama killed him. This is to give prominence to Krsna’s activities. Rasabhadaiteyam is dhenukasura.

How could this little boy destroy the pride of the most poisonous king of the snakes so that he left the lake?

The wonderful activities of the child were shown as evidence that he is God. In this verse they speak to show how they are all united in their devotional feelings towards Krsna. “Though he is your child not ours, our attraction to him is very strong. Not only do we have parental affection for him, not only do the boys have friendly affection for him, and not only to all the male and female animals and birds of the forest have affection for him, but that affection is increasing in newer ways at every moment. We cannot give up that affection because it is natural. And even though we now see that he has the qualities of God, we cannot give up that attraction. One has more affection for ones own body than wealth and children, and more affection for ones soul than ones body, and more affection for paramatma than ones own soul. Thus Krsna must be paramatma. Such affection could not be possible if he were a mere human. But if you concede that he is paramatma, then how is it possible for paramatma to have such natural attraction towards the inhabitants of Vraja and the animals of the forest, for paramatma is self satisfied. Being self-satisfied, he should be indifferent to everything. He would not have such attraction to us who are absorbed in material life.”

Already they have described Krsna holding up Govardhana. They repeat the description again in this verse because of their astonishment.

“I will relieve your doubts by reciting what I heard from Garagamuni. Narayana has entered my son by the force of my performance of past pious activities, to deliver me most mercifully from danger.”

Nanda wished to remove their present realization of Krsna’s lordship and increase their understanding of him as their son, brother and friend. Therefore in repeating Garga’s words he does not say “your son” but “this boy” so that the inhabitants would feel that Krsna was not only his son but theirs as well. Though they had seen his powers, they should not give up their affection and should continue to give blessings to him daily. “Like Narayana” means that Narayana’s power had entered Krsna, not that Krsna was Narayana. It is just like the jewel named surya kanta which is called thus because of some likeness to the sun. The child was not God, nor was he an ordinary human, but someone who could perform extraordinary deeds. This great personality has come as the ornament of our family lineage. Thus at the conclusion of his statement Garga said, “his activities should not be bewildering to you.” “Because of his wonderful activities you should not think of him as God. You should make him the object of your compassion by blessing him “live a long life.” You should not be neutral to him.” Nanda then repeated Garga’s statement, “Protect him well.” By removing the cowherd men’s bewilderment, their doubts were removed.

“I consider him to be invested with Narayana ‘s power (Narayanasya amsa), who can remove our suffering.”

They honored Nanda by offering gifts of gold coins, cloth and jewels. When Krsna returned from the forest in the evening they took care of Krsna by ornamenting him with yellow cloth, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and crown, and saying “Glory to the jewel of Braja bhumi, may you live a long life.”

“O King Pariksit! May that Krsna who lifted Govardhana and protected the inhabitants of Vraja from the disturbance caused by hunger, hail and rain arising from Indra’s wrath, who was expert in starting the worship of Govardhana and cut the pride of the devatas, be pleased with us. In the same way may he who protects you with the essence of the Vedas in the form of the Bhagavata from the lightning bolt curse arising from Srngi’s anger, who is expert at starting the sacrifice of listening to the bhagavatam and destroys the pride of the brahmanas devoid of bhakti, be pleased with us.” In this way Sukadeva, by praying for Krsna’s mercy, indicates that Pariksit should apply this to himself. “When Indra, angry that his sacrifice was stopped began to pour rain, Krsna, seeing that the area containing animals, men and women which had taken shelter of him alone was afflicted with rain, hail, lightning and wind, he smiled slightly, and with little effort, lifted up Govardhana easily, like a small child lifting a mushroom, and protected Vraja. May the Indra of Gokula (gavam indra), who cuts the pride of Indra, be pleased with us-- with Pariksit, with me, and with the assembled listeners.”