Butter Thief

“Save us, save us! What a terrible storm has risen! Save us! Why can’t I see anyone? Is anyone there? Can you hear me? Run, run! This is not an ordinary storm. Some demon is surely coming in the form of a storm. Run! Save yourselves, run, run! Save yourselves, run! Don’t even stand here, don’t stay here. Run away, run, run!”

All through Gokul, people cried out in fear. Dust flew into the air. The sky turned black. The wind roared so fiercely that nothing could be seen properly.

Mother Yashoda's cry rose above all the rest.

“Come back, Krishna, Krishna! Kanai, Kanai! Come back, my child, come back, Kanai! Where has my Kanai gone? Please find my son from wherever you can and bring him back, Maharaj. If I do not find Kanai, I will never have peace...”

“Calm down, your Kanai will surely return. Call on Shri Hari. He will surely protect him.”

For two full hours the terrible storm raged over Gokul. The demon Trinavarta had used all his strength. Cattle, houses, and trees began to fly away one after another. The darkness became so deep that people’s sight was blurred.

And in the middle of that storm, Trinavarta had taken baby Krishna into his arms and risen high into the sky. His wicked plan was to smash the child down from above.

But then something strange happened.

How could a milk-fed baby become so heavy?

King Parikshit, listening with wonder, asked, “Tell me, holy sage, Trinavarta was a demon. His strength had no limit. Could even that demon not carry the child’s weight?”

Shukadeva Goswami replied, “No, King, the weight of that little child became unbearable for him. He could not carry him anymore. His strength began to fade, and his speed slowed down. Krishna’s weight seemed to press on him more and more like a mountain. He could survive only if he could throw that child away, but he could not do it at all.”

Parikshit asked, “Why, Acharyadev, why could he not?”

Shukadeva said, “Because that child was holding tightly to his throat with all his might. His two little hands were closing around Trinavarta’s neck like a noose.”

Still trapped in that body of wind, the demon cried out in desperation, “Leave me, leave me! I am telling you, let go of my neck. Leave me, I say, or it will not be good for you. I will throw you down from here. You hear me! You are really, really some kind of god, I can understand that well. Stop that baby smile of yours, stop it! Let go, let go, release me! Leave me!”

Parikshit asked again, “What happened, Acharyadev? Why did Trinavarta scream like that?”

Shukadeva answered, “With those tender little hands, Yashoda’s darling was pressing Trinavarta’s neck like iron tongs. Unable to free himself, the demon Trinavarta came crashing down toward the earth with great force. And then, with a terrible impact, he fell not far from Nanda’s courtyard.”

As soon as the people heard that dreadful sound, the cowherd men and women came running.

“What happened? What happened? Why was there such a loud sound? There is so much dust here, nothing can be seen. Someone bring water. Pour water here.”

Another said anxiously, “No, no, no one should go near. It feels like, it feels like some demon is hiding behind this dust. Otherwise such a huge whirlwind would not have formed.”

“A demon! Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram! O danger-destroying Ramchandra, O fear-removing Madhusudan, protect Gokul, Lord.”

Suddenly someone shouted, “O Queen Yashoda, come and see. Inside that dust, there, there, our Neelmani is playing!”

Yashoda gasped. “What! That wicked whirlwind carried our Neelmani away, but how is he playing even after falling from such a height? Where, where is my Krishna? Move aside, all of you. Where did you see my Kanai? Tell me where he is.”

“There he is, look there. Your Kana... your Kanai is lying in the whirlwind... Have you seen him, Queen?”

“Kanai! Kanai! Kanai! Where were you, my child? Wait, I am going there, near that whirlwind.”

The dust began to settle.

“Now all the dust is clearing away. Can’t you see? That, that is really a terrible demon. What a huge body he has! He was the one who carried our Kanai away.”

Another voice said, “Don’t be afraid, the demon is dead. As soon as he fell, his body broke into pieces. Look, what is there to fear from him now?”

Then someone said joyfully, “Your son was not afraid at all, King Nanda. Look there, he is rocking peacefully and smiling on the demon’s chest. Take him, Queen, here, hold our boy in your arms. Go, child, go to your mother’s lap.”

“Queen Yashoda, do not worry. God has saved your little one. That demon could not harm him at all.”

Yashoda held her child close and cried, “Oh dear, did you get hurt badly, my child? The boy has returned from the mouth of death. Why does this keep happening again and again to my son? What planet is so angry with this milk-fed baby? Tomorrow I will have a ritual done to calm the planets.”

A gopi gently replied, “Do whatever you want, Queen, but do not speak only of the anger of the planets. Speak also of the blessings of the gods. Otherwise, could that child return like this? The gods protect your son again and again, Queen.”

Yashoda nodded slowly. “That is true. I did not think of that. What good fortune do we have, that again and again our Neelmani returns from the mouth of death? What great penance have we done?”

Someone said, “Do you not know? God helps those who are good, honest, and kind to others. Where will you find a noble and helpful man like King Nanda? Whatever happens in his house will be for good.”

“We too are proud of him. This Neelmani is surely our treasure too.”

“Of course! He is the jewel of Gokul. Victory to King Nanda! Victory to Neelmani!”

Yet not everyone was at peace. Some among the people whispered, “In Gokul, one danger after another keeps happening. But it was not like this before. What has happened? Whose angry eye has fallen here? Vasudeva’s words are coming true exactly. This really is a great danger.”

King Parikshit then asked, “All those who are connected with Shri Krishna’s divine play have some story of a past birth. Then what is the story of the demon Trinavarta, holy sage? He died at Shri Krishna’s hands. How did he get such rare good fortune?”

Shukadeva said, “You are right, King. Trinavarta was very fortunate. In truth, he had a past. In his previous birth he was King Sahasraksha of Pandudesh. He had firm devotion to Shri Hari. But that king was also deeply attached to pleasure. On the bank of the Narmada, he used to enjoy himself with one thousand women. One day he was spending time like that. Just then, Sage Durvasa arrived there. But the king was so lost in pleasure that he did not even notice the sage. He did not even bow to him. Durvasa became furious.”

Shukadeva then spoke the words of Durvasa:

“King Sahasraksha has so much pride! He did not even look at me. I will curse you, King. For insulting me, you will be born as a demon.”

At once the king fell at the sage’s feet.

“Forgive me, holy sage, forgive me. I have done wrong. Never again will I commit such a sin. Please, please forgive me.”

Durvasa replied, “My curse will not fail. You must indeed become a demon. But yes, a devotee of Hari will deliver you, and your death will come by the touch of Shri Krishna. Then you will be freed.”

Shukadeva continued, “That same King Sahasraksha was born as the demon Trinavarta. By Krishna’s touch he attained liberation.”

Then he said to Parikshit, “So now you understand, Parikshit, all those who die in Krishna’s divine play are being liberated. This is the greatness of God. He is an ocean of mercy without cause. He comes down to save all sinners and sufferers. And by his touch, thousands and thousands cross over together.”

Parikshit bowed his head and said, “I understand, Acharyadev. It is truly very hard to reach the end of the endless divine play of the Lord. How can ordinary people understand God?”

Shukadeva answered, “People are amazed when they see his divine play. But the very next moment, they are charmed by maya and forget everything. Just see, Yashoda has seen so many of Krishna’s divine acts. That strange child keeps surviving in such wonderful ways. But does she remember it? No. A mother’s mind only worries that no harm should come to her child, that no evil eye should fall on him. So Yashoda used to put a black mark on his forehead. She tied black thread on his two little blue feet. And there was no end to the fire rituals she arranged to keep him safe.”

Parikshit asked, “Tell me, did King Nanda ever feel any doubt, Acharyadev?”

“Yes, he did,” said Shukadeva. “Especially after hearing Vasudeva’s words, he would be troubled in his heart. One danger after another was happening before his eyes. He could do nothing. The little boy seemed to save himself in wonderful ways. It is not that Nanda felt no curiosity at all on seeing these things. But more than these miracles, he cared about Krishna’s safety. With all his heart and soul he wanted to protect the boy. So whenever he heard something strange from Yashoda, King Nanda would become deeply worried.”

Parikshit leaned forward eagerly. “What had Nanda heard from Yashoda by then? What happened after Trinavarta was delivered? Please tell me that now, Acharyadev.”

Shukadeva smiled gently. “If you look at it that way, something or other kept happening every moment with him. But Yashoda did not take such things too seriously. Her little one was very naughty. If she did not keep an eye on him, trouble would surely happen. There was no knowing what he would do next. But even by watching him, one could not stay worry-free. That is why Yashoda could never be at peace. Let me tell you about one day, Parikshit.”

One morning the women of Gokul called from outside.

“Yashomati, O Yashomati! Are you still inside the house? Are you not going to fetch water today?”

From within the house Yashoda answered, “I am going, I am going. It is already quite late today. I have not even been able to feed my little boy yet. Here, my child, here! Are you hungry, my dear? Will you drink milk? Don’t cry, child, don’t cry. There, there, there now. I am coming, coming. You all go ahead, I will feed Kanai a little and come.”

The women replied, “All right, all right. Calm your little one first. We will wait at the riverbank till then.”

Yashoda lifted her darling and said lovingly, “Get up, get up, my little one, now you will eat. Here, my jewel, I have come. Come, eat now. You must not be so naughty. First eat, or I will scold you. That’s my good boy. Is your tummy full, Kanai? Let me see, let me see your face... Oh my dear, he is yawning again!”

Then all at once she cried out, “Oh dear! Kanai! Kanai! What did I see!”

Hearing her, others rushed in.

“What happened, Queen? What happened? What happened to Kanai, Maharaj? What did I see!”

Nanda asked anxiously, “What did you see? Was it something bad?”

Yashoda stammered, “In Kanai’s mouth... yes, in Kanai’s mouth...”

“What? Speak, Queen, speak!”

“Kanai was lying in my lap, drinking milk, and then he yawned. Just now, when I looked into his mouth...”

“What did you see, Yashoda? What was in Kanai’s mouth?”

Yashoda said in wonder and fear, “In his, in his little open mouth, I saw the deep blue sky. In it, in it were countless stars, planets, the moon, the sun, so many worlds moving there, people, animals, trees, plants! What did I see inside that mouth, King? I have never, never seen such a thing before. Tell me, has some new trouble come again?”

Nanda tried to calm her. “No, no, why should there be trouble, Queen? This is not any trouble. You saw wrongly.”

Yashoda at once protested, “What are you saying, Maharaj? I saw it clearly with my own eyes!”

Nanda hesitated. “No, no, mistaken... I did not see...”

“As long as Kanai kept his mouth open, I saw it clearly. Some demon must have come and sat inside his mouth again. Please do some peace ritual, King. Let no harm come to my child.”

Nanda said softly, “All right, all right, fine, fine. Do not worry so much. Everything will be all right. You go now, go spend a little time with those women. I will watch Kanai. Father and son will play now, we will have fun, isn’t it so, Kan... nai?”

Listening to this, King Parikshit exclaimed, “How wonderful! So Mother Yashoda saw the Lord’s universal form before my grandfather Arjuna did, holy sage?”

Shukadeva replied, “Yes, King, you are right. But Arjuna understood it, while Mother Yashoda did not. A mother’s heart is always restless for her child’s well-being. She thought perhaps some new danger had appeared again. In fear and worry she became completely upset.”

Parikshit asked, “Tell me, father, did Nanda also understand nothing, Brahmarshi?”

Shukadeva answered, “I already told you, King, all the events of Krishna’s divine play are arranged by Yogamaya herself. So forgetfulness under her influence is very natural. No miracle can stay in memory for long. It will be forgotten. Nanda forgot. They continued to raise the child in a very ordinary way.”

Little Krishna and Balaram were very close. Everyone in Gokul called Balaram simply Ram. As time passed, the two brothers grew a little older. When Yashoda’s darling learned to crawl, Rohini’s darling was trying to stand on his shaky feet. Both of them picked up dust and put it into their mouths. Yashoda and Rohini would cry out in surprise. The two mothers had no rest all day. And there was no end to the boys’ mischief either.

One day Yashoda cried out, “Kanai, what have you done? What broke? What was that sound? Oh mother, what have you done? What will happen now?”

Rohini came quickly. “Did you see this, sister?”

“What happened, sister? Why are you shouting so much? What happened now?”

Yashoda pointed in distress. “Just look, tell me what I should do now with this naughty boy. I had boiled milk and kept it in that pot. I was going to take it away after finishing my work. He pushed the pot so hard that it broke, and the milk spilled everywhere. Now tell me, how will I make butter?”

Rohini smiled and said, “Oh, what happened after all? Little boys do such things. Do you think your Kanai did it knowingly?”

Yashoda shook her head. “Let it be, sister, do not encourage him anymore. Because of all your indulgence, Kanai has become too naughty. This time I will beat him. Just wait, you wicked boy, if I do not give you a good spanking...”

Rohini protested, “What are you doing, Yashoda? What are you doing? Will you beat that milk-fed baby? Have you gone mad?”

“What else can I do except beat him? Yesterday he spoiled black Suchandra’s pot of butter in the same way. Think how much loss the poor woman suffered.”

Rohini replied, “You beat him yesterday too. What happened then? The child cried so much, and you cried even more than he did. Then while trying to calm him, you were exhausted. That boy does not forget so easily. Let it be, Yashoda, do not beat him. Ah, Kanai’s body is so soft. My dear one is like cotton.”

Yashoda’s voice softened. “You are right, sister. If I hold him a little tightly, finger marks seem to appear on his body. The palms of his hands and the bottoms of his feet turn bright red. I have not seen such a child in any other house in Gokul, sister. Why is only mine like this?”

Rohini said affectionately, “That has turned out well for you, sister. You can dress Kanai up however you like. Tell me, does he not look bright and beautiful? Just think, when you put anklets on his feet, on those soft little feet... and those bangles on his hands... and when he shakes his head and that tied-up tuft of hair moves, how lovely Kanai looks!”

Yashoda smiled. “You are right, sister. I get more joy in dressing Kanai than in dressing myself. After dressing him, I keep turning him around and looking at him. You know, a mother’s eye can be dangerous too. To protect him even from my own gaze, I put a black mark on him, sister.”

Rohini laughed and hugged Krishna. “And you were going to beat Kanai so much! Listen, do not touch him at all. He is my treasure from seven kings, my one Kanai. No, no, child, I have scolded your mother. She will not beat you anymore. Now we will drink milk, we will eat curd, right? We will eat. Come, come.”

Then, as if speaking from the heart, she said, “It is in this love that he melts everything, sister. The child has been born carrying the love of many births. I feel so afraid. Will I be able to keep him tied to me like this? O Lord, protect him. Let there be no thorn in this happiness.”

Elder brother Balaram was calm by nature. He never stole milk, ghee, butter, or cream. He asked for them and ate. Whatever his mother gave, he was satisfied with that. So Rohini stayed free of worry about her son.

But Yashoda’s troubles never ended. She was worn out by Krishna’s mischief. The bigger her darling grew, the more new mischief he learned every day. The neighbor women came to complain too. But when she looked at that innocent, enchanting face, she could not be strict with him at all.

One day the neighboring women came together and called loudly from outside.

“Hey, Queen Yashoda, are you at home? Come out, come out. Listen to what your dear darling has done.”

“Where, where, where is that boy? Let me catch him once, then I will show him how much power he has! Good heavens, he is not a boy at all, he is a robber, a real robber!”

Yashoda came out and said, “What is it, all of you? Come, come inside.”

One of them replied, “No, Queen, we have not come as guests to your house. We have come to tell you of the deeds of your precious jewel. He has left us no respect or honor at all. Such a tiny boy, and so much mischief hidden in him! Tell me, do you not have any rope in your house? Can you not tie him up? Then at least we may get some peace.”

Yashoda asked, “You have come to complain about Kanai? Why? What has he done?”

A gopi threw up her hands. “What has he done, you ask? Tell us, what has he not done! Even before we could milk the cows, he untied all the calves and let them loose, do you know that? We got no milk at all today. What will we take to market tomorrow?”

Another said, “Oh Queen, are you shocked by only this? Listen to more. He went into our houses and took out pots of butter from hidden places. Then he called all the monkeys and langurs of Gokul and fed them that butter, do you understand?”

“What!”

“What else should I say, Queen! He leaves our pots of milk, curd, cream, and sweet kheer completely broken and ruined. Your son has made a whole gang with all the children of his age. He himself has become the leader. Together they climb into house after house and create trouble everywhere. It is becoming unbearable.”

Yashoda still could not believe it. “No, I cannot accept everything you are saying. Yes, Kanai is a little naughty, that is true, but he only does these things in his own house. He does not harm others. My son is not like that. You must be mistaken.”

“Mistaken? We saw it with our own eyes, and still you say we are mistaken? So we have come all the way to your house to tell lies, is that what you mean?”

“No, no, why would it be lies? But why do you not keep your pots of curd and butter hidden? Such a small boy cannot reach high places.”

One gopi answered at once, “You think we have not done that? Can your son be stopped? With a group of boys, he makes one climb on another’s back, then another on top of him. Oh! In this way they make themselves as tall as a big ladder. Your treasure stands right at the top with a stick, breaks the pot, and eats the butter. Do you understand?”

Another added, “Do you know? If he does not get butter, out of anger he leaves the whole room in a mess. Not a single house is safe from your son’s mischief, Yashoda. If all our milk and curd are spoiled, how will we live? Tell me, what will we feed our children? How will we earn any money? Day by day his wild mischief is increasing. Stop your Kanai, Yashoda. We are warning you for your own good.”

Yashoda frowned and said, “Are you really telling the truth? My Kanai, my Kanai does such things? Fine, then call him. Let him say for himself whether it is true.”

One of them said, “Is he even here? He has probably gone again to steal butter from someone’s house!”

Yashoda called sharply, “Kanai, Kanai, come out. Come quickly, I say!”

Soon Krishna came, innocent-faced and bright-eyed.

“Mother, were you calling me?”

Yashoda said, “Here, here is Kanai. What have they come to say? Have you gone to their houses and scattered their milk, curd, butter, and cream everywhere? Do you steal in other people’s houses? Do you spoil their things? Shame on you! Why, why, unlucky boy? Do I not feed you?”

Krishna answered at once, “Mother, they are telling lies. Mother, I did not do any of that. Believe me.”

The women cried out, “What did you say?”

“Oh dear, what a boy this is! He turns day into night before our eyes!”

“Oh shameless one! He just lied!”

“Oh dear, oh dear! Now he is calling us liars too!”

Yashoda asked sternly, “What? So you did not go to their houses? You did not break their butter pots?”

Krishna blinked and said sweetly, “When would I go, Mother? I stay with you all day. Only in the evening I go to play by the Yamuna. I do not go anywhere else, Mother.”

One of the gopis pointed at him. “There is still butter stuck on your hands! Your feet are full of dust! You have just now run all over Gokul, and still you say this!”

Another said, “See, Yashoda, see how he has been caught red-handed.”

Yashoda’s face became red with shame. “Look! Shame on you, Kanai! Are you answering elders with lies? Did I teach you this? Come, today I will not feed you. Because of you I have been disgraced. Today I will tie you up. Come, you naughty boy, come!”

Krishna cried, “I did nothing, Mother. Please listen, I did nothing at all. Let me go, Mother.”

But Yashoda was firm. “Come! No, today I will not let you off at all. Come, come here. Stop, I say!”

Krishna ran, and Krishna’s mother ran after him. In Yashoda’s hand was a stick. She held it high. If she could catch him even once, she would break it on his back today. Krishna ran and looked back at his mother, and fear showed on his face. He kept rubbing his two eyes, and the kohl in them became smeared all over.

At last Yashoda became tired. She was a little heavy-bodied. And Krishna was so small. He was darting away like an arrow. How could Yashoda keep up with him? She became exhausted. The garland on her head slipped off. Sweat ran down her body.

And just then, the boy came within his mother’s reach.

King Parikshit asked in wonder, “What a strange thing! How did Yashoda catch that clever boy when she was so tired?”

Shukadeva replied, “She did not catch him, the Lord let himself be caught. He saw that his devotee was suffering. This is the one place where even the Lord himself becomes soft. He cannot bear the suffering of his devotee. Without knowing it, Yashoda was trying to catch him himself, so he could not stay away any longer. He gave himself up. If anyone truly tries to catch him with such one-pointed love, he lets himself be caught.”

Parikshit said softly, “Yes, King, I understand, holy sage. Now I understand what one-pointed devotion means. Tell me, Acharyadev, what did Mother Yashoda do after catching Shri Krishna? Did she beat him with that stick?”

Shukadeva answered, “No, King, she did not beat him. The boy looked at her with such frightened eyes after being caught that the mother’s heart melted completely. She threw away the stick from her hand. Ah, if she beat him with the stick, it would hurt him badly. But she still had to punish him. Otherwise she would not be able to show her face to the women of the neighborhood. So Yashoda decided that she would tie Kanai up.”

Looking here and there, Yashoda saw a mortar. In that tall vessel she ground grain. Without delaying, she began to tie Kanai to that mortar.

“You will stay tied here. Until your mischief goes away, this will be your punishment. Because of you, I can no longer... Ah, this rope is too short. Wait, I am bringing more rope. I will tie you for sure. Here, now this time I can surely tie you. Now I will... Oh! Even now it is not enough!”

One of the women said in amazement, “O Queen Yashoda, there is no use trying to tie him anymore. To tie your one-arm-length boy, you brought such a huge rope, and still it is short by two fingers each time. He cannot be tied, dear.”

Yashoda answered stubbornly, “What do you mean, cannot be tied? If needed, I will bring all the rope in the whole village, and still I will tie him. Can he keep throwing dust into my eyes again and again?”

But one cannot tie him just by saying so. No matter how much Mother Yashoda tried, adding rope after rope, it always fell short by two fingers. The same thing happened every time. Such a tiny boy, such a thin waist. Yet Yashoda could not tie him at all.

But the moment Yashoda stopped in wonder and frustration, the Lord was at once tied by the rope of his devotee.

At last she said, “There, now it is done. Stay here now. Let me see how you make mischief now.”

Krishna pleaded, “O Mother, I will not be naughty anymore. Please untie me, Mother. It hurts me.”

Yashoda said, “Let it hurt. If I do not keep you tied, I will have no peace. Now see for yourself what happens when you make mischief.”

Then she went away.

As soon as Mother Yashoda left, Krishna became quiet again. With restless eyes he began looking around for something. As he searched, his eyes fell on two Arjuna trees. The two trees stood side by side. Looking at them, Krishna seemed to think of something.

Then, dragging the mortar with him while still tied, he moved toward them.

The gap between the two Arjuna trees was too narrow for the mortar to pass through. Rope-bound Krishna came through to the other side, but the mortar got stuck there sideways. Then Krishna gave a very strong pull.

At that sudden jerk, the two huge Arjuna trees were torn up with branches, leaves, trunk, and roots and fell with a terrible crash.

At once, from inside those two trees, two shining divine beings came out and bowed flat on the ground before the child.

Parikshit said in amazement, “What are you saying! Who were those two men, Acharyadev? Why had they become trees?”

Shukadeva replied, “Those two were Nalakuvara and Manigriva. They were the two sons of Kubera. They had come to this condition because of a curse from the divine sage Narada. The Lord himself delivered them.”

Parikshit asked, “What wrong had they done, holy sage?”

Shukadeva said, “They had become proud. Because of their beauty and high birth, they respected no one. After all, their father was Kubera himself, and above that they were attendants of Lord Rudra. In that pride they thought themselves equal to Vishnu. One day the divine sage Narada saw Nalakuvara and Manigriva drunk with pride and wine, and he became greatly displeased. He rebuked them and said, ‘The children of the gods must have divine qualities, otherwise they have no place in heaven. There is no place here for proud ones like you. Be born as trees for your own purification. No movement, no speech, everything will stop.’”

The two brothers begged, “We have done wrong, divine sage. Please do not give such a harsh punishment. Forgive us, Lord. We will do whatever you say. But, but please take back this curse and show us mercy.”

Narada said, “No, Manigriva, my curse will take effect. You will not escape it. You must receive this punishment.”

They asked, “Is there no way to be saved, Lord?”

Narada replied, “There is. You will remain as trees for one hundred years. But by my blessing, your memory of your past will remain. After a hundred years, by the touch of Lord Vasudeva, you will be freed.”

Shukadeva continued, “After cursing Nalakuvara and Manigriva, the divine sage Narada went to perform penance at the Nara-Narayana ashram. And Kubera’s two sons were born in Gokul as twin Arjuna trees. Since they always stood together, the people of Gokul called them Yamala-Arjuna.”

Then he asked, “Now do you understand, King, why those two trees were there?”

Parikshit said, “Yes, yes, holy sage, I understand. The Lord himself came and gave liberation. What could be more desirable in life than that, Acharyadev?”

Shukadeva replied, “Either one must feel regret for one’s own actions, or one must come under the eye of a great soul. Only then is change possible.”

Parikshit said, “Truly, holy sage, even the curse of great souls is as blessed as their blessing. Tell me, Acharyadev, what was happening in Gokul then? Please tell me.”

The two divine beings, freed from the form of trees, bowed to the child Narayan and gained release.

Meanwhile, hearing the terrible crash of the two great trees falling, King Nanda came running. The people of Gokul came running with him.

“What happened? What happened? What caused such a loud sound? Nothing terrible has happened, has it, Maharaj?”

Nanda looked and said, “Look there, those two Yamala-Arjuna trees have been torn right up from the ground. That is why there was such a loud sound.”

Someone said, “That is true! Who uprooted those two trees? It is not possible to uproot two such old and huge trees like this. Has some demon come again?”

“It may be so, King. Otherwise, otherwise who could do this?”

Then a child cried out, “No, no demon came. Look there, look, Kanai is tied to the mortar. Pulling the mortar, he has brought these two trees down.”

The elders were stunned. “What are you saying? Can that ever be possible?”

Another child insisted, “But I saw it with my own eyes. Two great men came out of the trees. Do you know how beautiful they looked? They went before Kanai. Then, then they vanished somewhere.”

Some of the grown men shook their heads. “Maharaj, do not believe such words. They are children, who knows what they saw. This is surely the work of some evil spirit. Let no fresh trouble come to Gokul again. There was never such unrest before.”

Another said, “You are right. Gokul is becoming a very dangerous place now. Maharaj, please think of some way, for the good of us all.”

Nanda said thoughtfully, “Hmm, that is what I see too. Come, my child Kanai, who tied you up like this? Was it your mother? Come, come, come, let me untie your rope.”

As soon as Krishna was freed, he complained sweetly, “See, Father, Mother punished me for nothing at all. I did nothing, I am telling the truth, Father.”

Nanda smiled and said, “No, child, one should not speak like that. If you did nothing, why would your mother tie you up? Does your mother not suffer too? You must have done something. Do not do it again. But now behave yourself like a good boy.”

Until now everything had somehow gone on as before. Even after Putana, Trinavarta, Shakatasura, and many other troubles, the people of Gokul had not felt so much fear. But after the fall of the Yamala-Arjuna trees, everyone in Gokul became truly frightened.

Their worry began to grow. Was it safe to live in a place where so many disasters were happening, along with their families? This thought made them all restless.

Among the people of Braj there was an elderly man named Upananda. He was wise and practical, and he had foresight. In every trouble and danger, King Nanda used to take advice from him. This time too, the men of Gokul gathered around him.

Upananda said, “You are right. I too understand the danger in Gokul. Especially this son of King Nanda keeps escaping death again and again. Shri Hari is protecting him. But if this goes on, how long before some real danger happens? No, no, it will not be right to stay here.”

Someone said, “But we have lived here for so long. With so many cows and buffaloes, where will we go? And where is there such a large place?”

Upananda replied, “I have thought of that too, Maharaj. And while thinking, I have found such a place. The grass there, the soil, the water, the air, the hills, the woods, everything is very beautiful. It is full of greenery. Our cows and buffaloes will live happily there. And in such lovely nature, we too will live well.”

Nanda asked, “Is that so? Is there really such a place? Where? Let me hear too. Where is that place? What is its name?”

Upananda answered, “It is not very far from Gokul. If we go along the bank of the Yamuna, it is quite near. The name of that place is Vrindavan. Now, now if all of you agree, then it would be wise to move there.”

At once the men said, “Yes, we will go there. We will go. No more delay. As soon as possible. What does Maharaj Nanda say?”

Nanda declared, “My opinion is the same as everyone’s. We will go to Vrindavan. Then let the arrangements for the journey begin today itself.”

“Sadhu, sadhu!”

“All right, let the cows and calves be sent ahead first. We will go behind them. All of you make the arrangements.”

One of the cowherds said, “Do not worry, Maharaj, we have arranged everything. Then, chanting Hari Hari, we will set out. Come, brothers, come, there is much work now. We must prepare for the journey to Vrindavan. Not one more moment here.”

And the men answered together, “Yes, come, brothers. Now let us go to Vrindavan.”