The Birth of Lord Krishna

Kansa stood and stared at Devaki.

He could not understand what he was seeing. Where had that thin body gone, the weak body that had been lying on the floor? Where had that dried face and pale color gone? The Devaki lying on the cloth spread over the prison floor did not seem like the same woman at all.

A strange beauty had come over her. Her face shone like the full moon. She seemed to be resting inside a circle of soft light. It even looked as if tiny particles of brightness were floating over her body.

Seeing Devaki in that glowing form, Kansa became silent and still.

In his mind, troubled thoughts rose one after another.

What is this? Am I truly seeing this? Or is this also some illusion? How did Devaki become like this? A few days ago she looked nothing like this. Is someone giving her medicine? No, no, how can that be? No one can cross my guards. Then... then is it what I am thinking? Who is coming in her eighth womb? Who?

With slow steps and a worried face, Kansa returned to his own chamber. Whatever happened, he had to uncover the mystery of Devaki. Without that, he would have no peace.

Soon he called for the royal priest.

"Victory to the great king. May good come to you."

"I heard from the chief minister that you called me."

"Come, royal priest. I have been waiting eagerly for you. I need you for something special."

"Tell me, Maharaj, do you wish to know something important?"

"You are right, priest. I do want to know. Much in my life depends on this knowing. I am restless with worry about Devaki, about Devaki. This time the princess's eighth child will be born. That divine prophecy had become much fainter in my mind. But... but today, after seeing Devaki today... You know, royal priest, who is coming in Devaki's eighth womb? Do you know?"

The priest bowed his head.

"Forgive me, Maharaj. I only worship the gods. I am not a god myself. I do not have the power to answer your question. No one except a perfected sage can give this answer, Maharaj."

Kansa gave a hard laugh.

"Sage or monk or rishi, I do not believe in gods. Kansa shapes his own fate. No great warrior can be frightened by the tricks of illusion, royal priest."

"Then why are you so worried, Maharaj?" the priest asked gently. "Why are you so anxious about Devaki's unborn child? You are a great warrior."

"That is what I do not understand, priest. I have never seen such beauty in Devaki before. Is this also some divine illusion? Or... or has that Hari entered her womb? How did Devaki... Devaki change so much?"

The priest replied, "Do not be so restless, Maharaj. Let the right time come. Then everything will become clear. Now please allow me to return home, Maharaj."

After the royal priest left, Kansa sat alone in his room. He began to think and think. The old prophecy from eight years earlier would not leave him. It seemed to follow him everywhere.

King Parikshit asked, "After seeing this change in Devaki, did Kansa want to kill her, revered sage?"

Shukadeva Goswami replied, "Yes, Parikshit. Kansa wanted to kill Devaki. But he could not."

"Why could he not? Did some miracle happen?"

"No, nothing happened. But Kansa had never killed a woman. And Devaki was also his sister. She was pregnant too. Kansa knew that if he killed a woman in such a state, then in the eyes of dharma he would become a great sinner."

"So Kansa had some sense of dharma, revered sage?"

Shukadeva answered, "Everyone fears the next world. Kansa was no exception. So even after much thought, he could do no harm to Devaki. Besides, Vasudeva was keeping his word. He was handing over every child to Kansa. Then by what reason would Kansa kill Devaki? No, he could not do that."

Then Shukadeva continued, "But as Kansa kept thinking about Devaki's eighth child, many changes began to appear in his mind."

Parikshit asked, "What change came in Kansa, revered sage?"

"Kansa became completely sure that God Himself was coming in Devaki's eighth womb. From then on he began to think all the time about God. But his thoughts were only about how to harm Him. That was what filled Kansa's mind."

"Still, then he had begun to think of God."

"Yes, he had. But there was no devotion in it at all, Parikshit. There was only fear, and fear alone. Kansa could no longer set his mind on walking, on work, on anything. He had only one thought at all times—Shri Hari. He fell into terrible fear. He began to see the shadow of Shri Hari on all sides. It was as if all five senses had gone still. In his world then, there was no one except Narayan."

Kansa's thoughts became wild and broken.

What is happening to me? Why do I see the image of Narayan everywhere? Why does nothing enter my eyes except that blue color? I do not want it. No, I do not want it. I do not want to see any of this. Hari, your illusion can do nothing to me. Devaki's eighth womb will bring your destruction, Kansa. The eighth womb, the eighth womb, remember the eighth womb. Again, again that voice! Again those words! No, no, all this is false, all this is illusion, all this, all this... But why does that blue color want to swallow me like the sea? Am I... am I going mad? No. Until Devaki's eighth child is born, I must be patient. This time I must place spies in front of the prison. I want every bit of news from there.

Parikshit then asked, "But if someone thinks of Shri Hari all the time, then his sins should not remain. He should become full of Hari. Then why was Kansa such a sinner, Acharyadeva?"

Shukadeva said, "A person gains Him in the way he wishes to gain Him. That itself is his practice. God Himself says this in the Gita. Kansa thought of Him as an enemy. So he received Narayan as an enemy. And if someone wants to keep enmity alive, then he must keep doing sin, Parikshit. Still, yes, by thinking of Him day and night, Kansa did gain one merit."

"What merit, revered sage? Tell me."

"The time of his liberation had come nearer. That too is no small merit, O King. But I will tell that story later. Now listen, Parikshit, to the dark prison of Vasudeva and Devaki."

At that time, in the prison, the gods were coming down one by one in subtle forms. The guards could not see them. No one can see the gods unless the gods themselves wish it. They keep themselves hidden. Only Vasudeva and Devaki knew that they had come.

Parikshit asked, "Did the gods come to protect Devaki's womb, revered sage?"

Shukadeva said, "No, O King. They had not come to take charge of Devaki's safe delivery. They came to praise that endless Narayan in Devaki's womb. One day Mahadev Himself came, and with Him came Prajapati Brahma and Devarshi Narad. Kansa's prison became filled with light. Those gods in subtle bodies came and bowed before Devaki's womb."

Devaki trembled.

"That great Lord, that Supreme One, Lord of Kailash, God of gods, Mahadev! If you bow, then I will become a sinner, Lord. I am blessed by your sight, Lord."

Mahadev said, "We have come to bow to your divine womb. The Supreme Being of all creation has Himself entered your womb, and it is to Him that we have come to bow, Mother."

Narada said, "Narayan, Narayan. You are truth itself, the Supreme Lord beyond all qualities. I am eager, Lord, to fill my eyes with the sight of Your human form."

Then Brahma prayed, "O lotus-eyed Narayan, the navel from which I came is my only shelter. The living world knows me as the creator. But I know that the true creator is You Yourself. You have created me too. Everyone in these three worlds is made strong by Your power. With that holy power of Yours, destroy evil, Lord."

Narada again spoke with deep devotion, "O Supreme Soul, again and again You come down in human form for the good of creation. Without devotion at Your feet, liberation can never be gained. Ah, once again the marks of Your feet will fall upon the earth. If only I could become the dust of the earth! Ah, how blessed the earth is! Narayan, Narayan."

Then the gods addressed Devaki.

"Do not be afraid anymore, Mother. This time the Supreme Lord Himself is coming with all His divine glory. He is not only an avatar. This time God Himself is coming, Mother. He will save Mathura from the cruel Kansa, and He will rescue all the souls who long for freedom. That day is not far. In this child of yours is Shri Hari, purifier of the fallen. I bow to Him."

Then Mahadev, Brahma, and Devarshi Narad disappeared. The divine light in the prison went out. Devaki and Vasudeva sat in silent wonder.

In Devaki's heart arose a soft prayer.

If I die after this child is born, even then I will have no sorrow. I will look at him once with all my heart. Then every lack in my life will disappear. I will want nothing more.

Vasudeva looked at her with pain and tenderness.

"What are you saying, Devaki? You bore so much pain for so many years. Now when the Lord of joy Himself is coming, you speak of dying? Will you not see that divine play with your own eyes?"

Devaki answered softly, "Will I have that much good fortune, that much blessing? Will I truly be able to keep him near me? My heart does not feel so."

Vasudeva said, "Have patience, gentle-faced one. Only a few more days. Everything will be all right. Listen to me, all will be well. This time all will be well. Do you not see how calm nature is becoming? There is a strange stillness now. It is as if everything has stopped and gone deep within itself. They are quietly filling with joy. Can you not hear it everywhere?"

Soon that sacred moment arrived. It was the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadra. In the sky shone the Rohini star.

Parikshit asked, "How did the earth look that day, Acharyadeva?"

Shukadeva said, "It was full of flowers and fruits like a young girl in new youth. Flowers that were not meant to bloom at that time bloomed on the trees. In homes where happiness and peace had never entered, even there a pure calm seemed to fall. New leaves came out on the branches of trees. The waters of the rivers and the sea suddenly grew stronger. A soft spring breeze began to blow on all sides."

"So nature had gone beyond its usual way? Can such a thing really happen?"

"No, such a thing does not happen often. But this day was unlike any other day, O King. On this day waves of divine presence spread everywhere. So there was no grief anywhere, no sorrow anywhere. Everything seemed sweet. The sacred fire of yoga that Kansa had put out was lit again among the Brahmins."

In Mathura, the people too felt the change. They began to speak to one another in wonder.

"Does today not feel very strange? It feels as if there is no danger anywhere. It feels as if our happiness cannot be held back."

"You feel like that too? I thought I alone was thinking these strange things."

"It is amazing, truly amazing. Tell me, what happened today? Under Kansa's rule we have never felt such joy."

"Yes, that is true. Say, is Princess Devaki going to be a mother again? That is what I heard."

"Maybe, but what does that have to do with today?"

"Have you forgotten that eighth womb? Do you not remember that divine prophecy on the day of the princess's wedding eight years ago?"

"Why, we all heard it."

"You are right."

"Is this house that—"

"Speak softly. Do you not know the king's spies roam everywhere?"

"Yes, now it really feels as if God has turned His face toward the princess's eighth womb. God has turned His face toward it."

Full of deep feeling, the two people of Mathura returned to their homes. But not only they—throughout the whole city there seemed to be a strange excitement that day.

Before long, evening came.

Parikshit said, "Tell me in detail about that evening, revered sage."

Shukadeva replied, "After evening, nature seemed to grow more and more silent. Thick black clouds and deep darkness spread all around. The dark prison became even darker. Evening then leaned into night. In the light of the prison lamp, Vasudeva saw that Devaki's womb had become greatly expanded. Yet there was not even the slightest sign of labor pain on Devaki's face. Then Vasudeva understood the real reason. Purifying his body and mind, he sat beside Devaki."

He spoke to her gently.

"Devaki, Devaki, are you in pain? I have spread this cloth I am wearing. You... you lie down here. Come, I will fan you a little."

Devaki answered, "No, no, why should you? I... I am not in pain at all. Is it... is it very late at night now?"

"Yes, Devaki, it is now very late. I am awake. You rest."

Tired, Devaki closed her eyes. The whole world became even more silent.

And just then, breaking through the deep darkness, a soft bright light spread through the prison.

Amazed, Vasudeva saw that this strange light was coming from Devaki's womb. In that shining light, the eastern wall of the prison lit up. Vasudeva could only stare with wide eyes.

Whom am I seeing? Who has come forth from Devaki's womb and is standing here? Narayan Himself in a four-armed form, taking the shape of a child!

In His four hands were conch, discus, mace, and lotus. His two long eyes were like lotus petals. His body was blue like the sky. He looked unspeakably beautiful in yellow cloth. There was no compare anywhere for the smile upon His face.

Vasudeva cried out, "Our, our child has come as Narayan Himself! Narayan, Narayan!"

Seeing that most beautiful radiance and that wonderful form, Vasudeva became filled with wonder and joy. God Himself had been born as his son. At once he thought of giving one hundred thousand cows in charity to the Brahmins.

As he gazed in deep amazement at that child-form of Narayan, all fear, excitement, and worry slowly left his mind. Gradually he regained calm. Folding his hands before that divine form, he began to pray.

"O Narayan, You are beyond nature, beyond the three qualities, the very form of bliss. That bliss cannot be seen with the eyes; it can only be felt. You are pure consciousness. O Supreme Person, O beginningless Lord, I remember You, Lord. I am very small, very lowly. I never thought, Lord, that I would receive something so great. This whole universe has come from You, and into You it will again disappear. But You Yourself do nothing. You are only the witness. You have no beginning, no end, no action, no quality, no title. O Janardan, O Lord of Vaikuntha, we are so poor and helpless—with what shall we worship You, Lord? With what?"

The divine child spoke.

"Vasudeva, Devaki, I have not come to receive your worship. Give Me your love and affection as parents. I want nothing else."

Vasudeva bowed his head again.

"O Lord, You are the very Brahman of truth, consciousness, and bliss. I do not know, Lord, how I can think of You as my own child. I truly do not know. Even now I cannot believe my own eyes. What I am seeing, I... I truly... He who is the shelter of countless universes—am I to give shelter to Him? I... I am speechless. How is this possible? How is it possible?"

The Lord said, "The form you are seeing is true. I am that four-armed Narayan. I am the eternal being. I have come as your son. But this is not the first time. I was your son before too."

Vasudeva said in wonder, "Wonderful! Did we have such great fortune? Such great penance?"

"Do you remember your previous birth, Vasudeva? You were the sage Sutapa, and Devaki was Prishni. I came to you in three births one after another. I had given you that promise, and to keep that promise true, I have now taken birth. The people of the world will know Me as Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva."

Vasudeva's face changed with worry.

"But Lord, if that wicked Kansa comes to know, he will destroy this new form of Yours. Before this sin he has already killed my six children. You... you keep Yourself far from Kansa's eyes, Lord, far away. I will not be able to bear any harm to You, Lord. I will not."

The child Lord answered, "Do not worry, blessed one. Kansa can do Me no harm. Unless I wish it, no one can even touch Me."

Vasudeva continued, his voice trembling with pain for the suffering world.

"Kansa is not the only sinner, Lord. There are many cruel rulers like him. They have much power, many soldiers. Out of fear of those soldiers, people remain helpless. They are forced to suffer every cruelty in silence. There is no one to destroy them. You, You destroy all those wicked ones, Lord, destroy them."

The Lord said, "I have come to destroy sinners and protect the good, Vasudeva. Your days of sorrow too will end. I will destroy all evil in the world."

Then Vasudeva made another plea.

"Lord, please hide this four-armed form of Yours. Come to us as a real newborn child, Lord. Here, here no one must know Your true form. Fear of Kansa has made my mind restless, O Lord. Please hide Yourself now, Lord."

"Very well, so it shall be. I am coming to you in the form of a child. You will meditate on this divine form of Mine. And you will love My child-form as your son."

Devaki and Vasudeva, both overwhelmed, spoke again.

"We do not have the fate to raise You, Lord. How can we keep You in this prison? Kansa himself comes down and carries away my children. No, do not keep me here. Take me and hide me somewhere far away. Then Kansa will not even know about me."

Vasudeva added, "Lord, where shall I take You? And what answer shall I give Kansa then? Please tell me by Your grace, Lord."

The Lord instructed him.

"Listen, Vasudeva, you must take Me to Gokul. There, a child has been born from the womb of the cowherd woman Yashoda. Leave Me beside her and bring that child here."

Vasudeva looked toward the prison gate.

"Not even a fly can pass through this prison. How can I carry You out past such hard guards, Lord?"

"Do not worry, Vasudeva. You will be able to carry Me away safely. May good come to you."

After giving courage to Vasudeva and Devaki, the four-armed Narayan took the form of an infant. The divine light of His body vanished. His weapons and precious ornaments too seemed to disappear in a moment. Beside Devaki, on that cloth, a newborn baby cried out in a faint voice.

At once Vasudeva lifted him to his chest and quieted him.

And at that very moment, the knowledge that he was God vanished from the minds of Vasudeva and Devaki. The dark little child kept a finger in his mouth and looked in wonder at his father.

Shukadeva said, "Yes, that son of Vasudeva had a very dark complexion. There was deep sweetness in his two eyes. But they had no time to notice such things. No matter what, this child had to be taken across the Yamuna."

Parikshit asked, "Why was God born at midnight, Acharyadeva? Is there any special reason?"

Shukadeva said, "Narayan Himself is the great yogi. He is the Lord of yoga. That is why He is also called Yogeshwar. Midnight is the best time for the practice of yogis, Parikshit. Yogis do not sleep. Their wakefulness is called yogic awakening. That may be why Shri Hari chose midnight. Or perhaps another reason was that it would be easier to carry Him away at night. Who can know His purpose, O King?"

Parikshit bowed his head. "I understand, revered sage. The reasons behind God's acts cannot be judged. Please tell me about that night, Lord."

Outside, a great storm and heavy rain had begun. Thunder crashed again and again, and lightning flashed more fiercely across the sky. Vasudeva held his son tightly to his chest. Devaki was full of worry for the child.

What if he cried again? What if the guards heard?

In the hearts of Devaki and Vasudeva there was now only parental love. They no longer even remembered Narayan.

In Devaki's heart, one painful thought rose again and again.

My heart does not want to let the child go. I know I will not be able to keep him. He must be taken far away from Kansa's shadow. If Kansa can find my son in Gokul, then... then who will save him?

Vasudeva said, "Have you thought, Devaki? There is no time to think of that now. If he stays here, by tomorrow morning this child may die in Kansa's hands. No, no, it is far more important to leave him in Gokul. There is no safer place than the house of Nandagopa in Gokul. I have already sent Rohini there. Now if someone—"

Devaki interrupted in fear, "But that is very far. And the Yamuna lies in between. How can the baby be left there in only a few hours? And besides, besides..."

"Devaki, I have no other way. I must go, storm or no storm. Only in Nanda's house can the child live. Somehow I must take him there. Only this chain on my feet—how will that—"

Suddenly he stopped and looked down.

"Devaki, look, look! The chains on my feet have opened by themselves! What is happening, Devaki?"

"No, no, no more talking. Let whatever is happening happen. Before someone sees, you must find a way out from here at once."

The iron chains had indeed opened by themselves.

Shukadeva said, "Yes, Maharaj, they did. Only the day before that, Kansa's spies had come and tightened Vasudeva's chains even more. But as soon as he took that child in his arms, the chains became loose. At last they fell away like dry leaves."

But Vasudeva paid no attention to that wonder. Devaki quickly tore a piece from her own cloth and wrapped it around the baby.

Then she said, "Wait a little. How will you travel so far with this milk-fed child on your chest? There, there is a wooden box lying in that corner. Lay him inside it. My jewel, my child, after how many days, when will I see you again?"

"Do not delay any more, Devaki. Be strong. This son of ours must be kept alive. Be calm, Devaki. Be a little calm."

Vasudeva laid the cloth-wrapped baby inside the wooden box. Then he held the box tightly to his chest and walked toward the prison door.

Behind him, with folded hands and a sorrowful voice, a helpless mother prayed, Protect my son. Protect him, Lord. Protect him.

There was strict guard at the prison door. Kansa had even placed spies there. Yet toward that very door Vasudeva moved. Truly, the play of God is hard to understand.

When Vasudeva came before the prison door, he was astonished. How were the doors, tightly shut with iron bars, opening one after another like this? As soon as he stood before each door with the little child pressed to his chest, that door at once opened.

Parikshit said, "I have never heard such a thing before, revered sage."

Shukadeva replied, "Such a thing had never happened before. The iron chains and iron doors of Kansa's prison all became as light as feathers."

Holding the child to his chest, Vasudeva stepped outside and stood still for a moment. Then he looked around in deep fear.

What was this? The guards who never slept were now lying in deep sleep! How was this possible? No one was awake anywhere. Except for the sound of storm and rain, there was not the least sound. It was unbelievable.

Parikshit asked, "How did this impossible thing happen, Acharyadeva? Was this truly possible too?"

Shukadeva answered, "Did I not tell you of Yogamaya, O King? She makes all impossible things happen. She herself has now taken form to complete Hari's divine play, and her power is very great. By her maya the iron chains opened, and all the guards fell asleep."

Along the path where Vasudeva walked with the newborn child in his arms, torches burned through cracks in the walls. But there were no torch-bearers.

No, no, I must not delay anymore, Vasudeva thought. The roads are empty now. In this storm and rain, I must swim across the Yamuna and go to Gokul. If I cannot return before dawn, disaster will come.

Parikshit asked, "But how did Vasudeva cross the Yamuna in that terrible storm with such a tiny child in his arms, revered sage? My heart trembles just hearing it."

Shukadeva replied, "There too, O King, a miracle happened. As soon as Vasudeva moved forward, the main gate of the prison opened. There was no one anywhere to stop him. After eight years, Vasudeva once again stood in the outer world. After eight years he raised his head and looked at the sky. But he had no time to enjoy any of this. In the dark night, sharp flashes of lightning appeared from time to time. In that light he recognized the path and quickly walked toward the Yamuna."

Parikshit asked, "Tell me, were the roads of Mathura completely empty? Were there no night-roaming wild animals there either?"

Shukadeva said, "Under the power of Yogamaya, all of Mathura was still. No people, no animals, no birds were awake anywhere. Yogamaya herself had become sleep and had put the people of Mathura to sleep. All except Vasudeva and Devaki lay unconscious in deep sleep. Whoever was wherever they were, in whatever position, they had fallen asleep there. Across the city only the loud sound of the storm could be heard."

Then Parikshit asked, "These iron chains opening by themselves, these iron doors opening by themselves—do they have any deeper meaning too, Acharyadeva?"

"Of course they do," said Shukadeva. "If you bring God and seat Him in the temple of your heart, then no chain will be able to hold you, Parikshit. You were free, and you will remain free. No bondage will be able to shake you. The way Vasudeva held Narayan close in his chest, that is complete surrender. Do you understand, O King?"

"Yes, Acharyadeva, now I understand. Unless He sits within the heart, I will not be free. I will not be released from bondage."

Shukadeva said, "If He sits within you, then you will be free from fear too, Parikshit. At the root of every unfulfilled longing is fear. Unless that fear is conquered, a human being cannot be free. One must be saved from fear both inside and outside."

On that terrible night, Vasudeva came out alone with that tiny child.

Parikshit said, "Vasudeva was a prince. His courage too was royal, was it not, O King?"

Shukadeva replied, "Not everyone becomes brave just by being a prince. Filled with divine strength, Vasudeva no longer had any fear of anything. Besides, as long as his eighth child was breathing against his chest, Vasudeva felt not the smallest fear. From a distance he could see the destructive form of the Yamuna in that great storm. But his heart did not tremble even a little."

Parikshit said, "How terrible the Yamuna could be at that time is hard for human eyes to imagine, Acharyadeva."

Shukadeva said, "The water of the Yamuna is dark. That swelling black water looked even more frightening. In the flash of lightning, Vasudeva looked once at its fearful body. He heard its roar. Then, holding his child to his chest, Vasudeva stepped into that wild water. You cannot swim with a child in your arms. So he moved forward with all his strength through the swelling water, risking his life."

Parikshit asked, "In that storm, did Yogamaya not come, revered sage? Did she not help him cross by some miracle?"

"She did come, but not Yogamaya. Anantadeva came, that is, Ananta Nag."

"Anantadeva means Balaram, the son of Rohini? How did he come there, Acharyadeva? He was still only a child then."

Shukadeva smiled gently. "The one who came to perform divine play as Ananta Nag was indeed a child. But where the Supreme Brahman Himself was in trouble, he could not remain only a child. He was born to serve that Supreme Lord. In the heavy rain, when Vasudeva was coming through that wild river with the child Narayan in his arms, Balaram in the form of Ananta Nag came to know of it. Then Anantadeva spread his hood. That thousand-hooded form spread in all directions. At that time Vasudeva was moving against the Yamuna's waters with his son in his arms. Over the head of that sorrowful father, Ananta Nag spread himself like a great covering. Under his shade, both Vasudeva and that newborn blue child found shelter and safety. The storm could no longer touch them."

Parikshit said, "But the storm was still there then, revered sage. The Yamuna herself was raging like living disaster at that time."

"Yes, the Yamuna was raging indeed," said Shukadeva. "The water rose to Vasudeva's chest, and it even seemed that the little child might be swept away. But do you know, O King, the Yamuna too was seeking a way to gain her liberation."

Parikshit was amazed. "What are you saying? Had the Yamuna too not gained release, revered sage?"

"No, O King. How can liberation come without Narayan's grace? The child-form Narayan would one day grow up and place His feet in the waters of the Yamuna, but that was still far away. But once she had Him in her lap, how could she let Vasudeva go without touching His feet? So the Yamuna became restless. She rose up to Vasudeva's chest and by that trick touched Narayan's feet. But she could not keep that form for long. She became afraid."

"The Yamuna became afraid? I have never heard that before. Why was she afraid? Afraid of what?"

"The Yamuna knew that in Narayan's earthly play she would become His queen. In that hope she always kept herself adorned. The penance of becoming the companion of an avatar is no small penance, O King. Day and night the Yamuna kept herself deep in that penance. But if Narayan became displeased by her restless form, if He did not accept her, that was why she became afraid and controlled herself."

"Then did the restless Yamuna become calm, revered sage? How did Vasudeva cross after that?"

Shukadeva said, "A strange thing happened, O King. The calm Yamuna herself made a path for Vasudeva. Just as a group of devotees returns satisfied after seeing the deity in a temple, in the same way the Yamuna bowed her head and drew back. Vasudeva saw that in some places the waters of the Yamuna had divided into two. A path ran through the middle."

Parikshit said, "You said the same thing happened in the Rama avatar, revered sage. The ocean, afraid of Ramachandra, made a way for Him to reach Lanka."

"Yes, Parikshit. Exactly that happened. Then the ocean-god lowered his head, and now the sun's daughter Yamuna lowered hers."

"Tell me, did the Yamuna wish to marry Narayan from birth?"

"The Yamuna was the daughter of Surya, the sun-god, and his wife Sanjna. Her twin brother was Yamaraj. The very pure Yamuna had performed penance for Narayan for a long time. In this Dwapar age she finally gained success. But even before that, in the play of the waves, she touched the feet of that child and became peaceful forever."

Parikshit said with delight, "Ah, the sweetness of this nectar-like Hari-katha is truly wonderful! It is endless! But please tell me more about that night, revered sage."

Shukadeva continued, "Vasudeva moved forward holding the Lord in his arms, calming the restless Yamuna. Yes, Vasudeva moved along the path in the Yamuna. In places the water touched his knees, in places his waist. There were no waves now, no pull. This time it was no longer hard for him to go. Above his head was the shade of Ananta Nag, beneath his feet was the path through Yamuna, and in his arms the child Narayan swayed."

But the frightened father could not stop to think about any of this. Only one thought filled his heart: If only he could somehow bring his eighth son safely to Gokul, then the child would no longer be in danger. Nandagopal would protect him.

Breaking through the waters of the Yamuna, Vasudeva hurried toward Gokul.

At last he reached Gokul.

That very day, in the house of Nandagopi, a daughter had been born to Yashoda. Vasudeva quietly took that baby girl in his arms, left his own son there, and came out again without anyone seeing him. Then, carrying the infant girl, he quickly set off back toward Mathura.