Chapter 1: The Disappearance at the Yamuna

"Dhabli, Harid, Kamli, can you hear me? Where are you?" Kanai called, his voice tinged with worry. But the forest, usually alive with the sounds of playful calves, offered no reply. This had never happened before. Kanai was surprised. After all, when God takes human form, He must act like a human. But deep down, He knew that nothing happened without His knowledge, even if He chose not to show it.

Parikshit, a young listener, sat with wide eyes, eager to hear more. "Do you understand, Parikshit?" asked the wise sage.

"Yes, wise sage, I understand. Please tell me what happened next in the forest, Brahmarshi," Parikshit replied eagerly.

The forest by the Yamuna stretched deep and mysterious, with the calves of Vrindavan grazing peacefully—or so they thought. Kanai ventured deeper into the forest, calling out once more, "Shridam, Sudam," but the echoes were met with silence. His dearest friends, who usually came running at the sound of his voice, were nowhere to be seen. The bustling bank of the Yamuna had turned eerily quiet.

Kanai stood, puzzled, his mind racing. Where did everyone go? The calves were missing, and so were his friends. Who could have done this? He closed his eyes, seeking the answer within. Suddenly, realization struck him. The mastermind behind this mysterious disappearance was none other than Lord Brahma himself. Brahma had taken the calves and the young cowherds, putting them to sleep with his magic.

But why? It wasn't a crime, dear king. Brahma didn't steal with bad intentions. He simply wanted to witness the divine play of Lord Hari. Enchanted by the divine plays of the supreme being, Brahma had decided to test Kanai's divine nature.

Little Kanai, upon understanding Brahma's intentions, couldn't help but smile. In his young, confident voice, he declared, "You wanted to see my play, Lord Brahma. Well, you will see a play like never before. I will become the cows, the calves, and the cowherds. Watch, Lord Brahma."

And with that, Kanai took on all those forms by himself. Yes, dear king, he created different forms just like the original ones, with the same looks, colors, and features. He returned to the village, playing as countless cows, calves, and cowherds. Each one returned to where they belonged, and everything seemed normal again. The divine play had unfolded, and Kanai had shown the world, and Brahma, the true extent of his divine power.

Chapter 2: The Divine Play Unfolds

After sending everyone home, Kanai, with a twinkle in his eye, went to sit in Mother Yashoda's lap. To the villagers, everything appeared perfectly normal. Even the wisest among them, the sages, were unaware of the divine spectacle that had just unfolded. The parents, who knew their children like the back of their hands, noticed no change. In fact, their love for their children seemed to have grown even stronger, as if a magical bond had deepened overnight.

The cows, usually content, acted as if they were seeing their calves for the first time in ages. They were wild with joy, licking their calves and giving milk with an abundance of affection. Meanwhile, the human parents were no different. They rushed to their children, hugging and cuddling them as if they had been apart for too long. But why this sudden burst of affection, you may wonder? It was all because of Kanai's divine form. The attraction of the divine is irresistible, enchanting everyone—human or animal. After all, Krishna, another name for Kanai, means attraction.

As the village carried on, unaware of the divine play, there was one curious soul who noticed something amiss. Balaram, Kanai's brother, was just a young boy of seven or eight, but he was observant beyond his years. He watched the village closely, puzzled by the strange behavior around him.

"What's happening in the village?" Balaram wondered aloud. "I can't quite understand. Why are the parents holding their older children in their laps? They're too old for that. Does Kanai know something?"

Determined to get to the bottom of it, Balaram sought out his brother. "Kanai? Kanai? Oh, Kanai," he called.

Kanai appeared with a gentle smile. "Did you call me, brother?"

"Hey Kanai, come here behind this tree. I need to talk to you," Balaram urged, pulling him aside.

"Yes, brother, what do you want to say?" Kanai asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Kanai, do you know what's happening in Vrindavan? Things aren't the same as before. Can you tell me what's going on? I'm sure you know something," Balaram pressed.

Kanai shrugged innocently. "Nothing's happened, brother. What has changed? I don't know anything."

"Don't try to fool me, Kanai. You can't trick me," Balaram insisted. "Where are all the cows, calves, and shepherd boys? I never felt so close to them before. I never felt so much love."

"You love everyone, brother. Don't I know that?" Kanai replied with a gentle smile.

"This love is different, Kanai. Why do I feel like everyone is like you? Why do I want to love everyone like I love you? Has someone cast a spell, brother? Otherwise, why would this happen?"

Kanai laughed softly. "No, Kanai. No spell can work on me. I don't get fooled by magic. You know that very well. Tell me the truth now. This is all your trick. You must have done something. Tell me what you've done."

Kanai's expression softened, and he decided to reveal the truth. "How can I fool you, brother? Do you want to hear the truth? Then listen. All the shepherd boys and calves in Gokul are actually my forms. I have become all of them, brother. That's why you feel like loving everyone so much."

Balaram's eyes widened in amazement. "Kanai? What are you saying?"

"Yes, brother, I'm telling the truth. Brahma has taken all the shepherd boys and calves from Vrindavan to test me. Now, if people couldn't see their sons, what would happen to the mothers and the cows? So I have taken all these forms myself. No one can tell the difference."

Balaram bowed his head in respect. "Bless you, Kanai, bless you, dear brother, the Supreme Being Vasudeva has become everything in this world. I bow to Lord Hari."

Meanwhile, in the realm of the gods, a year had passed in the human world, but for Brahma, it was only a few moments. Brahma, curious and eager to see the results of his test, had put the shepherd boys and calves of Braj into a magical slumber and had come to observe Vrindavan himself.

As Brahma wandered through Vrindavan, he was amazed. Everywhere he looked, shepherds played, and calves grazed. Brahma couldn't understand how the number of shepherds hadn't decreased, and the calves were just as they were before. "Where did they come from?" he mused in confusion. "I can't understand anything. I need to meditate."

Sitting down in meditation, Brahma opened his eyes of knowledge. He saw the shepherd boys and calves lying in a magical sleep, yet here they were, playing happily in Vrindavan. He couldn't figure out which group came first and which came later. His vision became muddled.

"What is this? What am I seeing? Who are these people? Who is in my heavenly world? Why can't I tell who is real and who is an illusion? My wisdom has been clouded," Brahma said to himself, bewildered. The Creator himself could not recognize his own creation, and he stood there, utterly perplexed.

Chapter 3: The Illusion Unveiled

Brahma blinked, trying to make sense of what he was witnessing. The scene before him shifted once more, confounding him further. "What am I seeing?" he muttered in disbelief. Everywhere he looked, all the creatures had turned a deep, dark blue. Even the one in the yellow robe was none other than Lord Vasudeva himself. It seemed as if there were countless images of Vasudeva surrounding him. Brahma shook his head in amazement. "This is impossible," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

In every direction, Brahma saw the flowers, the water, the leaves, the basil, the sandalwood, and even the heavenly beings, including himself, bowing in worship to these myriad forms of Vasudeva. "But I didn't come to worship," he thought, perplexed. "I came to see. Then who is this 'me' that is worshipping?"

No matter where Brahma turned his gaze, he saw only Krishna. Pride, intelligence, desire, and all other emotions stood before him, each in a different form, all paying homage to the endless Vasudevas. Overwhelmed and trembling, Brahma began to chant in his mind, "All is Vishnu, all is the world."

After his silent prayer, Brahma folded his hands and bowed deeply. At that very moment, he saw little Kanai, a boy with food in one hand, wandering through the forest, calling out for his friends and the calves.

Realizing the truth of what he had witnessed, Brahma could no longer hide. He stepped forward, his heart heavy with humility, and fell at the feet of little Kanai. "O Lord, O Supreme God, O Shri Hari, forgive me," Brahma pleaded. "I was blinded by illusion and dared to test you. Calm yourself, Brahmadev. Calm down. I forgot that I was born from you. My home is on your navel. You are my God, and I forgot that. Lord, forgive me, Narayan."

Krishna, with a gentle smile, replied, "Forgive me. You were born from the quality of passion, so you were caught in illusion. Let that illusion go away now. May your wisdom return, Brahmadev. I am returning all the cowherd boys and calves of Vrindavan to you. Lord, be pleased with me. Knowing I have surrendered to you, forgive me, Narayan."

With a nod of reassurance, Krishna said, "May it be so." And with the blessing of Shri Hari, Brahma returned all the cowherd boys and calves from the heavenly realm back to Vrindavan. They resumed their places in the forest, joyfully continuing their picnic.

When Kanai returned with the calves, his friends cheered, "Hey Kanai, you're back? So soon. Come, come, come, we haven't eaten yet. What food will you give us? We're very hungry. Here, here, eat well. Yes, eat well."

As they made their way back from the banks of the Yamuna, they noticed the skin of Aghasura lying at the corner. They chatted excitedly among themselves, "Wasn't that snake huge? I couldn't even tell it was a snake! We're so lucky Kanai was there, right?" another boy added, "Yes, truly lucky Kanai was there."

Back in the village, everyone spoke of the giant snake, Aghasura, sharing tales of how Kanai had saved them. The joy spread like sunlight, warming every heart as they gathered around Kanai. Strangely, no one remembered the year that had passed. Whether it was due to Acharyadev or King Yogamaya's influence, everyone had completely forgotten about that time of deep sleep.

As the group of cowherd boys and calves returned home, Lord Hari composed himself once more. Alone, he took on the form of little Kanai, and all the other forms of Braj merged back into him. But what was the real purpose of Lord Hari's divine play, Acharyadev? Was it merely to shatter Brahma's illusion, or was there another, deeper reason?

Indeed, there was a profound reason, King. No one in Braj could ever have enough of little Krishna. All the women of Braj wished for him as their child, and even the cows showed more affection towards Kanai than their own calves. To honor this boundless love, Lord Hari became everyone's child for that one year. The people of Braj experienced the pure joy of parental love. What a blessing it was! Such divine fortune is rare, my Lord. The people of Braj were like gods, King. That is why they were so blessed. Without being divine, how can one serve the Supreme Lord? Isn't that right, Parikshit? No, it's impossible.

Chapter 4: The Palm Grove Guardian

Parikshit leaned forward, curiosity dancing in his eyes. "I have a question, Acharyadev," he began. "Even with God himself present, Braj seems to have endless troubles. Why do such events keep happening, Lord?"

The wise Acharyadev smiled gently, as if expecting the question. "Have you seen what happens when you light a fire in the freezing cold, King? Everyone gathers around to warm themselves. It creates a stir, doesn't it?" He paused, letting the words sink in. "Similarly, where God resides, all those seeking liberation come. Just like what's happening now in Vrindavan."

Parikshit nodded slowly, realization dawning on him. "I understand, Lord, I understand. Those we think of as demons or monsters are actually coming close because their time for liberation has come."

"You've said it right, King," Acharyadev replied with a nod. "Krishna means attraction. Where else can they go, avoiding his attraction? Even after Brahma's test, Vrindavan did not become peaceful. Parikshit, the troubles did not lessen."

The Acharyadev's eyes twinkled with the promise of another tale. "Now let me tell you about Dhenukasura."

"Who is Dhenukasura, Acharyadev?" Parikshit asked eagerly. "Did he also come from Mathura?"

"King, he didn't even know Krishna and Balarama," Acharyadev explained. "He guarded the biggest palm grove in Vrindavan. The taste of those palm fruits was unmatched anywhere in the world. The scent of those fruits made everyone in Braj eager, but no one could touch them. Out of fear of Dhenukasura, no one dared to go near. Dhenukasura was as powerful as he was fierce-looking."

Meanwhile, Kanai and Bolai, along with their friends, ran towards the grove. The sweet aroma of the palm fruits filled the air, making their mouths water. One of Kanai's friends pointed excitedly. "Hey Kanai, have you seen those palm trees? They smell so nice. Can you get us some palm fruits? Just shake the tree, and the fruits will fall. Shake it, shake it!"

"But Kanai," another friend interjected nervously, "don't you know there's a big monster in that grove? It might hurt us all. Please, get us the fruits. You can defeat monsters, right? You can beat this one too, Kanai."

Kanai laughed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Not me, not me. Bolai will take care of that monster. You don't need to worry. Right, brother? Pick as many fruits as you like. Don't worry about the monster. I'll handle it."

Bolai nodded confidently. "Look at how many fruits are here. No, no, let's go over there. Look at that tree. See, brother, our friends are having so much fun. Look, Kanai, come here. We don't enjoy it without you. Come, come here."

Encouraged by his brother, Kanai joined his friends. "Go, Kanai. Go play with them," Bolai urged.

Kanai hesitated for a moment. "No, brother. That monster might come any moment. I know, I won't leave you. You go ahead. That monster can't do anything to me. You know that. Go."

Reassured by Bolai's confidence, Kanai went to gather fruits with his friends. The boys were overjoyed to have him with them, happily collecting the fruits. Their laughter and chatter filled the grove, but the noise soon woke up the monster, Dhenukasura.

With the appearance of a giant donkey, Dhenukasura came charging in, roaring madly. "Who dares to touch my palm trees in my grove? How dare they? Stay away from my friends. I'll finish you right here. A mere boy dares to challenge me. Come, I'll deal with you first and then the others. You think you can eat me? Come on, let's see how you do it."

Dhenukasura rushed towards Balaram. The young Balaram, calm and unafraid, grabbed its hind legs, swung it around, and threw it far away. The impact caused a great commotion in the palm grove. Under the weight of its huge body, trees began to break one by one. When Dhenukasura was defeated, its relatives charged at Krishna and Balaram. But the two little brothers caught the giant monsters with their small hands and tossed them away, their laughter echoing through the grove.

Chapter 5: The Poisoned Waters

The demons lay defeated, and the people of Vrindavan flocked joyfully to the palm grove, their laughter mingling with the rustle of palm leaves. They gathered the fallen fruits, savoring the sweetness while singing praises of Krishna and Balarama. Amazed at how two little boys, only about six or seven years old, could vanquish such terrifying monsters, the villagers marveled at the divine power that seemed to bless the brothers. They didn't ponder deeply whether the boys acted alone or if some greater force aided them. To them, it seemed that any danger Krishna or Balarama faced disappeared miraculously. This was their belief, and under the influence of divine magic, no one questioned the boys' actions.

In another part of the land, Parikshit sat with a wise sage, his curiosity evident. "But please clear another doubt of mine, Lord," he said earnestly.

The sage nodded, his eyes gentle. "What do you want to know?"

"God is so close, yet no one understands His divine nature and play. Aren’t the people of Vrindavan missing out on God’s greatness?"

The sage smiled, a knowing twinkle in his eye. "What can I tell you, King? Vrindavan is not a land of grandeur. It is a land of love. The people there don’t seek shelter in the Supreme Lord; instead, they are eager to protect Him. They worry about Krishna’s safety, that no harm should come to Him, and that no one should cast an evil eye on Him. Without this sweetness, one cannot fully savor God, King. Grandeur is far from sweetness. Oh, what heavenly love, what a wonderful attraction to God. This love is only possible in Vrindavan. It seems all the virtues of creation are gathered there."

Parikshit leaned forward, captivated by the sage's words. "Tell me more about the land of Vrindavan, wise sage."

"But I won’t speak of love now, Parikshit. First, let me tell you about the danger. The troubles in Vrindavan are not over yet. A new danger has appeared, wise teacher."

"Was it another demon attack, King?"

"This time, the danger was even more terrifying. Let me tell you the story. It was a summer day, and it was extremely hot. The group of young cowherds had taken the cows and calves out to graze early in the morning."

Balarama, who loved comfort, stayed behind, avoiding the heat. But Kanai, as Krishna was affectionately called, never tired. He was out with his friends, herding the cows since morning. Under the scorching midday sun, the cowherd boys felt as if their heads would burst from the heat.

One boy groaned, wiping his forehead. "Oh, I can’t take it anymore. Oh, it’s so hot!"

Another nodded, his voice weary. "Really, I’m suffering too. It’s never been this bad before. Hey, call Kanai from that grove. He’ll surely do something."

A third boy sighed, shaking his head. "What’s the point of calling poor Kanai? He’s already taken all our cows and calves by himself. Instead, let’s go to the Yamuna River. The cool water will help. Let’s drink some water and splash some on our faces. Come on, come on, come on!"

"Yes, yes, yes, the water from the Yamuna will cool us down. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go to the Yamuna!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, let’s go, let’s go, that’s right, that’s right!"

Eager to escape the relentless sun, the group of tired shepherds headed towards the Yamuna River. The clear, sparkling water beckoned them. They splashed the water on their faces and heads to cool down, then drank deeply until their thirst was quenched. In their haste, they forgot the danger that lurked in the water.

Parikshit’s eyes widened as he listened. "What danger was there in the Yamuna's water, wise sage?"

"It was a terrible danger. The water was poisonous. Just a drop in the stomach could be disastrous. Instant death."

"Really?" Parikshit gasped.

"Yes, King. The Yamuna's water was deadly. It looked black and murky because of the poison. People used boats to cross it, and children played on its banks. But no one drank the water or bathed in it. However, in the scorching sun, the boys forgot all about that. Thirsty, they jumped into the Yamuna."

"And then what happened, teacher?" Parikshit asked, leaning in closer.

"As soon as they drank the water and sat in the shade of a tree on the sandy bank, they all collapsed one by one. There was no sign of life in them."

"What a disaster!" Parikshit exclaimed, his voice filled with concern.

The sage nodded solemnly, the weight of the tale hanging in the air like a dark cloud. The story of Krishna and the trials of Vrindavan continued to unfold, each moment more astonishing than the last.

Chapter 6: The Poisoned Waters of Yamuna

Kanai, also known as Krishna, was far away, busy herding cows with his sister. The sun hung high in the sky, and the fields around him were filled with the gentle lowing of cattle. But something felt amiss. There were no distant shouts or laughter from his friends, who usually couldn't stay away from him for long. They always came running back to him, eager to share stories and play games. This time, however, not a single voice reached his ears.

"Why can't I hear anyone?" Kanai wondered aloud, a frown creasing his brow. "I hope they aren't in trouble. No, it's not right to stay here. I should go check."

He turned to his sister and instructed, "Kamli, Dhobli, you stay here, okay? Don't go anywhere. I'll be back soon."

With a determined stride, Kanai left his sister and headed straight toward the Yamuna River. As he neared the bank, a strange sight met his eyes. His dear friends lay scattered on the sandy ground, as if in a deep, peaceful sleep. A chill ran through him as he realized what must have happened. They must have drunk from the poisoned waters of the Yamuna.

"Shridam, Shridam, here I am. Get up, get up!" he called, shaking them gently. "Subal, Subal, you too, get up! Look, I'm here."

"Sudam! Hey, Sudam! Open your eyes, won't you get up? Hey, Sudam!" But there was no response. His friends lay still, unmoving.

Kanai sat quietly beside them, his heart heavy with sorrow. "Oh dear," he thought, "they must have been very thirsty and drank the Yamuna's water, forgetting it was poisoned. If I were there, my friends wouldn't have suffered."

His large, lotus-like eyes filled with tears. With his small, gentle hands, he touched each of his friends softly and gazed at their faces with a sad, yet hopeful look. Miraculously, one by one, they began to stir and sit up.

Tears glistened in their eyes as they looked around, bewildered. "Tears in your eyes! What's wrong? Tell me. What happened? Why are we lying here? Did we faint?" they asked, confusion mingling with relief.

"Oh no, no," Kanai explained gently, "you drank the water from the Yamuna and turned blue from the poison. Look at my neck, see? My throat feels like a tube. Did we die?"

"Yes, that's right! We did die. But thanks to Kanai's touch, we're alive again. Isn't that right, Kanai?" one of them exclaimed, gratitude shining in their eyes.

"But Kanai," another friend asked, "where did all this poison in the Yamuna come from? Why can't we drink that water? Who's there?"

"Kaliya, a great demon," Kanai answered, his voice firm and resolute. "More terrible than other demons. Stop, Kaliya! You hurt my friends. You poisoned the Yamuna. I will send you to the underworld. I'm coming!"