Right by the reservoir, the boys saw a gigantic body resembling a mountain peak broken and struck down by a thunderbolt. They were afraid even to see such a huge living being.

COMMENTARY

Glancing repeatedly over all of Kṛṣṇa’s limbs, Nanda Mahārāja smiled as he thought, “Your mother, whose lap You prefer to mine, has bound You up because of some small offense. Therefore, how can I release You? As You bind the living entities with illusion, You bind your mother and father with prema.”

 

|| 10.11.7 ||

gopībhiḥ stobhito ’nṛtyad bhagavān bālavat kvacit

udgāyati kvacin mugdhas tad-vaśo dāru-yantravat

TRANSLATION

The gopīs would say, “If You dance, my dear Kṛṣṇa, then I shall give You half a sweetmeat.” By saying these words or by clapping their hands, all the gopīs encouraged Kṛṣṇa in different ways. At such times, although He was the supremely powerful Personality of Godhead, He would smile and dance according to their desire, as if He were a wooden doll in their hands. Sometimes He would sing very loudly, at their bidding. In this way, Kṛṣṇa came completely under the control of the gopīs.

COMMENTARY

Who can describe the good fortune of Kṛṣṇa’s father and mother? Though Kṛṣṇa is the controller of Brahmā, Śiva and millions of demigods, He is controlled at every step by the inhabitants of Vraja. This is described in three and a half verses. The gopīs would say, “If You dance, my dear Kṛṣṇa, I will give you a sweet!” Induced (stobhitah) by the gopīs, Kṛṣṇa sometimes danced just like a human child (bālavat). Overwhelmed (mugdhas) by the gopīs’ sweet love, Kṛṣṇa would conceal His omnipotence and smile and dance just like a wooden doll in their hands.

 

|| 10.11.8 ||

bibharti kvacid ājñaptaḥ pīṭhakonmāna-pādukam

bāhu-kṣepaṁ ca kurute svānāṁ ca prītim āvahan

TRANSLATION

Sometimes mother Yaśodā and her gopī friends would tell Kṛṣṇa, “Bring this article” or “Bring that article.” Sometimes they would order Him to bring a wooden plank, wooden shoes or a wooden measuring pot, and Kṛṣṇa, when thus ordered by the mothers, would try to bring them. Sometimes, however, as if unable to raise these things, He would touch them and stand there. Just to invite the pleasure of His relatives, He would strike His body with His arms to show that He had sufficient strength.

COMMENTARY

In order to test Kṛṣṇa’s strength, the gopīs would ask Him to bring wooden shoes, and then progressively heavier objects. Ordered (ājñapta) by the gopīs, Kṛṣṇa would stand up holding the objects over His soft belly. To invite the pleasure of His relatives (svānāṁ), Kṛṣṇa would sometimes slap His arms to show that He had sufficient strength.

 

|| 10.11.9 ||

darśayaṁs tad-vidāṁ loka ātmano bhṛtya-vaśyatām

vrajasyovāha vai harṣaṁ bhagavān bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ

TRANSLATION

To pure devotees throughout the world who could understand His activities, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, exhibited how much He can be subdued by His devotees, His servants. In this way He increased the pleasure of the Vrajavāsīs by His childhood activities.

COMMENTARY

Not only Kṛṣṇa’s relatives, but all the Vrajavāsīs enjoyed unlimited bliss from His childhood pastimes, wherein He allowed Himself to come under their control. Kṛṣṇa showed this aspect of Himself being controlled by His devotees’ love directly to those external devotees like Brahmā and Śiva who were captivated by Kṛṣṇa’s potency of majestic opulence because it cannot be understood merely by explanations.

 

|| 10.11.10 ||

krīṇīhi bhoḥ phalānīti śrutvā satvaram acyutaḥ

phalārthī dhānyam ādāya yayau sarva-phala-pradaḥ

TRANSLATION

Once a woman selling fruit was calling, “O inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi, if you want to purchase some fruits, come here!” Upon hearing this, Kṛṣṇa immediately took some grains and went to barter as if He needed some fruits.

COMMENTARY

Kṛṣṇa bestowed bliss upon all the residents of Vṛndāvana, including the Pulindas who were aborigines or the lowest class among the Vrajavāsīs. Acyuta is full in every respect and He Himself provides fruits for everyone. Yet desiring some fruits, He quickly went out with a handful of grains, as only that was available at the moment.

 

|| 10.11.11 ||

phala-vikrayiṇī tasya cyuta-dhānya-kara-dvayam

phalair apūrayad ratnaiḥ phala-bhāṇḍam apūri ca

TRANSLATION

While Kṛṣṇa was going to the fruit vendor very hastily, most of the grains He was holding fell. Nonetheless, the fruit vendor filled Kṛṣṇa’s hands with fruits, and her fruit basket was immediately filled with jewels and gold.

COMMENTARY

The fruit seller did not even get a full handful of grains because the grains fell on the path as Kṛṣṇa hastily approached her. Kṛṣṇa exchanged the few grains remaining in His hand for some fruits while saying, “Give Me some fruit.” The Pulinda woman selling fruits became overcome with affection, and filled Kṛṣṇa’s hands with pīlu and other fruits. Being greedy for the fruits. Kṛṣṇa somehow managed to hold them all in His small hands by the influence of His aiśvarya-śakti. In return, the Pulinda woman received all types of wealth including the treasure of Kṛṣṇa-prema from Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who possesses the power to bestow all fruits.

 

|| 10.11.12 ||

sarit-tīra-gataṁ kṛṣṇaṁ bhagnārjunam athāhvayat

rāmaṁ ca rohiṇī devī krīḍantaṁ bālakair bhṛśam

TRANSLATION

Once, after the uprooting of the yamala-arjuna trees, Rohiṇīdevī went to call Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, who had both gone to the riverside and were playing with the other boys with deep attention.

COMMENTARY

To show how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were controlled more by Yaśodā’s affection than by Rohiṇī’s, Śukadeva tells another pastime which occurred on the same day after the breaking of the yamala-arjuna trees. Rohiṇī called Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who had both gone to play on the bank of the Yamunā. Yaśodā sent Rohiṇī to call the boys because she wanted Them to take lunch.

 

|| 10.11.13 ||

nopeyātāṁ yadāhūtau krīḍā-saṅgena putrakau

yaśodāṁ preṣayām āsa rohiṇī putra-vatsalām

TRANSLATION

Because of being too attached to playing with the other boys, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma did not return upon being called by Rohiṇī. Therefore Rohiṇī sent mother Yaśodā to call Them back, because mother Yaśodā was more affectionate to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

COMMENTARY

When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma did not respond to her call, Rohiṇī sent Yaśodā because she knew that Yaśodā had more affection for the two boys and therefore could attract Them.

 

|| 10.11.14 ||

krīḍantaṁ sā sutaṁ bālair ativelaṁ sahāgrajam

yaśodājohavīt kṛṣṇaṁ putra-sneha-snuta-stanī

TRANSLATION

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, being attached to Their play, were playing with the other boys although it was very late. Therefore mother Yaśodā called Them back for lunch. Because of her ecstatic love and affection for Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, milk flowed from her breasts.

COMMENTARY

Yaśodā called Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma again and again (ajohavīt). She called the boys from a distance because she feared that They would run away if she came close.

 

|| 10.11.15 ||

kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇāravindākṣa tāta ehi stanaṁ piba

alaṁ vihāraiḥ kṣut-kṣāntaḥ krīḍā-śrānto ’si putraka

TRANSLATION

Mother Yaśodā said: My dear son Kṛṣṇa, lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, come here and drink the milk of my breast. My dear darling, You must be very tired because of hunger and the fatigue of playing so long. There is no need to play any more.

COMMENTARY

Yaśodā repeated Kṛṣṇa’s name several times from far off so that He would hear.

 

|| 10.11.16 ||

he rāmāgaccha tātāśu sānujaḥ kula-nandana

prātar eva kṛtāhāras tad bhavān bhoktum arhati

TRANSLATION

My dear Baladeva, best of our family, please come immediately with Your younger brother, Kṛṣṇa. You both ate in the morning, and now You ought to eat something more.

 

|| 10.11.17 ||

pratīkṣate tvāṁ dāśārha bhokṣyamāṇo vrajādhipaḥ

ehy āvayoḥ priyaṁ dhehi sva-gṛhān yāta bālakāḥ

TRANSLATION

Nanda Mahārāja, the King of Vraja, is now waiting to eat. O my dear son Balarāma, he is waiting for You. Therefore, come back to please us. All the boys playing with You and Kṛṣṇa should now go to their homes.

COMMENTARY

“Your father is sitting but he will not eat (bhokṣyamān) without You. Why are You giving hunger pangs to Your father? All the boys playing with You should now go to their homes. Your parents are also in difficulty like us, so please go and satisfy them.” Yaśodā said these things to stop the boys from playing.

 

|| 10.11.18 ||

dhūli-dhūsaritāṅgas tvaṁ putra majjanam āvaha

janmarkṣaṁ te ’dya bhavati viprebhyo dehi gāḥ śuciḥ

TRANSLATION

Mother Yaśodā further told Kṛṣṇa: My dear son, because of playing all day, Your body has become covered with dust and sand. Therefore, come back, take Your bath and cleanse Yourself. Today the moon is conjoined with the auspicious star of Your birth. Therefore, be pure and give cows in charity to the brāhmaṇas.

COMMENTARY

But Kṛṣṇa still did not come. Then Yaśodā tried to kindle His interest in giving charity.

 

|| 10.11.19 ||

paśya paśya vayasyāṁs te mātṛ-mṛṣṭān svalaṅkṛtān

tvaṁ ca snātaḥ kṛtāhāro viharasva svalaṅkṛtaḥ

TRANSLATION

Just see how all Your playmates of Your own age have been cleansed and decorated with beautiful ornaments by their mothers. You should come here, and after You have taken Your bath, eaten Your lunch and been decorated with ornaments, You may play with Your friends again.

COMMENTARY

When Kṛṣṇa still refused to come, Yaśodā tried to awaken His competitive spirit. She pointed out how His playmates were beautifully decorated by their mothers.

 

|| 10.11.20 ||

itthaṁ yaśodā tam aśeṣa-śekharaṁ

matvā sutaṁ sneha-nibaddha-dhīr nṛpa

haste gṛhītvā saha-rāmam acyutaṁ

nītvā sva-vāṭaṁ kṛtavaty athodayam

TRANSLATION

My dear Mahārāja Parīkṣit, because of intense love and affection, mother Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa’s mother, considered Kṛṣṇa, who was at the peak of all opulences, to be her own son. Thus she took Kṛṣṇa by the hand, along with Balarāma, and brought Them home, where she performed her duties by fully bathing Them, dressing Them and feeding Them.

COMMENTARY

Yaśodā thought that Ananta, the crest jewel and source of all avatāras, was her son. Another meaning: Yaśodā considered that Kṛṣṇa was not Bhagavān (a-śeṣaśekharaṁ). Actually Kṛṣṇa was both. Another meaning could be: Yaśodā thought of her son as the crest jewel of Her entire (asesa) family. Yaśodā took Kṛṣṇa home (sva vāṭam) and bathed, dressed and fed Him sumptuously.

 

|| 10.11.21 ||

śrī-śuka uvāca

gopa-vṛddhā mahotpātān anubhūya bṛhadvane

nandādayaḥ samāgamya vraja-kāryam amantrayan

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Then one time, having seen the great disturbances in Bṛhadvana, all the elderly persons among the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, assembled and began to consider what to do to stop the continuous disturbing situations in Vraja.

COMMENTARY

To fulfill His desire to now play in Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa inspired Upananda from within the heart to suggest that everyone move from Mahāvana (Bṛhadvana) to Vṛndāvana.

 

|| 10.11.22 ||

tatropānanda-nāmāha gopo jñāna-vayo-’dhikaḥ

deśa-kālārtha-tattva-jñaḥ priya-kṛd rāma-kṛṣṇayoḥ

TRANSLATION

At this meeting of all the inhabitants of Gokula, a cowherd man named Upananda, who was the most mature in age and knowledge and was very experienced according to time, circumstances and country, made this suggestion for the benefit of Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.

COMMENTARY

Upananda was not only Nanda Mahārāja’s elder brother, but he was also a most learned and experienced counselor.

 

|| 10.11.23 ||

utthātavyam ito ’smābhir gokulasya hitaiṣibhiḥ

āyānty atra mahotpātā bālānāṁ nāśa-hetavaḥ

TRANSLATION

He said: My dear friends the cowherd men, in order to do good to this place, Gokula, we should leave it, because so many disturbances are always occurring here, just for the purpose of killing Rāma and Kṛṣṇa.

COMMENTARY

Upananda said, “Thinking of the welfare of all the inhabitants of Vraja (gokulasya hitaiṣibhiḥ), we should move to safer place.”

 

|| 10.11.24 ||

muktaḥ kathañcid rākṣasyā bāla-ghnyā bālako hy asau

harer anugrahān nūnam anaś copari nāpatat

TRANSLATION

The child Kṛṣṇa, simply by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was somehow or other rescued from the hands of the Rākṣasī Pūtanā, who was determined to kill Him. Then, again by the mercy of the Supreme Godhead, the handcart missed falling upon the child.

 

|| 10.11.25 ||

cakra-vātena nīto ’yaṁ daityena vipadaṁ viyat

śilāyāṁ patitas tatra paritrātaḥ sureśvaraiḥ

TRANSLATION

Then again, the demon Tṛṇāvarta, in the form of a whirlwind, took the child away into the dangerous sky to kill Him, but the demon fell down onto a slab of stone. In that case also, by the mercy of Lord Viṣṇu or His associates, the child was saved.

COMMENTARY

“Kṛṣṇa was once taken in the sky (viyat) by Tṛṇāvarta (cakravatena) and nearly killed (vipadaṁ). Fortunately He was saved by Viṣṇu (sureśvaraiḥ).” The word sureśvaraiḥ is spoken in the plural form to show respect. The word api mentioned in the following verse should be understood in this verse also. “Though (api) Kṛṣṇa was taken in the sky and dropped on a rock, He was saved by Viṣṇu.”

 

|| 10.11.26 ||

yan na mriyeta drumayor antaraṁ prāpya bālakaḥ

asāv anyatamo vāpi tad apy acyuta-rakṣaṇam

TRANSLATION

Even the other day, neither Kṛṣṇa nor any of His playmates died from the falling of the two trees, although the children were near the trees or even between them. This also is to be considered the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

COMMENTARY

Asau refers to Kṛṣṇa.

 

|| 10.11.27 ||

yāvad autpātiko ’riṣṭo vrajaṁ nābhibhaved itaḥ

tāvad bālān upādāya yāsyāmo ’nyatra sānugāḥ

TRANSLATION

All these incidents are being caused by some unknown demon. Before he comes here to create another disturbance, it is our duty to go somewhere else with the boys until there are no more disturbances.

COMMENTARY

Upananda continued, “Previously there was so much kīrtana, worship and darśana of Viṣṇu in this village. Everywhere and at every moment since the birth of Nandananda there has only been kīrtana and darśana of Viṣṇu. Now let us go somewhere where we can worship Viṣṇu, who has always protected us, without being disturbed. We should follow the Nīti-śāstra given by Viṣṇu.”

 

|| 10.11.28 ||

vanaṁ vṛndāvanaṁ nāma paśavyaṁ nava-kānanam

gopa-gopī-gavāṁ sevyaṁ puṇyādri-tṛṇa-vīrudham

TRANSLATION

Between Nandeśvara and Mahāvana is a place named Vṛndāvana. This place is very suitable because it is lush with grass, plants and creepers for the cows and other animals. It has nice gardens and tall mountains and is full of facilities for the happiness of all the gopas and gopīs and our animals.

COMMENTARY

“We cannot return to our old capital in Nandīśvara because we left there out of fear of Ariṣṭāsura and came to Mahāvana. Ariṣṭāsura is still there. Between Mahāvana and Nandīśvara is a forest named Vṛndāvana. This place is very suitable for living and beneficial for the cows (paśavyam) because it filled with lush foliage and fresh gardens.” Considering like this, Upananda spoke this verse.

 

|| 10.11.29 ||

tat tatrādyaiva yāsyāmaḥ śakaṭān yuṅkta mā ciram

godhanāny agrato yāntu bhavatāṁ yadi rocate

TRANSLATION

Therefore, let us immediately go today. There is no need to wait any further. If you agree to my proposal, let us prepare all the bullock carts and put the cows in front of us, and let us go there.

COMMENTARY

“Therefore (tat), if it pleases all of you (bhavatāṁ), we should immediately go to Vṛndāvana (tatra).”

 

|| 10.11.30 ||

tac chrutvaika-dhiyo gopāḥ sādhu sādhv iti vādinaḥ

vrajān svān svān samāyujya yayū rūḍha-paricchadāḥ

TRANSLATION

Upon hearing this advice from Upānanda, the cowherd men unanimously agreed. “Very nice,” they said, “Very nice.” Thus they sorted out their household affairs, placed their clothing and other paraphernalia on the carts, and immediately started for Vṛndāvana.

COMMENTARY

The Vrajavāsīs started for Vṛndāvana after collecting (samyujan) all the cows and other animals, and loading their household goods on carts (rūḍha paricchadāḥ).

 

|| 10.11.31-32 ||

vṛddhān bālān striyo rājan sarvopakaraṇāni ca

anaḥsv āropya gopālā yattā ātta-śarāsanāḥ

godhanāni puraskṛtya śṛṅgāṇy āpūrya sarvataḥ

tūrya-ghoṣeṇa mahatā yayuḥ saha-purohitāḥ

TRANSLATION

Keeping all the old men, women, children and household paraphernalia on the bullock carts and keeping all the cows in front, the cowherd men picked up their bows and arrows with great care and sounded bugles made of horn. O King Parīkṣit, in this way, with bugles vibrating all around, the cowherd men, accompanied by their priests, began their journey.

COMMENTARY

Yatta means carefully.

 

|| 10.11.33 ||

gopyo rūḍha-rathā nūtna-kuca-kuṅkuma-kāntayaḥ

kṛṣṇa-līlā jaguḥ prītyā niṣka-kaṇṭhyaḥ suvāsasaḥ

TRANSLATION

The cowherd women, riding on the bullock carts, were dressed very nicely with excellent garments, and their bodies, especially their breasts, were decorated with fresh kuṅkuma powder. As they rode, they began to chant with great pleasure the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.

 

|| 10.11.34 ||

tathā yaśodā-rohiṇyāv ekaṁ śakaṭam āsthite

rejatuḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmābhyāṁ tat-kathā-śravaṇotsuke

TRANSLATION

Thus hearing about the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with great pleasure, mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇīdevī, so as not to be separated from Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma for even a moment, got up with Them on one bullock cart. In this situation, they all looked very beautiful.

COMMENTARY

Yaśodā and Rohiṇī held their sons and sat on one cart because Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma could not bear to be separated from each other.

 

|| 10.11.35 ||

vṛndāvanaṁ sampraviśya sarva-kāla-sukhāvaham

tatra cakrur vrajāvāsaṁ śakaṭair ardha-candravat

TRANSLATION

In this way they entered Vṛndāvana, where it is always pleasing to live in all seasons. They made a temporary place to inhabit by placing their bullock carts around them in the shape of a half moon.

COMMENTARY

They formed a half circle with their bullock carts and stored all their household goods behind the carts. The front area was left open so the cows could easily come and go. This is described in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa: There was no need to make fences around their temporary residence. The inhabitants were encircled by bullock carts, animals and thorn trees.

 

|| 10.11.36 ||

vṛndāvanaṁ govardhanaṁ yamunā-pulināni ca

vīkṣyāsīd uttamā prītī rāma-mādhavayor nṛpa

TRANSLATION

O King Parīkṣit, when Rāma and Kṛṣṇa saw Vṛndāvana, Govardhana and the banks of the River Yamunā, They both enjoyed great pleasure.

 

|| 10.11.37 ||

evaṁ vrajaukasāṁ prītiṁ yacchantau bāla-ceṣṭitaiḥ

kala-vākyaiḥ sva-kālena vatsa-pālau babhūvatuḥ

TRANSLATION

In this way, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, acting like small boys and talking in half-broken language, gave transcendental pleasure to all the inhabitants of Vraja. In due course of time, They became old enough to take care of the calves.

COMMENTARY

At the suitable time (sva kālena), three years old, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma started taking care of the calves.

 

|| 10.11.38 ||

avidūre vraja-bhuvaḥ saha gopāla-dārakaiḥ

cārayām āsatur vatsān nānā-krīḍā-paricchadau

TRANSLATION

Not far away from Their residential quarters, both Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, equipped with all kinds of playthings, played with other cowherd boys and began to tend the small calves.

 

|| 10.11.39-40 ||

kvacid vādayato veṇuṁ kṣepaṇaiḥ kṣipataḥ kvacit

kvacit pādaiḥ kiṅkiṇībhiḥ kvacit kṛtrima-go-vṛṣaiḥ

vṛṣāyamāṇau nardantau yuyudhāte parasparam

anukṛtya rutair jantūṁś ceratuḥ prākṛtau yathā

TRANSLATION

Sometimes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would play on Their flutes, sometimes They would throw ropes and stones devised for getting fruits from the trees, sometimes They would throw only stones, and sometimes, Their ankle bells tinkling, They would play football with fruits like bael and āmalakī. Sometimes They would cover Themselves with blankets and imitate cows and bulls and fight with one another, roaring loudly, and sometimes They would imitate the voices of the animals. In this way They enjoyed sporting, exactly like two ordinary human children.

COMMENTARY

Sometimes using slings (kṣepaṇa yatraih), Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would throw (kṣipatam) āmalakī and bel fruits far away. Sometimes they would kick each other with Their bangled feet. Covering themselves with blankets, They pretended to be bulls and roared while fighting each other. They would also imitate the voices of swans and peacocks.

 

|| 10.11.41 ||

kadācid yamunā-tīre vatsāṁś cārayatoḥ svakaiḥ

vayasyaiḥ kṛṣṇa-balayor jighāṁsur daitya āgamat

TRANSLATION

One day while Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, along with Their playmates, were tending the calves on the bank of the River Yamunā, another demon arrived there, desiring to kill Them.

 

|| 10.11.42 ||

taṁ vatsa-rūpiṇaṁ vīkṣya vatsa-yūtha-gataṁ hariḥ

darśayan baladevāya śanair mugdha ivāsadat

TRANSLATION

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead saw that the demon had assumed the form of a calf and entered among the groups of other calves, He pointed out to Baladeva, “Here is another demon.” Then He very slowly approached the demon, as if He did not understand the demon’s intentions.

COMMENTARY

With a sidelong glance Kṛṣṇa informed Balarāma, and then pretending that He did not know (mugdha iva), Kṛṣṇa approached (asadat) the demon.

 

|| 10.11.43 ||

gṛhītvāpara-pādābhyāṁ saha-lāṅgūlam acyutaḥ

bhrāmayitvā kapitthāgre prāhiṇod gata-jīvitam

sa kapitthair mahā-kāyaḥ pātyamānaiḥ papāta ha

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Śrī Kṛṣṇa caught the demon by the hind legs and tail, twirled the demon’s whole body very strongly until the demon was dead, and threw him into the top of a kapittha tree, which then fell down, along with the body of the demon, who had assumed a great form.

COMMENTARY

Acyutaḥ, the Lord who never falls, grasped the hind legs and tail of Vatsāsura, and threw the demon into the top of a kapittha tree to arrange for his fall (cyuta) or death from the material world. By throwing the demon in the tree Kṛṣṇa caused the kapittha fruits to fall for the satisfaction of His friends. Kṛṣṇa whirled the demon around very severely until he was dead (gata jīvitam), and then threw him in the tree (prāhiṇot).

 

|| 10.11.44 ||

taṁ vīkṣya vismitā bālāḥ śaśaṁsuḥ sādhu sādhv iti

devāś ca parisantuṣṭā babhūvuḥ puṣpa-varṣiṇaḥ

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing the dead body of the demon, all the cowherd boys exclaimed, “Well done, Kṛṣṇa! Very good, very good! Thank You.” In the upper planetary system, all the demigods were pleased, and therefore they showered flowers on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

|| 10.11.45 ||

tau vatsa-pālakau bhūtvā sarva-lokaika-pālakau

saprātar-āśau go-vatsāṁś cārayantau viceratuḥ

TRANSLATION

After the killing of the demon, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma finished Their breakfast in the morning, and while continuing to take care of the calves, They wandered here and there. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the Supreme Personalities of Godhead, who maintain the entire creation, now took charge of the calves as if cowherd boys.

COMMENTARY

On that day, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who maintain all living beings throughout the whole universe (eka palikau), became the protectors of the calves (vatsa-pālakau). After taking Their morning breakfast (prātar asau), Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma played while tending the calves.

 

|| 10.11.46 ||

svaṁ svaṁ vatsa-kulaṁ sarve pāyayiṣyanta ekadā

gatvā jalāśayābhyāśaṁ pāyayitvā papur jalam

TRANSLATION

One day all the boys, including Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, each boy taking his own group of calves, brought the calves to a reservoir of water, desiring to allow them to drink. After the animals drank water, the boys drank water there also.

 

|| 10.11.47 ||

te tatra dadṛśur bālā mahā-sattvam avasthitam

tatrasur vajra-nirbhinnaṁ gireḥ śṛṅgam iva cyutam

TRANSLATION