In Vrindavan, Krishna and Balarama would be busy playing with their cowherd friends. Once they were playing since morning after breakfast and it was time for lunch, but they had not yet returned home.
Both the brothers were so absorbed in playing that they did not notice that they have been playing for hours. First Rohini goes to call them. But they do not listen to her.
Rohini knows that Yashoda’s love for Krishna and Balarama is more, so she asks Yashoda to go and bring them back.
Mother Yashoda goes to call Krishna and Balarama who were so busy playing that they had forgotten to return home. But they do not listen to her too. They continue playing. Mother Yashoda says that your father, Nanda Maharaj, is waiting for you. He will not take lunch without both of you.
When they hear this, they decide to return. But the cowherd friends say to Krishna, “If you go then we will not allow you to play with us next time.” They start discussing among themselves that whenever Krishna starts losing, he runs away, so next time we will not take him in our team.
When Krishna hears this, he becomes afraid, and he again starts playing with them. But this time Mother Yashoda catches the hand of Krishna and Balarama and brings them back home.
By these pastimes which is full of love and affection, Krishna gives pleasure to his devotees. He also enjoys these pastimes. Krishna always likes to be surrounded with his close devotees. He plays with them, sing with them, dance with them and eat prasadam with them.
His devotees are oblivious to the fact that he is the Supreme Lord. And even if they know they do not give much importance to them.
Vrindavan is Krishna’s home
Just like even if a person is the Prime Minister of a country but at his home, he remains a son to his parents, brother to his siblings, husband to his wife and father to his child. At home he is not treated the way he is treated in his office.
No one at his house will stand up when he enters the house, no one will salute him and no will call him sir or Mr Prime Minister at home.
His mother may even chastise him for coming later or not having food on time. His brothers and sisters will pull his legs; his wife may sometime become upset with him and he will have to make efforts to please her. And his kids will sit on his lap or play with him. Although he may be the Prime Minster, but he will relish such intimate relationship.
Similarly, although Krishna is the Supreme Lord, but Vrindavan is his home and everyone staying there are his family members. So, his relationship with his devotees in Vrindavan is not official but personal.
This is why we see his pastimes in Vrindavan with his devotees are full of fun and intimacy. Such a wonderful bonding gives great joy to the Lord and all the devotees.
Also, the relationship which Krishna is having in Vrindavan will never end like the way it happens here in this material world. Krishna is eternal and his devotees in the spiritual world are also eternal. We too have an opportunity to participate in Krishna pastimes in Vrindavan. Let us work in that direction by becoming serious in our devotion to Krishna.
Three Reflections
- Krishna and Balarama are so absorbed in playing with his friends that they forget that its lunch time and they have to return home.
- Vrindavan is Krishna’s home and everyone living there are his family members.
- The relationship which Krishna is having in Vrindavan will never end like the way it happens here in this material world.
Ask Yourself
- Do I have desire to be part of Krishna’s pastime in Vrindavan?
Action Item
- Read the chapter “The Childhood Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa” from Srimad Bhagavatam 10.11.
