Canto 10: The Summum BonumChapter 9: Mother Yaśodā Binds Lord Lord Krishna

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.9.15

tad dāma badhyamānasya

svārbhakasya kritāgasah

dvy-ańgulonam abhūt tena

sandadhe 'nyac ca gopikā

SYNONYMS

tat dāma — that binding rope; badhyamānasya — who was being bound by mother Yaśodā; sva-arbhakasya — of her own son; krita-āgasah — who was an offender; dvi-ańgula — by a measurement of two fingers; ūnam — short; abhūt — became; tena — with that rope; sandadhe — joined; anyat ca — another rope; gopikā — mother Yaśodā.

TRANSLATION

When mother Yaśodā was trying to bind the offending child, she saw that the binding rope was short by a distance the width of two fingers. Thus she brought another rope to join to it.

PURPORT

Here is the first chapter in Krishna's exhibition of unlimited potency to mother Yaśodā when she tried to bind Him: the rope was too short. The Lord had already shown His unlimited potency by killing Pūtanā, Śakatāsura and Trināvarta. Now Krishna exhibited another vibhūti, or display of potency, to mother Yaśodā. "Unless I agree," Krishna desired to show, "you cannot bind Me." Thus although mother Yaśodā, in her attempt to bind Krishna, added one rope after another, ultimately she was a failure. When Krishna agreed, however, she was successful. In other words, one must be in transcendental love with Krishna, but that does not mean that one can control Krishna. When Krishna is satisfied with one's devotional service, He does everything Himself. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adah. He reveals more and more to the devotee as the devotee advances in service. Jihvādau: this service begins with the tongue, with chanting and with taking the prasāda of Krishna.

atah śrī-krishna-nāmādi

na bhaved grāhyam indriyaih

sevonmukhe hi jihvādau

svayam eva sphuraty adah

[BRS. 1.2.234]

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