PLATE EIGHT
With maternal affection, Queen Kuntī here remembers another of Lord Kṛṣṇa's bewildering pastimes. One day, the Lord, playing just like a human child, spoiled the stocked butter of mother Yaśodā by breaking the pots and distributing the contents to His friends and playmates, including the celebrated monkeys of Vṛndāvana, who took full advantage of the Lord's munificence. Mother Yaśodā saw this, and out of her pure love she wanted to make a show of punishment for her transcendental child. She took a rope and threatened to tie Him up, as is generally done with ordinary children who have been naughty. Seeing the rope in her hands, the Lord bowed down His head and began to weep, and as tears rolled down His cheeks they washed off the black ointment smeared about His beautiful eyes. Because Queen Kuntī felt maternal love for Kṛṣṇa, she adored this image of Him. But because she knew Kṛṣṇa's supreme position, she was amazed that although He was feared by fear personified, He appeared to be afraid of His mother, who wanted to punish Him just like an ordinary child. ( p. 98 )