40 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Thus Nanda Maharaja, the foster father of Lord Krsna, began to
satisfy the desires of all the men assembled there. He respectively received
them and gave them in charity whatever they desired. The learned
brahmanas, who had no other source of income, were completely
dependent of the vaisya and ksatriya communities for their maintenance,
and they received gifts on such festive occasions as birthdays, marriages,
etc. While Nanda Maharaja was worshiping Lord Visnu on this occasion
and was trying to satisfy all the people there, his only desire was that the
newborn child Krsna would be happy. Nanda Maharaja had no knowledge
that this child was the origin of Visnu, but he was praying to Lord Visnu
to protect Him.

Rohinidevi, mother of Balarama, was the most fortunate wife of
Vasudeva. She. was away from her husband, yet just to congratulate
Maharaja Nanda on the occasion of the birth ceremony of his son, Krsna,
she dressed herself very nicely. Wearing a garland, a nécklace and other
bodily ornaments, she appeared on the scene and moved hither and
thither. According to the Vedic system, a woman whose husband is not at
home does not dress herself very nicely. But although Rohini’s husband
was away, she still dressed herself on this occasion.

From the opulence of the birth ceremony of Krsna, it is very clear that
at that time Vrndavana was rich in every respect. Because Lord Krsna took
birth in the house of King Nanda and mother Yaésoda, the goddess of
fortune was obliged to manifest her opulences in Vrndavana. It appeared
that Vrndavana had already become a site for the pastimes of the goddess
of fortune.

After the birth ceremony, Nanda Maharaja decided to go to Mathura to
pay the annual tax to the government of Karsa. Before leaving, he called
for the able cowherd men of the village and asked them to take care of
Vrndavana in his absence. When Nanda Maharaja arrived in Mathura,
Vasudeva got the news and was very eager to congratulate his friend. He
immediately went to the place where Nanda Maharaja was staying. When
Vasudeva saw Nanda, he felt that he had regained his life. Nanda, over-
whelmed with joy, immediately stood up and embraced Vasudeva.
Vasudeva was received very warmly and offered a nice place to sit. At
that time Vasudeva was anxious about his two sons who had been put
under the protection of Nanda without Nanda’s knowledge. With great
anxiety, Vasudeva inquired about them. Both Balarama and Krsna were
the sons of Vasudeva. Balarama was transferred to the womb of Rohini,
Vasudeva’s own wife, but Rohini was kept under the protection of Nanda
Maharaja. Krsna was personally delivered to YaSoda and exchanged with
