62 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

breast. Upon seeing all this, she became struck with awe and began to
wonder whether she were dreaming or actually seeing something extra-
ordinary. She concluded that she was either dreaming or seeing the
play of the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She
thought that she had become mad, mentally deranged, to see all those
wonderful things. Then she thought, “It may be cosmic mystic power
attained by my child, and therefore I am perplexed by such visions within
His mouth. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme
Personality of Godhead under whose energy bodily self and bodily
possessions are conceived.” She then said, ““Let me offer my respectful
obeisances unto Him, under whose illusory energy I am thinking that
Nanda Maharaja is my husband and Krsna is my son, that all the properties
of Nanda Maharaja belong to me and that all the cowherd men and women
are my subjects. All this misconception is due to the illusory energy of the
Supreme Lord. So let me pray to Him that He may protect me always.”

While mother Yasgoda was thinking in this high philosophical way, Lord
Krsna again expanded Hisinternal energy just to bewilder her with maternal
affection. Immediately mother Yasoda forgot all philosophical speculation
and accepted Krsna as her own child. She took Him on her lap and became
overwhelmed with maternal affection. She thus began to think, “‘Krsna is
not understandable to the masses through the gross process of knowledge,
but He can be received through the Upanisads and the Vedanta or mystic
Yoga system and Sankhya philosophy.” Then she began to think of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead as her own begotten child.

Certainly mother Yagoda had executed many, many pious activities as a
result of which she got the Absolute Truth, Supreme. Personality of
Godhead, as her son who sucked milk from her breast. Similarly, Nanda
Maharaja also must have performed many great sacrifices and pious
activities for Lord Krsna to become his son and address him as father.
But it is surprising that Vasudeva and Devaki did not enjoy the transcen-
dental bliss of Krsna’s childhood pastimes, although Krsna was their real
son. The childhood pastimes of Krsna are glorified even today by many
sages and saintly persons, but Vasudeva and Devaki could not enjoy such
childhood pastimes personally. The reason for this was explained by
Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit as follows.

When the best of the Vasus of the name Drona along with his wife
Dhara were ordered to increase progeny by Lord Brahma, they said unto
him, “Dear father, we are seeking your benediction.” Drona and Dhara
then took benediction from Brahma that in the future—when they would
take birth again within the universe—the Supreme Lord Krsna in His most
