The Stealing of the Boys and Calves by Brahma 87
scenery created ly the trees here. Let us have our lunch in this spot
because it is already late and we are feeling hungry. Let the calves remain
near us, and let them drink water from the Yamuna. While we engage in
our lunch-taking, the calves may engage in eating the soft grasses that are
in this spot.”

On hearing this proposal from Krsna, all the boys became very glad and
said,.‘‘Certainly, let us all sit down here to take our lunch.” They then let
loose the calves to eat the soft grass. Sitting down on the ground and
keeping Krsna in the center, they began to open their different boxes
brought from home. Lord Sri Krsna was seated in the center of the circle,
and all the boys kept their faces toward Him. They ate and constantly
enjoyed seeing the Lord face to face. Krsna appeared to be the whorl of a
lotus flower, and the boys surrounding Him appeared to be its different
petals. The boys collected flowers, leaves of flowers and the barks of trees
and placed them under their different boxes, and thus they began to eat
their lunch, keeping company. with Krsna. While taking lunch, each boy
began to manifest different kinds of relations with Krsna, and they enjoyed
each other’s company with joking words. While thus enjoying lunch with
His friends, Lord Krsna’s flute was pushed within the belt of His cloth,
and His bugle and cane were pushed in on the left-hand side of His cloth.
He was holding a lump of foodstuff prepared with yogurt, butter, rice
and pieces of fruit salad in His left palm, which could be seen through
His petal-like finger joints. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who
accepts the results of all great sacrifices, was laughing and joking, enjoying
lunch with His friends in Vrndavana. And thus the scene was being
observed by the demigods from heaven. As for the boys, they were simply
enjoying transcendental bliss in the company of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead.

At that time, the calves that were pasturing nearby entered into the
deep forest, allured by new grasses, and gradually went out of sight.
When the boys saw that the calves were not nearby, they became afraid
for their safety, and they immediately cried out, “Krsna!” Krsna is the
killer of fear personified. Everyone is afraid of fear personified, but fear
personified is afraid of Krsna. By crying out the word “Krsna,” the
boys at once transcended the fearful situation. Out of His great affection,
Krsna did not want His friends to give up their pleasing lunch engagement
and go searching for the calves. He therefore said, ““My dear friends,
you need not interrupt your lunch. Go on enjoying. I am going per-
sonally where the calves are.” Thus Lord Krsna immediately started
to search out the calves in the caves and lushes. He searched in the
