15 / Killing of Dhenukasura

In this way, Sri Krsna, along with His elder brother Balarama, passed
the childhood age known as kaumara and stepped into the age of
pauganda, from the sixth year up to the tenth. At that time, all the cow-
herd men conferred and agreed to give those boys who had passed their
fifth year charge of the cows in the pasturing ground. Given charge of the
cows, Krsna and Balarama traversed Vrndavana, purifying the land with
Their footprints.

Accompanied by the cowherd boys and Balarama, Krsna brought
forward the cows and played on His flute through the forest of Vrndavana,
which was full of flowers, vegetables, and pasturing grass. The Vrndavana
forest was as sanctified as the clear mind of a devotee and was full of bees,
flowers and fruits. There were chirping birds and clear water lakes with
waters that could relieve one of all fatigues. Sweet flavored breezes blew
always, refreshing the mind and body. Krsna, with His friends and
Balarama, entered the forest and, seeing the favorable situation, enjoyed
the atmosphere to the fullest extent. Krsna saw all the trees, overloaded
with fruits and fresh twigs, coming down to touch the ground as if
welcoming Him by touching His lotus feet. He was very pleased by the
behavior of the trees, fruits and flowers, and He began to smile realizing
their desires.

Krsna then spoke to His elder brother Balarama as follows: “My dear
brother, You are superior to all of us, and Your lotus feet are worshiped
by the demigods. Just see how these trees, full with fruits, have bent down
to worship Your lotus feet. It appears that they are trying to get out of
the darkness of being obliged to accept the form of trees. Actually, the
trees born. in the land of Vrndavana are not ordinary living entities.
Having held the impersonal point of view in their past lives, they are now
put into this stationary condition of life, but now they have the opportu-

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