Killing of Dhenukasura 115
immediately respond by mooing, and the boys would enjoy this exchange
to their hearts’ content. They would all imitate the sound vibrations made
by the different kinds of birds, especially the cakoras, peacocks, cuckoo
and bharadvajas. Sometimes, when they would see the weaker animals
fleeing out of fear of the sounds of tigers and lions, the boys, along with
Krsna and Balarama, would imitate the animals and run away with them.
When they felt some fatigue, they would sit down, and Balarama would
put His head on the lap of one of the boys just to take rest, and Krsna
would immediately come and begin massaging the legs of Balarama. And
sometimes He would take a palm fan and fan the body of Balarama,
causing a pleasing breeze to relieve Him of His fatigue. Other boys would
sometimes dance or sing while Balarama took rest, and sometimes they
would wrestle amongst themselves or jump. When the boys were thus
engaged, Krsna would immediately join them, and catching their hands,
He would enjoy their company and laugh and praise their activities. When
Krsna would feel tired and fatigued, He would sometimes take shelter of
the root of a big tree, or the lap of a cowherd boy, and lie down. When
He would lie down with a boy or a root as His pillow, some of the boys
would come and massage His legs, and some would fan His body with a
fan made from leaves. Some of the more talented boys would sing in very
sweet voices to please Him. Thus very soon His fatigue would go away.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, whose legs are tended by the
goddess of fortune, shared Himself with the cowherd boys as one of them,
expanding His internal potency to appear exactly like a village boy. But
despite His appearing just like a village boy, there were occasions when He
proved Himself to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sometimes
men pose themselves as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cheat
innocent people, but they can only cheat; they cannot exhibit the potency
of God.

While Krsna was thus engaged in exhibiting His internal potency along
with the supermost fortunate friends, there occurred another chance for
Him to exhibit the superhuman powers of Godhead. His most intimate
friends Sridim&, Subala and Stokakrsna began to address Krsna and
Balarama with great. love and affection thus: “Dear Balarama, You are
very powerful; Your arms are very strong. Dear Krsna, You are very
expert in killing all kinds of disturbing demons. Will You kindly note that
just near this place there is a big forest of the name Talavana. This forest
is full of palm trees, and all the trees are filled with fruits. Some are falling
down, and some of them are very ripe even in the trees. It is a very nice
place, but because of a great demon, DhenukAsura, it is very difficult to
