19 / Devouring the Forest Fire

While Krsna and Balarama and Their friends were engaged in the
pastimes described above, the cows, being unobserved, began to wander
off on their own, entering farther and farther into the deepest part of the
forest, allured by fresh grasses. The goats, cows and buffalo travelled from
one forest to another and entered the forest known as Isikatavi. This
forest was full of green grass, and therefore they were allured; but when
they entered, they saw that there was a forest fire, and they began to cry.
On the other side, Balarama and Krsna, along with Their friends, could
not find their animals, and they became very aggrieved. They began to
trace the cows by following their footprints, as well as the path of eaten
grass. All of the boys were fearing that their very means of livelihood, the
cows, were now lost. Soon, however, they heard the crying of their cows.
Krsna began to call the cows by their respective names, with great noise.
Upon hearing Krsna calling, the cows immediately replied with joy. But
by this time the forest fire surrounded all of them, and the situation
appeared to be very fearful. The flames increased as the wind blew very
quickly, and it appeared that everything movable and immovable would be
devoured. All the cows and the boys became very frightened, and they
looked towards Balarama the way a dying man looks at the picture of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. They said, “Dear Krsna and Balarama,
we are now burning from the heat of this blazing fire. Let us take shelter
of Your lotus feet. We know You can protect us from this great danger.
Our dear friend Krsna, we are Your intimate friends. It is not right that we
should suffer in this way. We are all completely dependent on You, and
You are the knower of all religious life. We do not know anyone except
You.”

The Personality of Godhead heard the appealing voices of His friends,
and casting a pleasing glance over them, He began to answer. By speaking

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