PLATE FIVE

One day Vasudeva inspired Gargamuni, the family priest of the Yadu
dynasty, to go to Nanda Maharaja’s house in Vrndavana and perform the
name-giving ceremony for Krsna and Balaréma. To keep the ceremony
hidden from King Karmsa, Nanda Maharaja requested Gargamuni to per-
form it in Nanda’s very secluded cowshed. As Gargamuni cradled baby
Krsna in his hands, he said to Nanda Maharaja, ‘To increase the tran-
scendental bliss of the cowherd men of Gokula, this child Krsna will al-
ways act auspiciously for you. And by His grace only, you will surpass all
difficulties. Demons cannot harm the demigods, who always have Lord
Visnu on their side. Similarly, any person or group attached to Krsna is
extremely fortunate. Because such persons are very much affectionate
toward Krsna, they cannot be defeated by demons like the associates of
Karmsa. O Nanda Maharaja, in His transcendental qualities, opulence,
name, fame and influence, this child of yours is exactly like Narayana.
You should therefore raise Him very carefully and cautiously.”
(pp. 82-103)
