PLATE TWO

One day, five or six nights before the completion of the year, Krsna,
tending the calves, entered the forest along with Balarama. Thereafter,
while pasturing atop Govardhana Hill, the cows looked down to find some
green grass and saw their calves pasturing near Vrndavana, not very far
away. When the cows saw their own calves from the top of Govardhana
Hill, they forgot themselves and their caretakers because of increased
affection, and although the path was very rough, they ran toward their
calves with great anxiety, each running as if with one pair of legs. Their
milk bags full and flowing with milk, their heads and tails raised, and
their humps moving with their necks, they ran forcefully until they
reached their calves to feed them. The cowherd men, having been unable
to check the cows from going to their calves, felt simultaneously ashamed
and angry. They crossed the rough road with great difficulty, but when
they came down and saw their own sons, they were overwhelmed by
great affection. At that time, all the thoughts of the cowherd men merged
in the mellow of paternal love, which was aroused by the sight of their
sons. Experiencing a great attraction, their anger completely disappear-
ing, they lifted their sons, embraced them in their arms and enjoyed the
highest pleasure by smelling their sons’ heads. (pp. 29-33)
