CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Stealing of the
Boys and Calves by Brahma
This chapter describes Lord Brahma’s attempt to take away the calves
and cowherd boys, and it also describes the bewilderment of Lord
Brahma and finally the clearance of his illusion.

Although the incident concerning Aghasura had been performed one
year before, when the cowherd boys were five years old, when they were
six years old they said, “It happened today.”” What happened was this.
After killing Aghasura, Krsna, along with His associates the cowherd
boys, went for a picnic within the forest. The calves, being allured by
green grasses, gradually went far away, and therefore Krsna’s associates
became a little agitated and wanted to bring back the calves. Krsna,
however, encouraged the boys by saying, “You take your tiffin without
being agitated. I shall go find the calves.” And thus the Lord departed.
Then, just to examine the potency of Krsna, Lord Brahma took away all
the calves and cowherd boys and kept them in a secluded place.

When Krsna was unable to find the calves and boys, He could under-
stand that this was a trick performed by Brahma. Then the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, in order to please Lord
Brahmi, as well as His own associates and their mothers, expanded Him-
self to become the calves and boys, exactly as they were before. In this
way, He discovered another pastime. A special feature of this pastime
was that the mothers of the cowherd boys thus became more attached to
their respective sons, and the cows became more attached to their calves.
After nearly a year, Baladeva observed that all the cowherd boys and
calves were expansions of Krsna. Thus He inquired from Krsna and was
informed of what had happened.

When one full year had passed, Brahma returned and saw that Krsna
was still engaged as usual with His friends and the calves and cows. Then
Krsna exhibited all the calves and cowherd boys as four-armed forms of
Narayana. Brahma could then understand Krsna’s potency, and he was

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