PLATE SIX

“O Lord,’’ Queen Kunti prayed, ‘‘no one can understand Your tran-
scendental pastimes, which appear to be human and so are misleading.”
Kunti knew that although Krsna sometimes plays like an ordinary human
being, in fact He is not ordinary, and whenever necessary He displays the
powers of God. When sixteen thousand princesses were kidnapped by
the demon Bhaumasura, they prayed to Krsna for deliverance, and in re-
sponse the Lord went to the demon’s fortified city to do battle with him.
After smashing the fortifications Krsna encountered and defeated a fierce
five-headed demon named Mura. Finally, the Lord beheaded Bhau-
masura and released the frightened princesses. But according to the strict
Vedic system, if an unmarried woman leaves her home even for one
night, no one will marry her. Therefore when Krsna told the princesses,
‘*Now you can safely return to your fathers’ homes,”’ they declined.

“O Lord,” they replied, ‘‘if we return to our fathers’ homes, what will
be our fate? No one will marry us.”’

‘*Then what do you want?’’ Krsna asked.

‘‘We want You to become our husband.’

And out of His boundless mercy, Krsna immediately accepted them.
(pp. 79-85)
