PLATE EIGHT

With maternal affection, Queen Kunti here remembers another of
Lord Krsna’s bewildering pastimes. One day, the Lord, playing just like a
human child, spoiled the stocked butter of mother Yasoda by breaking
the pots and distributing the contents to His friends and playmates, in-
cluding the celebrated monkeys of Vrndavana, who took full advantage
of the Lord’s munificence. Mother Yasoda saw this, and out of her pure
love she wanted to make a show of punishment for her transcendental
child. She took a rope and threatened to tie Him up, as is generally done
with ordinary children who have been naughty. Seeing the rope in her
hands, the Lord bowed down His head and began to weep, and as tears
rolled down His cheeks they washed off the black ointment smeared
about His beautiful eyes. Because Queen Kunti felt maternal love for
Krsna, she adored this image of Him. But because she knew Krsna’s
supreme position, she was amazed that although He was feared by fear
personified, He appeared to be afraid of His mother, who wanted to
punish Him just like an ordinary child. (p. 98)
