The Scene in Gokul
It was a day filled with bustling activity in the home of Yashoda Ma. Neighboring milkmaids had come to assist with preparations for a special puja to be held that night. As they busily prepared sandalwood paste and decorated the cows, the cowherd boys, including Krishna, Balarama, and their friends—Manu, Sudama, Subal, Neel, Anshu, and Benu—were looking for something to do. The children, eager to help, were soon engaged in various tasks, but like all children, they quickly grew tired and wandered off in search of more fun.
The Temptation of the Laddus
The boys eventually found their way to the kitchen where Yashoda Ma and Rohini Ma were making large, delicious laddus to be offered as prasad after the evening puja. As they watched the laddus being prepared, their mouths watered, and hunger suddenly overcame them. Krishna, with his usual charm, asked Yashoda Ma for the laddus, but she gently refused, explaining that they were meant for the evening’s offering to Lord Vishnu. Despite Krishna’s insistence, Yashoda remained firm, offering them other treats instead. Reluctantly, Krishna and the boys settled for the other sweets, but the desire for those laddus lingered.
Madhumangal’s Hunger
After their breakfast, the boys resumed their play, but one friend, Madhumangal, sat apart from the group, looking sad. Krishna, noticing his friend’s sorrow, immediately went to him and asked why he wasn’t playing. Madhumangal softly confessed that he was hungry, but not for the food they had just eaten—he was hungry for the laddus. Krishna, seeing the longing in all his friends’ eyes, decided that he must get those laddus for them, no matter what.
The Clever Plan
Krishna devised a clever plan to retrieve the laddus without getting caught. Knowing that Yashoda Ma was churning butter and couldn’t leave her task, Krishna deliberately threw a ball into the store-room where the laddus were kept and then innocently asked his mother to open the door to retrieve it. Despite her suspicion, Yashoda finally relented, giving Krishna the key while keeping a close watch on him. Krishna, with his hands tied as part of the ruse, entered the store-room and, using his mouth, managed to pass twelve laddus to Madhumangal through the window. The operation was so smooth that Yashoda Ma suspected nothing when Krishna returned with the ball.
The Joy of Sharing
After successfully retrieving the laddus, Krishna and his friends sat together and began to eat. But Krishna, ever selfless, gave his own laddu to Madhumangal, ensuring his friend was satisfied. Madhumangal, surprised and a bit ashamed that he had forced Krishna to steal, was struck by Krishna’s selflessness—Krishna, who had gone through all this trouble, hadn’t eaten a single bite himself.
A Miraculous Outcome
The next miracle came when Yashoda Ma later checked the store-room. To her amazement, not a single laddu was missing! Krishna had not only satisfied the hunger of His friends but had also ensured that the offerings for the puja were intact. The boys, too, felt that those laddus had a special, divine taste, unmatched by any other sweets they had ever eaten. It was as if they had been touched by the divine lips of Krishna Himself.
Lessons to be Learned
- Selflessness and Devotion: Krishna’s actions demonstrate the joy of selfless giving, especially to those we love. Though He orchestrated the entire plan, He chose not to partake in the reward, showing His devotion and care for His friends.
- The Power of Innocent Faith: The cowherd boys, despite their mischievous ways, were always protected by Krishna’s divine play. Their innocent faith in Krishna and their simple desires were fulfilled beyond expectation.
- Divine Miracles: The story highlights the miraculous nature of Krishna’s pastimes. Even when He engages in playful mischief, the divine outcome ensures that everything remains as it should be, preserving the sanctity of the offerings to Lord Vishnu.
Prayer
O Lord Krishna, just as You selflessly fulfilled the desires of Your friends in Vrindavan, please bless us with a heart full of love and selflessness. May we always remember Your divine pastimes and feel Your presence in our lives, guiding us with Your eternal love.
Quote from Shastra
“yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam” — Bhagavad Gita 9.27
“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.”
This verse reminds us that everything we do, including our playful acts, should be an offering to the Lord, filled with love and devotion, just as Krishna did with the laddus for His friends.
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