Krishna and the Fruit
One day, Krishna’s older friends, including His brother Balarama, went out to eat the fruits from a tree in their compound. Krishna, who loved these fruits, wanted to join them but was initially excluded because He was considered too small to climb the tree. The older boys allowed Him to help by collecting the fruits that fell to the ground, with the condition that He should not eat any of them.
As the boys climbed the tree and began dropping ripe fruits, Krishna eagerly started picking them up. However, He couldn’t resist eating them. His hands were busy carrying fruits to His mouth, and He continued eating them despite the warnings. The boys soon noticed Krishna’s actions and were upset.
They came down from the tree and scolded Krishna for eating the fruits instead of collecting them. Krishna, with His mouth full of fruit, could not respond verbally. The boys ran to Yashoda, Krishna’s mother, and complained that Krishna was eating mud.
Yashoda, alarmed by the accusation, rushed to Krishna and asked if He had been eating mud. Krishna, still munching on the fruit, shook His head and tried to hold back tears, not wanting to reveal His full mouth. The boys insisted that Yashoda check Krishna’s mouth.
Yashoda, intrigued by the commotion, asked Krishna to open His mouth. When Krishna complied, Yashoda was astonished to see the entire universe inside His mouth. She saw planets, stars, mountains, and oceans, along with the village of Gokula. The scene was overwhelming and left her feeling dizzy and disoriented.
Realizing the divine nature of Krishna, Yashoda understood that He was far beyond a mere child who could eat fruit. She embraced Krishna, filled with awe and love, and forgot about the mud and the fruits. The boys, watching this, were puzzled by her reaction and disappointed that Krishna was not being reprimanded.
Teachings from Srimad Bhagavatam
- Divine Revelation: The story highlights Krishna’s divine nature as revealed in Srimad Bhagavatam. Krishna’s ability to manifest the entire universe in His mouth signifies His omnipresence and supreme divinity. This is akin to the teachings of the Bhagavatam, which describe Krishna as the ultimate reality who encompasses all creation.
- Understanding Divine Nature: Just as Yashoda was awestruck and realized Krishna’s true nature, the Bhagavatam teaches that understanding Krishna’s divine nature requires transcendental realization beyond the physical senses.
- Transcendence of Material Concerns: The story illustrates that material concerns, such as the mundane issue of eating fruits or mud, are insignificant compared to the divine reality. Srimad Bhagavatam emphasizes that true devotion and understanding go beyond material concerns and are centered on recognizing and embracing the divine nature of Krishna.
- Devotional Realization: Yashoda’s shift from worry about Krishna eating mud to embracing His divine nature reflects the profound devotional realization that comes from understanding Krishna’s true identity. Srimad Bhagavatam emphasizes that recognizing Krishna’s divine nature fosters deeper devotion and love.
This story and its teachings from the Srimad Bhagavatam demonstrate the profound nature of Krishna’s divinity and the importance of recognizing the transcendent reality behind His earthly activities.
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