Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 5
Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura
न ते तदुक्तं जगृहुर्न घटेतेति तस्य तत् । बालस्योत्पाटनं तर्वो: केचित्सन्दिग्धचेतस: ॥ ५ ॥
na te tad-uktaṁ jagṛhur na ghaṭeteti tasya tat bālasyotpāṭanaṁ tarvoḥ kecit sandigdha-cetasaḥ
Because of intense paternal affection, the cowherd men, headed by Nanda, could not believe that Kṛṣṇa could have uprooted the trees in such a wonderful way. Therefore they could not put their faith in the words of the boys. Some of the men, however, were in doubt. “Since Kṛṣṇa was predicted to equal Nārāyaṇa,” they thought, “it might be that He could have done it.”
One view was that it was impossible for a small boy like this to have done such a thing as pulling down the trees. But there were doubts because Kṛṣṇa had been predicted to equal Nārāyaṇa. Therefore the cowherd men were in a dilemma.
FAQs
This verse notes that some listeners, being sandigdha-cetasaḥ (doubtful-minded), could not accept that such an extraordinary act—uprooting two trees—could be done by a child, highlighting how doubt can block acceptance of Kṛṣṇa’s līlā.
Because the event appeared impossible by ordinary logic—“na ghaṭeta”—so a few could not reconcile the child’s apparent age and strength with the miraculous outcome.
It encourages honest self-awareness: when spiritual truths seem “impossible,” one can respond by hearing more, seeking saintly guidance, and cultivating faith rather than letting skepticism close the heart.