Shloka 15
Dāmodara-līlā: Mother Yaśodā Binds Kṛṣṇa; the Two-Fingers Mystery; Prelude to the Yamala-Arjuna Deliverance
तद् दाम बध्यमानस्य स्वार्भकस्य कृतागस: । द्व्यङ्गुलोनमभूत्तेन सन्दधेऽन्यच्च गोपिका ॥ १५ ॥
tad dāma badhyamānasya svārbhakasya kṛtāgasaḥ dvy-aṅgulonam abhūt tena sandadhe ’nyac ca gopikā
Als Yaśodā ihr fehlbares Kleinkind binden wollte, sah sie, dass das Seil um zwei Fingerbreiten zu kurz war; da brachte die Gopī ein weiteres Seil zum Anstückeln.
Here is the first chapter in Kṛṣṇa’s exhibition of unlimited potency to mother Yaśodā when she tried to bind Him: the rope was too short. The Lord had already shown His unlimited potency by killing Pūtanā, Śakaṭāsura and Tṛṇāvarta. Now Kṛṣṇa exhibited another vibhūti, or display of potency, to mother Yaśodā. “Unless I agree,” Kṛṣṇa desired to show, “you cannot bind Me.” Thus although mother Yaśodā, in her attempt to bind Kṛṣṇa, added one rope after another, ultimately she was a failure. When Kṛṣṇa agreed, however, she was successful. In other words, one must be in transcendental love with Kṛṣṇa, but that does not mean that one can control Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa is satisfied with one’s devotional service, He does everything Himself. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ. He reveals more and more to the devotee as the devotee advances in service. Jihvādau: this service begins with the tongue, with chanting and with taking the prasāda of Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse states that even after trying to bind Him with the rope, it remained short by two finger-breadths, prompting Yaśodā to add more rope—highlighting that Krishna’s binding occurs by His will in response to devotion.
Damodara-līlā describes Mother Yaśodā attempting to bind child Krishna after His mischief; the rope repeatedly being short and her persistence reveal the intimacy of Vraja-bhakti where the Supreme allows Himself to be ‘controlled’ by love.
Like Yaśodā repeatedly joining more rope, a seeker can practice steady effort in devotion—returning again and again with sincerity—while understanding that spiritual success ultimately depends on divine grace responding to heartfelt bhakti.