Shloka 19
Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura
पश्य पश्य वयस्यांस्ते मातृमृष्टान्स्वलङ्कृतान् । त्वं च स्नात: कृताहारो विहरस्व स्वलङ्कृत: ॥ १९ ॥
paśya paśya vayasyāṁs te mātṛ-mṛṣṭān svalaṅkṛtān tvaṁ ca snātaḥ kṛtāhāro viharasva svalaṅkṛtaḥ
Just see, just see—Your playmates of Your own age have been cleansed by their mothers and adorned with beautiful ornaments. You too, after bathing, taking Your meal, and being decorated, may again play with Your friends.
Generally young boys are competitive. If one friend has done something, another friend also wants to do something. Therefore mother Yaśodā pointed out how Kṛṣṇa’s playmates were decorated, so that Kṛṣṇa might be induced to decorate Himself like them.
FAQs
This verse shows Yaśodā’s intimate, nurturing affection—she notices Kṛṣṇa’s friends being cleaned and decorated by their mothers and similarly encourages Kṛṣṇa, after bathing and eating, to go play—highlighting her protective, motherly devotion (vatsalya-bhakti).
In the Vraja setting, mothers prepared their children for play; Yaśodā points out the other boys to gently prompt Kṛṣṇa to join them—showing ordinary village motherhood applied to the Supreme Lord in His sweet humanlike līlā.
It teaches attentive caregiving and balanced routine—cleanliness, nourishment, and joyful engagement—done with affection and mindfulness, turning daily duties into loving service.