Shloka 40
Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura
क्वचिद्वादयतो वेणुं क्षेपणै: क्षिपत: क्वचित् । क्वचित्पादै: किङ्किणीभि: क्वचित्कृत्रिमगोवृषै: ॥ ३९ ॥ वृषायमाणौ नर्दन्तौ युयुधाते परस्परम् । अनुकृत्य रुतैर्जन्तूंश्चेरतु: प्राकृतौ यथा ॥ ४० ॥
kvacid vādayato veṇuṁ kṣepaṇaiḥ kṣipataḥ kvacit kvacit pādaiḥ kiṅkiṇībhiḥ kvacit kṛtrima-go-vṛṣaiḥ
Sometimes They played the flute; sometimes They tossed ropes and stones to bring down fruits from the trees, and sometimes only stones. Sometimes, their ankle bells tinkling, They kicked bilva and āmalakī fruits like a ball. Sometimes They wrapped themselves in blankets, imitated cows and bulls, roared like bulls and wrestled with each other; sometimes They mimicked the cries of animals. Thus They sported, just like two ordinary children.
Vṛndāvana is full of peacocks. Kūjat-kokila-haṁsa-sārasa-gaṇākīrṇe mayūrākule . The Vṛndāvana forest is always full of cuckoos, ducks, swans, peacocks, cranes and also monkeys, bulls and cows. So Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma used to imitate the sounds of these animals and enjoy sporting.
FAQs
This verse describes how Kṛṣṇa and His friends played like ordinary children—playing the flute, throwing toys, and imitating cows and bulls—revealing His sweet, approachable Vraja-līlā.
To show the intimacy of Vraja-bhakti: the Supreme Lord willingly comes under the spell of loving devotion and participates in simple village play with His devotees.
It teaches that devotion need not be complicated—bring sincerity, innocence, and joy into spiritual practice, and remember God as lovingly present in everyday life.