Shloka 50
Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura
तं तालुमूलं प्रदहन्तमग्निवद् गोपालसूनुं पितरं जगद्गुरो: । चच्छर्द सद्योऽतिरुषाक्षतं बक- स्तुण्डेन हन्तुं पुनरभ्यपद्यत ॥ ५० ॥
taṁ tālu-mūlaṁ pradahantam agnivad gopāla-sūnuṁ pitaraṁ jagad-guroḥ caccharda sadyo ’tiruṣākṣataṁ bakas tuṇḍena hantuṁ punar abhyapadyata
Kṛṣṇa—though playing as the son of a cowherd, yet the father of Brahmā, the guru of the world—became like fire, burning the root of the demon’s throat. Bakāsura at once disgorged Him. Seeing Kṛṣṇa unharmed though swallowed, the demon attacked again, seeking to kill Him with his sharp beak.
Although Kṛṣṇa is always as soft as a lotus, within the throat of Bakāsura He created a burning sensation of being hotter than fire. Although Kṛṣṇa’s whole body is sweeter than sugar candy, Bakāsura tasted bitterness and therefore immediately vomited Kṛṣṇa up. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.11) , ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham. When Kṛṣṇa is accepted as an enemy, He becomes the most intolerable object for the nondevotee, who cannot tolerate Kṛṣṇa within or without. Here this is shown by the example of Bakāsura.
FAQs
This verse describes how Kṛṣṇa burns Bakāsura from within, is vomited out unharmed, and is attacked again—showing the demon’s fury and Kṛṣṇa’s invincibility.
Overwhelmed by pain and rage, Bakāsura still tried to kill Kṛṣṇa with his sharp beak, revealing the stubborn enmity of the asuric nature even after experiencing divine power.
When danger or hostility returns repeatedly, this līlā teaches steadiness and trust in the Lord’s protection—responding with faith rather than fear.