Shloka 6
Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura
उलूखलं विकर्षन्तं दाम्ना बद्धं स्वमात्मजम् । विलोक्य नन्द: प्रहसद्वदनो विमुमोच ह ॥ ६ ॥
ulūkhalaṁ vikarṣantaṁ dāmnā baddhaṁ svam ātmajam vilokya nandaḥ prahasad- vadano vimumoca ha
Seeing his own son bound by rope to the wooden mortar and dragging it along, Nanda Mahārāja smiled and released Kṛṣṇa from His bonds.
Nanda Mahārāja was surprised that Yaśodā, Kṛṣṇa’s mother, could have bound her beloved child in such a way. Kṛṣṇa was exchanging love with her. How then could she have been so cruel as to bind Him to the wooden mortar? Nanda Mahārāja understood this exchange of love, and therefore he smiled and released Kṛṣṇa. In other words, as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, binds a living entity in fruitive activities, He binds mother Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja in parental affection. This is His pastime.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa, bound with a rope, dragging a wooden mortar—highlighting how the Lord accepts being ‘controlled’ by the love of His devotees in Vraja.
Nanda saw his beloved son bound and pulling the heavy mortar; smiling affectionately, he freed Him—reflecting Vraja’s parental love and concern for Kṛṣṇa’s comfort.
Cultivate loving devotion and humility—this līlā teaches that sincere affection and service-mindedness are more powerful than force or status in spiritual life.