Shloka 15
Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys
Brahma-vimohana-līlā
अम्भोजन्मजनिस्तदन्तरगतो मायार्भकस्येशितु- र्द्रष्टुं मञ्जु महित्वमन्यदपि तद्वत्सानितो वत्सपान् । नीत्वान्यत्र कुरूद्वहान्तरदधात् खेऽवस्थितो य: पुरा दृष्ट्वाघासुरमोक्षणं प्रभवत: प्राप्त: परं विस्मयम् ॥ १५ ॥
ambhojanma-janis tad-antara-gato māyārbhakasyeśitur draṣṭuṁ mañju mahitvam anyad api tad-vatsān ito vatsapān nītvānyatra kurūdvahāntaradadhāt khe ’vasthito yaḥ purā dṛṣṭvāghāsura-mokṣaṇaṁ prabhavataḥ prāptaḥ paraṁ vismayam
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Brahmā, born from the lotus and dwelling in the higher worlds of the sky, had previously seen the supremely powerful Śrī Kṛṣṇa kill and deliver Aghāsura and was struck with wonder. Now, wishing to display a trace of his own power and to behold the sweet majesty of Kṛṣṇa in His childhood play, Brahmā—while Kṛṣṇa was away—took the calves and the cowherd boys to another place and hid them. Yet soon he would be entangled, for he was about to witness Kṛṣṇa’s true potency.
When Aghāsura was being killed by Kṛṣṇa, who was accompanied by His associates, Brahmā was astonished, but when he saw that Kṛṣṇa was very much enjoying His pastimes of lunch, he was even more astonished and wanted to test whether Kṛṣṇa was actually there. Thus he became entangled in Kṛṣṇa’s māyā. After all, Brahmā was born materially. As mentioned here, ambhojanma janiḥ: he was born of ambhoja, a lotus flower. It does not matter that he was born of a lotus and not of any man, animal or material father. A lotus is also material, and anyone born through the material energy must be subject to the four material deficiencies: bhrama (the tendency to commit mistakes), pramāda (the tendency to be illusioned), vipralipsā (the tendency to cheat) and karaṇāpāṭava (imperfect senses). Thus Brahmā also became entangled.
FAQs
Brahmā wanted to test and witness another enchanting display of Kṛṣṇa’s divine greatness, so he removed the calves and boys and hid them, watching unseen from the sky.
It highlights that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme controller, yet by His own māyā He appears like an ordinary child—without losing His full divinity or power.
Cultivate reverent wonder and humility: even the greatest beings are amazed by the Lord, so a devotee should rely on bhakti rather than pride in knowledge or status.