Shloka 21
Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys
Brahma-vimohana-līlā
तत्तद्वत्सान्पृथङ्नीत्वा तत्तद्गोष्ठे निवेश्य स: । तत्तदात्माभवद् राजंस्तत्तत्सद्म प्रविष्टवान् ॥ २१ ॥
tat-tad-vatsān pṛthaṅ nītvā tat-tad-goṣṭhe niveśya saḥ tat-tad-ātmābhavad rājaṁs tat-tat-sadma praviṣṭavān
O King, Kṛṣṇa took each calf separately and placed it in its own cowshed; then, becoming each cowherd boy, He entered each of their homes.
Kṛṣṇa had many, many friends, of whom Śrīdāmā, Sudāmā and Subala were prominent. Thus Kṛṣṇa Himself became Śrīdāmā, Sudāmā and Subala and entered their respective houses with their respective calves.
FAQs
This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s yogamāyā potency: He places each calf in its own stall and then becomes each calf’s very identity, entering each corresponding home—showing His inconceivable ability to manifest many forms without ceasing to be one Supreme Person.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates the Vraja pastimes to King Parīkṣit; the address “O King” marks the direct instruction to the listener, emphasizing the wonder of Kṛṣṇa’s līlā within the Brahmā-vimohana episode.
Remembering that the Lord can be present in countless ways helps a devotee develop faith and dependence on Him—seeing divine care behind life’s many situations and cultivating steady bhakti rather than anxiety.