Shloka 18
स्वमातु: स्विन्नगात्राया विस्रस्तकबरस्रज: । दृष्ट्वा परिश्रमं कृष्ण: कृपयासीत् स्वबन्धने ॥ १८ ॥
sva-mātuḥ svinna-gātrāyā visrasta-kabara-srajaḥ dṛṣṭvā pariśramaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ kṛpayāsīt sva-bandhane
By mother Yaśodā’s strenuous effort, her whole body was drenched in perspiration, and the flowers and comb slipped from her hair. Seeing her so weary, child Kṛṣṇa became compassionate and consented to be bound.
When mother Yaśodā and the other ladies finally saw that Kṛṣṇa, although decorated with many bangles and other jeweled ornaments, could not be bound with all the ropes available in the house, they decided that Kṛṣṇa was so fortunate that He could not be bound by any material condition. Thus they gave up the idea of binding Him. But in competition between Kṛṣṇa and His devotee, Kṛṣṇa sometimes agrees to be defeated. Thus Kṛṣṇa’s internal energy, yoga-māyā, was brought to work, and Kṛṣṇa agreed to be bound by mother Yaśodā.
FAQs
This verse says Kṛṣṇa consented out of compassion, seeing Yaśodā’s exhaustion—showing that He becomes “conquered” by loving devotion (vatsalya-bhakti), not by force.
It teaches that the Lord responds to pure love; His mercy appears when devotion is sincere and selfless, as seen in Yaśodā’s tireless effort and affection.
Serve steadily with affection and sincerity rather than impatience for results; consistent effort in sādhana and seva invites grace, just as Yaśodā’s love moved Kṛṣṇa.