Shloka 28
Uddhava’s Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and the Theology of the Lord’s Disappearance
कौमारीं दर्शयंश्चेष्टां प्रेक्षणीयां व्रजौकसाम् । रुदन्निव हसन्मुग्धबालसिंहावलोकन: ॥ २८ ॥
kaumārīṁ darśayaṁś ceṣṭāṁ prekṣaṇīyāṁ vrajaukasām rudann iva hasan mugdha- bāla-siṁhāvalokanaḥ
The Lord displayed charming deeds befitting childhood for the people of Vraja to behold—now as if crying, now laughing—innocent and enchanting, yet appearing like a lion cub.
If anyone wants to enjoy the childhood pastimes of the Lord, then he has to follow in the footsteps of the residents of Vraja like Nanda, Upananda and other parental inhabitants. A child may insist on having something and cry like anything to get it, disturbing the whole neighborhood, and then immediately after achieving the desired thing, he laughs. Such crying and laughing is enjoyable to the parents and elderly members of the family, so the Lord would simultaneously cry and laugh in this way and merge His devotee parents in the humor of transcendental pleasure. These incidents are enjoyable only by the residents of Vraja like Nanda Mahārāja, and not by the impersonalist worshipers of Brahman or Paramātmā. Sometimes when attacked in the forest by demons, Kṛṣṇa would appear struck with wonder, but He looked on them like the cub of a lion and killed them. His childhood companions would also be struck with wonder, and when they came back home they would narrate the story to their parents, and everyone would appreciate the qualities of their Kṛṣṇa. Child Kṛṣṇa did not belong only to His parents, Nanda and Yaśodā; He was the son of all the elderly inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and the friend of all contemporary boys and girls. Everyone loved Kṛṣṇa. He was the life and soul of everyone, including the animals, the cows and the calves.
FAQs
This verse describes Krishna’s kaumāra-līlā—His irresistibly charming childlike gestures that delighted the Vrajavāsīs, mixing playful smiles with the appearance of crying, and fearless, lion-like glances.
It highlights the sweetness and mystery of Krishna’s līlā: His expressions can be playfully paradoxical, enchanting the devotees and deepening their affectionate service mood.
Regularly hearing and remembering Krishna’s gentle childhood pastimes softens the heart, reduces anxiety, and strengthens loving devotion (bhakti) through positive divine contemplation.