Shloka 31
Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys
Brahma-vimohana-līlā
समेत्य गावोऽधो वत्सान् वत्सवत्योऽप्यपाययन् । गिलन्त्य इव चाङ्गानि लिहन्त्य: स्वौधसं पय: ॥ ३१ ॥
sametya gāvo ’dho vatsān vatsavatyo ’py apāyayan gilantya iva cāṅgāni lihantyaḥ svaudhasaṁ payaḥ
Arrivées en bas, les vaches rejoignirent les veaux. Bien qu’elles eussent mis bas récemment, l’affection grandissante les fit laisser les veaux plus âgés téter à leurs pis; puis, dans l’anxiété, elles léchèrent leurs corps comme si elles voulaient les avaler.
FAQs
This verse shows the mother cows’ overwhelming vatsalya (parental affection): despite being full of milk, they nursed again and licked the calves as if to absorb them—revealing extraordinary love awakened by Krishna’s presence.
In the Brahmā-vimohana-līlā, Krishna expanded Himself to become the calves (and later the boys). Because the calves were Krishna, the cows’ natural affection intensified into a divine, irresistible love.
Cultivate steady, selfless care in devotion—serving Krishna with the tenderness and consistency of a parent’s love, offering daily attention (hearing, chanting, service) even when one feels “already full” or busy.