Shloka 22
Garga Muni Names Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; the Butter-Thief Pastimes; Yaśodā Sees the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth
तावङ्घ्रियुग्ममनुकृष्य सरीसृपन्तौ घोषप्रघोषरुचिरं व्रजकर्दमेषु । तन्नादहृष्टमनसावनुसृत्य लोकं मुग्धप्रभीतवदुपेयतुरन्ति मात्रो: ॥ २२ ॥
tāv aṅghri-yugmam anukṛṣya sarīsṛpantau ghoṣa-praghoṣa-ruciraṁ vraja-kardameṣu tan-nāda-hṛṣṭa-manasāv anusṛtya lokaṁ mugdha-prabhītavad upeyatur anti mātroḥ
Lorsque Kṛṣṇa et Balarāma rampaient dans les endroits boueux de Vraja, formés par la bouse et l’urine des vaches, leur mouvement rappelait le glissement des serpents, et le tintement de leurs grelots de cheville était ravissant. Charmés par le son des grelots d’autrui, ils suivaient les gens comme s’ils allaient vers leurs mères; mais voyant que c’étaient d’autres personnes, ils prenaient peur avec naïveté et revenaient aussitôt vers leurs véritables mères, Yaśodā et Rohiṇī.
When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were crawling about Vrajabhūmi, They were enchanted by the sound of ankle bells. Thus They sometimes followed other people, who would enjoy the crawling of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and exclaim, “Oh, see how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are crawling!” Upon hearing this, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma could understand that these were not Their mothers They were following, and They would return to Their actual mothers. Thus the crawling of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma was enjoyed by the people of the neighborhood, as well as by mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī and the two children Themselves.
FAQs
This verse continues the Damodara episode: Krishna (with Balarama) crawls while dragging the mortars tied to His ankles, and the Vraja residents joyfully follow the sound—showing how the Supreme Lord becomes bound by devotees’ love.
The delightful noise of the mortars scraping in Vraja’s lanes drew their attention; their hearts became pleased, and they followed to see Krishna’s playful, astonishing pastime.
It teaches to cultivate simple, affectionate devotion—seeing God not only with awe but with loving closeness—so that spiritual life becomes heartfelt, personal, and steady.