Shloka 23
Garga Muni Names Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; the Butter-Thief Pastimes; Yaśodā Sees the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth
तन्मातरौ निजसुतौ घृणया स्नुवन्त्यौ पङ्काङ्गरागरुचिरावुपगृह्य दोर्भ्याम् । दत्त्वा स्तनं प्रपिबतो: स्म मुखं निरीक्ष्य मुग्धस्मिताल्पदशनं ययतु: प्रमोदम् ॥ २३ ॥
tan-mātarau nija-sutau ghṛṇayā snuvantyau paṅkāṅga-rāga-rucirāv upagṛhya dorbhyām dattvā stanaṁ prapibatoḥ sma mukhaṁ nirīkṣya mugdha-smitālpa-daśanaṁ yayatuḥ pramodam
Walau tubuh kedua bayi itu berlumur lumpur bercampur kotoran dan air kencing sapi, Mereka tampak sangat indah. Saat Mereka mendekati ibu Mereka, Yaśodā dan Rohiṇī, dengan kasih sayang yang lembut, mengangkat dan memeluk Mereka, lalu menyusui Mereka dengan susu yang mengalir dari payudara. Ketika menyusu, Mereka tersenyum polos dan gigi kecil tampak; melihatnya, para ibu merasakan kebahagiaan rohani yang agung.
As the mothers cared for their respective babies, by the arrangement of Yoga-māyā the babies thought, “Here is My mother,” and the mothers thought, “Here is my son.” Because of affection, milk naturally flowed from the mothers’ breasts, and the babies drank it. When the mothers saw small teeth coming in, they would count them and be happy, and when the babies saw Their mothers allowing Them to drink their breast milk, the babies also felt transcendental pleasure. As this transcendental affection continued between Rohiṇī and Balarāma and Yaśodā and Kṛṣṇa, they all enjoyed transcendental bliss.
FAQs
This verse shows Yaśodā and Rohiṇī overwhelmed by tender affection, embracing baby Kṛṣṇa and rejoicing simply by seeing His innocent smile while He nurses—illustrating pure vātsalya-bhakti.
Kṛṣṇa is cared for in Gokula by His mother Yaśodā, and also by Rohiṇī (Balarāma’s mother), who lives there; both nurture Him with maternal love.
By serving the Lord with protective, selfless care—seeing Him as one’s beloved child through worship, heartfelt prayer, and attentive service—without calculation or desire for recognition.