Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys
Brahma-vimohana-līlā
अम्भोजन्मजनिस्तदन्तरगतो मायार्भकस्येशितु- र्द्रष्टुं मञ्जु महित्वमन्यदपि तद्वत्सानितो वत्सपान् । नीत्वान्यत्र कुरूद्वहान्तरदधात् खेऽवस्थितो य: पुरा दृष्ट्वाघासुरमोक्षणं प्रभवत: प्राप्त: परं विस्मयम् ॥ १५ ॥
ambhojanma-janis tad-antara-gato māyārbhakasyeśitur draṣṭuṁ mañju mahitvam anyad api tad-vatsān ito vatsapān nītvānyatra kurūdvahāntaradadhāt khe ’vasthito yaḥ purā dṛṣṭvāghāsura-mokṣaṇaṁ prabhavataḥ prāptaḥ paraṁ vismayam
パリークシット大王よ、蓮華より生まれ天上の高界に住むブラフマーは、かつて至強のシュリー・クリシュナがアガースラを討ち、解脱させた御業を見て驚嘆した。今度は自らの力を少し示し、幼児の遊戯に没する“幻力の御子なる主”クリシュナの甘美な威徳を見極めようとして、クリシュナ不在の間に子牛と牧童たちを別の場所へ連れ去り隠した。だが間もなく、クリシュナの真の力を見て自ら絡め取られるのである。
When Aghāsura was being killed by Kṛṣṇa, who was accompanied by His associates, Brahmā was astonished, but when he saw that Kṛṣṇa was very much enjoying His pastimes of lunch, he was even more astonished and wanted to test whether Kṛṣṇa was actually there. Thus he became entangled in Kṛṣṇa’s māyā. After all, Brahmā was born materially. As mentioned here, ambhojanma janiḥ: he was born of ambhoja, a lotus flower. It does not matter that he was born of a lotus and not of any man, animal or material father. A lotus is also material, and anyone born through the material energy must be subject to the four material deficiencies: bhrama (the tendency to commit mistakes), pramāda (the tendency to be illusioned), vipralipsā (the tendency to cheat) and karaṇāpāṭava (imperfect senses). Thus Brahmā also became entangled.
Brahmā wanted to test and witness another enchanting display of Kṛṣṇa’s divine greatness, so he removed the calves and boys and hid them, watching unseen from the sky.
It highlights that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme controller, yet by His own māyā He appears like an ordinary child—without losing His full divinity or power.
Cultivate reverent wonder and humility: even the greatest beings are amazed by the Lord, so a devotee should rely on bhakti rather than pride in knowledge or status.