Shloka 33
Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys
Brahma-vimohana-līlā
तदीक्षणोत्प्रेमरसाप्लुताशया जातानुरागा गतमन्यवोऽर्भकान् । उदुह्य दोर्भि: परिरभ्य मूर्धनि घ्राणैरवापु: परमां मुदं ते ॥ ३३ ॥
tad-īkṣaṇotprema-rasāplutāśayā jātānurāgā gata-manyavo ’rbhakān uduhya dorbhiḥ parirabhya mūrdhani ghrāṇair avāpuḥ paramāṁ mudaṁ te
そのとき息子たちを見た瞬間、牛飼いたちの思いは父性愛の甘露に満たされた。愛着が湧き、怒りは消え失せた。彼らは子どもを腕に抱き上げて抱擁し、その頭の香りを嗅いで至上の喜びを味わった。
After Brahmā stole the original cowherd boys and calves, Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself to become the boys and calves again. Therefore, because the boys were actually Kṛṣṇa’s expansions, the cowherd men were especially attracted to them. At first the cowherd men, who were on top of the hill, were angry, but because of Kṛṣṇa the boys were extremely attractive, and therefore the cowherd men immediately came down from the hill with special affection.
FAQs
This verse shows Vraja-prema as spontaneous, overwhelming love that arises simply from Kṛṣṇa’s glance, dissolving all resentment and culminating in intimate affection and supreme joy.
In the narrative, Kṛṣṇa expands Himself to become the calves and cowherd boys; seeing them, the cows’ love surges beyond normal maternal affection, so they lift, embrace, and smell the boys’ heads in ecstasy.
Cultivate remembrance and loving service so the heart softens; as devotion deepens, resentment fades and relationships become more compassionate and affectionate, reflecting the purifying power of bhakti.