Shloka 30

Garga Muni Names Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; the Butter-Thief Pastimes; Yaśodā Sees the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth

Devanagari script

हस्ताग्राह्ये रचयति विधिं पीठकोलूखलाद्यै- श्छिद्रं ह्यन्तर्निहितवयुन: शिक्यभाण्डेषु तद्वित् । ध्वान्तागारे धृतमणिगणं स्वाङ्गमर्थप्रदीपं काले गोप्यो यर्हि गृहकृत्येषु सुव्यग्रचित्ता: ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

hastāgrāhye racayati vidhiṁ pīṭhakolūkhalādyaiś chidraṁ hy antar-nihita-vayunaḥ śikya-bhāṇḍeṣu tad-vit dhvāntāgāre dhṛta-maṇi-gaṇaṁ svāṅgam artha-pradīpaṁ kāle gopyo yarhi gṛha-kṛtyeṣu suvyagra-cittāḥ

Translation

Apabila para gopi meletakkan susu dan dadih tinggi pada shikya yang tergantung dari siling sehingga Kṛṣṇa dan Balarāma tidak dapat mencapainya, Mereka menyusun papan-papan dan membalik lesung penumbuk sebagai helah untuk sampai. Mengetahui isi tempayan, Mereka menebuk lubang lalu mengambil sarinya. Ketika gopi-gopi tua sibuk dengan kerja rumah, Mereka masuk ke bilik gelap; kilau permata dan perhiasan pada tubuh menjadi pelita, dan dengan cahaya itu Mereka mencuri.

Synonyms

हस्त-अग्राह्येin (a place/thing) not reachable by hand

रचयतिarranges/makes

विधिम्a method/arrangement

पीठ-कोलूखल-आद्यैःwith stools, mortars, and the like

छिद्रम्a hole/opening

हिindeed

अन्तः-निहित-वयुनःone whose cleverness is hidden within (i.e., very crafty)

शिक्य-भाण्डेषुin the hanging vessels (in nets)

तत्-वित्the knower of that (i.e., expert in it)

ध्वान्त-आगारेin a dark room

धृत-मणि-गणम्bearing a cluster of gems

स्व-अङ्गम्his own body

अर्थ-प्रदीपम्a lamp for the purpose (of seeing)

कालेat the time

गोप्यःthe gopīs

यर्हिwhen

गृह-कृत्येषुin household chores

सु-व्यग्र-चित्ताःwith minds very preoccupied

Purport

Formerly, in every household, yogurt and butter were kept for use in emergencies. But Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would pile up planks so that They could reach the pots and would then pick holes in the pots with Their hands so that the contents would leak out and They could drink it. This was another means for stealing butter and milk. When the butter and milk were kept in a dark room, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would go there and make the place bright with the valuable jewels on Their bodies. On the whole, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma engaged in stealing butter and milk from the neighborhood houses in many ways.

Characters & Entities

Kṛṣṇa

Gopīs (Vraja cowherd women)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna stealing butter in Vraja?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s playful “theft” as a deliberate, clever pastime—using stools and the mortar to reach hanging pots—while the gopīs are busy, revealing His charming childhood līlā that attracts pure devotion.

Why do the gopīs keep butter and curd in hanging pots, and how does Krishna reach them?

The gopīs hang the pots to protect them, but Kṛṣṇa devises a method—stacking household items like stools and the mortar—and then makes openings in the containers to take the contents.

Practical application of Krishna’s childhood līlā in modern life?

The verse reminds devotees to see the Divine even in ordinary home life: sincere bhakti can turn daily duties into remembrance, and Kṛṣṇa’s sweetness draws the heart beyond mere rule-following into loving relationship.