Shloka 35
Garga Muni Names Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; the Butter-Thief Pastimes; Yaśodā Sees the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth
नाहं भक्षितवानम्ब सर्वे मिथ्याभिशंसिन: । यदि सत्यगिरस्तर्हि समक्षं पश्य मे मुखम् ॥ ३५ ॥
nāhaṁ bhakṣitavān amba sarve mithyābhiśaṁsinaḥ yadi satya-giras tarhi samakṣaṁ paśya me mukham
श्रीभगवानुवाच— नाहं भक्षितवान् अम्ब मृत्तिकां कदाचन। सर्वे मे सखायो मिथ्याभिशंसिनः। यदि तेषां वाक्यं सत्यं मन्यसे, तर्हि समक्षं मे मुखं पश्यस्व॥
Kṛṣṇa presented Himself as an innocent child to increase the transcendental ecstasy of maternal affection. As described in the śāstra, tāḍana-bhayān mithyoktir vātsalya-rasa-poṣikā. This means that sometimes a small child speaks lies. For example, he may have stolen something or eaten something and yet deny that he has done so. We ordinarily see this in the material world, but in relation to Kṛṣṇa it is different; such activities are meant to endow the devotee with transcendental ecstasy. The Supreme Personality of Godhead was playing as a liar and accusing all the other devotees of being liars. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.12.11), kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ: a devotee may attain such an ecstatic position after many, many births of devotional service. Persons who have amassed the results of a vast amount of pious activities can attain the stage of associating with Kṛṣṇa and playing with Him like ordinary playmates. One should not consider these transactions of transcendental service to be untruthful accusations. One should never accuse such devotees of being ordinary boys speaking lies, for they attained this stage of associating with Kṛṣṇa by great austerities ( tapasā brahmacaryeṇa śamena ca damena ca ).
FAQs
In Canto 10, Chapter 8, Kṛṣṇa denies the accusation and invites Mother Yaśodā to look into His mouth—setting the stage for the revelation of His divine, all-universal form within a simple childlike pastime.
Other boys complained that Kṛṣṇa had eaten (dirt/butter). To reassure Yaśodā—and as part of His loving childhood līlā—He challenges the claim and asks her to verify by looking into His mouth.
It highlights calm innocence and transparency under accusation, while also reminding devotees that the Divine can reveal unlimited truth through ordinary moments when approached with love and sincerity.