Shloka 61
Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys
Brahma-vimohana-līlā
तत्रोद्वहत् पशुपवंशशिशुत्वनाट्यं ब्रह्माद्वयं परमनन्तमगाधबोधम् । वत्सान् सखीनिव पुरा परितो विचिन्व- देकं सपाणिकवलं परमेष्ठ्यचष्ट ॥ ६१ ॥
tatrodvahat paśupa-vaṁśa-śiśutva-nāṭyaṁ brahmādvayaṁ param anantam agādha-bodham vatsān sakhīn iva purā parito vicinvad ekaṁ sa-pāṇi-kavalaṁ parameṣṭhy acaṣṭa
Tại đó, Phạm Thiên thấy Chân Lý Tuyệt Đối—đấng duy nhất không hai, trọn vẹn tri kiến và vô hạn—đang đóng vai một đứa trẻ trong gia đình mục đồng, đứng một mình như trước, tay cầm một miếng thức ăn, tìm khắp nơi đàn bê và các bạn mục đồng của Ngài.
The word agādha-bodham, meaning “full of unlimited knowledge,” is significant in this verse. The Lord’s knowledge is unlimited, and therefore one cannot touch where it ends, just as one cannot measure the ocean. What is the extent of our intelligence in comparison to the vast expanse of water in the ocean? On my passage to America, how insignificant the ship was, like a matchbox in the midst of the ocean. Kṛṣṇa’s intelligence resembles the ocean, for one cannot imagine how vast it is. The best course, therefore, is to surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Don’t try to measure Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse states that Kṛṣṇa—while acting as a cowherd child—remains the Supreme nondual Brahman, infinite and possessing unfathomable knowledge, showing that His humanlike pastimes never diminish His divinity.
In the Brahmā-vimohana episode, Brahmā observes Kṛṣṇa at the spot of the midday meal while Kṛṣṇa appears to be searching for the missing calves and boys—setting the stage for Brahmā’s realization of Kṛṣṇa’s supreme, inconceivable power.
It teaches devotees to see the Divine’s closeness and sweetness (mādhurya) without forgetting His supremacy—encouraging loving devotion, humility, and trust that God can be present in ordinary daily life.