Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 23
Garga Muni Names Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; the Butter-Thief Pastimes; Yaśodā Sees the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth
तन्मातरौ निजसुतौ घृणया स्नुवन्त्यौ पङ्काङ्गरागरुचिरावुपगृह्य दोर्भ्याम् । दत्त्वा स्तनं प्रपिबतो: स्म मुखं निरीक्ष्य मुग्धस्मिताल्पदशनं ययतु: प्रमोदम् ॥ २३ ॥
tan-mātarau nija-sutau ghṛṇayā snuvantyau paṅkāṅga-rāga-rucirāv upagṛhya dorbhyām dattvā stanaṁ prapibatoḥ sma mukhaṁ nirīkṣya mugdha-smitālpa-daśanaṁ yayatuḥ pramodam
尽管两位婴孩身上沾满了混着牛粪牛尿的泥土，却显得格外可爱。来到母亲身边时，雅输达与罗希妮满怀怜爱，将他们双臂抱起紧紧拥入怀中，并让他们吮吸胸前流出的乳汁。吮乳之际，婴孩露出天真的微笑，小小的牙齿隐约可见；母亲们见此，心中充满超然的喜乐。
As the mothers cared for their respective babies, by the arrangement of Yoga-māyā the babies thought, “Here is My mother,” and the mothers thought, “Here is my son.” Because of affection, milk naturally flowed from the mothers’ breasts, and the babies drank it. When the mothers saw small teeth coming in, they would count them and be happy, and when the babies saw Their mothers allowing Them to drink their breast milk, the babies also felt transcendental pleasure. As this transcendental affection continued between Rohiṇī and Balarāma and Yaśodā and Kṛṣṇa, they all enjoyed transcendental bliss.
FAQs
This verse shows Yaśodā and Rohiṇī overwhelmed by tender affection, embracing baby Kṛṣṇa and rejoicing simply by seeing His innocent smile while He nurses—illustrating pure vātsalya-bhakti.
Kṛṣṇa is cared for in Gokula by His mother Yaśodā, and also by Rohiṇī (Balarāma’s mother), who lives there; both nurture Him with maternal love.
By serving the Lord with protective, selfless care—seeing Him as one’s beloved child through worship, heartfelt prayer, and attentive service—without calculation or desire for recognition.