CHAPTER LXII
(THE CHILDISH FREAKS OF KRISHNA)
VAISHAMPAYANA said: - As time went on those two boys, named Krishna and Sangkarshana, began to crawl on their legs. Those two beautiful boys, resembling the rising sun, the same person in two bodies, as if turned out by one mould, began to assume the same form, to lie down on the same bed, to live on the same food, and to put on the same dress. They thus sported there like boys (1-3). Those two great energies, identical with the witness of the worlds, although of one body, assumed two human forms for the destruction of the demons and for accomplishing the only great work of the resuscitation of sacrifices. Although they were the protectors of the entire universe they were born, for this, as cow-herds (4-5). While they sported there they appeared like the sun and moon in the sky possessed by each other's rays (6). Going everywhere, they, having arms like serpents, appeared like two proud young elephants covered with dust (7). And sometimes with their persons pasted with ashes and powdered cow-dung they shone like two princes of fire (8). Sometimes they used to walk on knees and enter cow-sheds and used to sport there with their persons and hairs covered with cow-dung (9). Sometimes committing mischiefs to the inhabitants of Vraja those two boys used to create the delight of their sire with their laughing (10). Those two beautiful boys, of moon-like countenances, used to appear more charming when filled with curiosity and their locks disturbing their eyes (11). They grew exceedingly playful and naughty and used to walk all over Vraja. And Nanda could not (by any means) check them (12). One day Yashodā, worked up with anger, brought the lotus-eyed Krishna near the carriage. And fastening a rope round his waist and tying it to a mortar she repeatedly remonstrating with him, said "Go, if you are capable of doing it." Saying this she engaged in her work (13-14). When Yashodā was engaged in her household works, Krishna, with a view to surprise the inhabitants of Vraja and play, issued out of the courtyard (15).
Going out of the courtyard with that mortar Krishna went to the forest where the huge trees Yamala and Arjuna were (16). Placing that mortar between the two trees he began to drag it. For his thus dragging it the mortar was firmly fixed at the root of the trees. He then began to drag the trees Arjuna and Yamala. Being thus drawn by him with great force those two Arjuna trees were uprooted with their roots and branches. In order to show this to the milk-men the Lord, resorting to his heavenly strength, began to laugh there. That rope, by his power, became stronger (17-19). The milk-women, who were then going to the bank of the river Yamuna, saw the child in that condition and were filled with wonder. And weepingly they approached Yashodā (20). The women, with sorry faces, said to her :-"Tarry not a moment, O Yashodā and come with us quickly (21). The two huge trees, that are being worshipped as gods on account of their granting objects of desire, have fallen on your son (22). Being bound by a rope like a calf under the belly (of the cow) your boy is laughing between the two trees (23). Get up and go, O foolish woman. You think you are wise but you are stupid. Your son is alive as if he has been released from the mouth of Death" (24).
Hearing this, she was stricken with fear and began to bewail. She then went where the two trees were uprooted (25). She saw there her child placed between the two trees with the rope round his waist and dragging the mortar (26). All the milk-men and women, aged or youthful, of Vraja went there quickly to witness this wonderful scene (27). Those milk-men, who range in the forest, began to speak amongst themselves "Who has uprooted these two huge trees as if forming the extent of our village (28)? There is no storm, no rain, no fall of thunderbolt and no mischief created by elephants. Then why have these two trees, all on a sudden, fallen down (29) ? Alas! being felled down on the ground these two trees are shorn of beauty like clouds divested of water. O Nanda, these two Arjuna trees are very favourably disposed towards you and bent upon doing you good. Although they are huge they have fallen in such a way saving your child that his body has not been wounded in the least (30-31). Before this Putana had been slain and the carriage broken. And this uprooting of the trees is the third portend in Vraja (32). It is not meet for the milkmen to live any longer in this village, for these portends do not auger well" (33).
Thereupon releasing the lotus-eyed Krishna from the mortar, taking him up on his lap and looking at him again and again as if he had returned from the land of the dead Nanda could not attain to the consummation of happiness. Remonstrating then with Yashodā, he, followed by all milkman, returned to Vraja (34-35). From that day in which he was bound with the rope Krishna was called Dāmodara by all the milk-men of that village (36). O foremost of Bharatas, while living amongst milk-men, although a mere boy, he performed all these wonderful feats[1] (37).
[1] These miracles of Krishna's early life have been also described in Srimadbhagavatam, the greatest of all Vaishnava works. They have been recorded with the purpose of showing Krishna's superhuman power. The Hindus regard him as the incarnation of Vishnu and these miracles are meant to show that unless he had divinity in him he could not have performed these wonderful feats. The early writers took a special fancy for recording wonderful deeds performed by their heroe for proving his superhuman power and origin. It was not only a practice with the early Hindu authors but was so with the western writers too. The miracles, of the Old Testament, will attest this argument. The early life, of Krishna, when he worked these miracles, is described in three most important works, Vishnupurana, Bhagvatpurana and Harivamsha..
Source: https://archive.org/details/AProseEnglishTranslationOfHarivamsh
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