Glories Of The Son Of Mother Yashoda -by Srila Rupa Goswami

atrāsīt kila nanda-sadma śakaṭasyātrābhavad bhañjanaṁ
bandha-ccheda- karo ’pi dāmabhir abhūd baddho ’tra
dāmodaraḥ itthaṁ māthura-vṛddha- vaktra-vigalat- pīyūśa-dhārāṁ
pibann ānandāṣru-dharaḥ kadā madhu-purīṁ dhanyaś cariśyāmy aham

When will I become fortunate to visit Mathura Puri and shed tears of bliss as I drink from the stream of nectarean words flowing from the mouths of the old guides there who say, “Here was Nanda Maharaja’s Glories OfThe Son Of Mother Yashoda Srila Rupa Goswami atrāsīt kila nanda-sadma śakaṭasyātrābhavad bhañjanaṁ bandha-ccheda- karo ’pi dāmabhir abhūd baddho ’tra dāmodaraḥ itthaṁ māthura-vṛddha- vaktra-vigalat- pīyūśa-dhārāṁ pibann ānandāṣru-dharaḥ kadā madhu-purīṁ dhanyaś cariśyāmy aham When will I become fortunate to visit Mathura Puri and shed tears of bliss as I drink from the stream of nectarean words flowing from the mouths of the old guides there who say, “Here was Nanda Maharaja’s home. Here the cart was broken. Here Lord Damodara, who breaks the bonds of birth and death for His devotees, was Himself tied up with ropes by Mother Yashoda?” —Śrī Kaviśekhara nītaṁ nava-navanītaṁ kiyad iti kṛṣṇo yaśodayā prātaḥ iyad iti guru-jana- savidhe vidhṛta-dhaniṣṭhā- payodharaḥ pāyāt Mother Yashoda asked child Krishna: “How much butter did You take?” In the presence of all the grownups child Krishna grasped Dhanistha’s breast and said: “This much.” May that child Krishna protect us all. —Śrī Sāraṅga śambho svāgataṁ āsyatām ita ito vāmena padmodbhava krauñcāre kuśalaṁ sukhaṁ sura-pate vitteśa no dṛśyase itthaṁ svapna-gatasya kaiṭabha-ripoḥ śrutvā jananyā giraḥ kiṁ kiṁ bālaka jalpasīty anucitaṁ thūthū-kṛtaṁ pātu vaḥ Hearing sleeping Krishna say, “Shiva, welcome! Sit down. Brahma, you sit at my left. Karttikeya! Auspiciousness to you. Indra! Happiness to you. Kuvera! I did not see you.” Mother Yashoda said: “Child! What, what nonsense are You saying?” I pray these words of Mother Yashoda will protect you all. —Śrī Mayūra vatsa sthāvara-kandareṣu vicaran dūra-pracāre gavāṁ hiṁsrān vīkṣya puraḥ purāṇa-puruśaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ dhyāsyasi ity uktasya yaśodayā mura-ripor vavyāj jaganti sphuradbimboṣṭha-dvaya- gāḍha-pīḍana- vaśād avyakta-bhāvaṁ smitam Mother Yashoda said, “Child, when You take care of the cows far away in the forests or the caves of Govardhana Hill and You see dangerous wild animals, You should meditate on the ancient Supreme Person, Lord Narayana, and He will protect You.” As Lord Krishna heard these words, it was only with great difficulty that He prevented a smile from appearing on His bimba-fruit lips. May that suppressed smile protect all the worlds. —Śrī Abhinanda śyāmoccandra svapiśi na śiśo naiti mām adya nidrā nidrā-hetoḥ śṛnu suta kathāṁ kām apūrvāṁ kuruṣva vyaktaḥ stambhān naraharir abhūd dānavaṁ dārayiśyann ity uktasya smitam udayate devakī-nandanasya “O my rising dark moon, my child, Are You not asleep?” “No Mother. Sleep has not yet come to Me.” “Listen, my son. I will tell You a bedtime story that will make You fall asleep.” “What is this story I have never heard? Please tell it.” Mother Yashoda then told the story. When she came to the sentences, “Then Lord Narsiṁha appeared from the pillar and was was very eager to rip the demon to shreds,” a smile suddenly arose on child Krishna’s lips. —Śrī Sarvānanda mukta-munīnāṁ mṛgyaṁ kim api phalaṁ devakī phalati tat pālayati yaśoda nikāmam upabhuñjate gopyaḥ Devakī bore a precious fruit sought by the libearated sages, Yashoda protected that fruit, and now the gopis taste that fruit to their hearts content. —Śrī Dakṣiṇātya tāmbūlaṁ sva-mukhārdha- carcitam itaḥ ko me mukhe nikṣiped unmarga-prasṛtaṁ ca cāṭu-vacanaiḥ ko māṁ vaśe sthāpayet ehy ehīti vidūra-sārita- bhujaḥ svāṅke nidhāyādhunā keli-srasta- śikhaṇḍakaṁ mama punar vyādhūya badhnātu kaḥ Thinking of Mother Yashoda from Mathura Sri Krishna said: Now who will take half-chewed betelnuts from her own mouth and place them in Mine? Now who will subdue Me with sweet words when I depart from the path of righteousness? Now who will call: Come! Come!; wave her arm, and place Me on his lap? Now who will re-tie My peacock- feather when it falls because of My pastimes?

—Śrī Tairabhukta Kavi

—Taken from Śrī Padyāvalī of Srila Rupa Goswami, Translated by Kuśakratha dāsa