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Plate 64

Kṛṣṇa and Mother Yaśodā

When Lond Brahmā ordered Droṇa, the best of the Vaous, and his wite Dhara co increase progeny, they said unto him,"Dear father, we seek your benediction. Please let us be born on earth so that after our appearance the Supreme Lord will appear as our son and spread devotional service. In this way those born in the material world may very easily be delivered from misery." Brahmā agreed, and thus when Droṇa and Dhara took birth in Vṛndāvana as Nanda Mahārāja and mother Yaśodā, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared as their son and in their presence enacted His most attractive childhood pastimes. Their dealings with Kṛṣṇa were so powerful that simply by hearing of them anyone can very easily cross over the nescience of birth and death.

Having gotten Kṛṣṇa as their son, Nanda and Yaśodā developed their unalloyed devotion for Him, and all the men, women, boys, girls, and others in the cowherd community who associated with Kṛṣṇa naturally developed their own distinct feelings of love for Him.

Thus fulfilling the benediction of Lord Brahmā, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared with His plenary expansion Balarāma and performed all kinds of childhood pastimes to increase the transcendental pleasure of the residents of Vṛndāvana.

Painting by MURALĪDHARA DĀSA (1979)

Kṛṣṇa and Mother Yaśodā