Damodara-lila — How Mother Yashoda Bound Krishna

Mother Yashoda stood in her cozy kitchen, churning butter.

Her face glowed with love as she saw her little son Krishna toddle over, rubbing his sleepy eyes. 💛

Krishna (whining): “Mama, I’m hungry! Give me some milk!”

Yashoda (smiling): “Of course, my little one. Come here.”

She sat down and began to nurse baby Krishna. But suddenly, she smelled the milk boiling over on the stove.

Yashoda (alarmed): “Oh no! The milk is spilling!”

Gently placing Krishna aside, she hurried to save the pot. Left alone, Krishna’s eyes filled with anger and tears.

He picked up a small stone, broke the pot of butter, and scooped out the creamy butter with His tiny hands. Then, hiding in a corner, He began eating — pretending to cry at the same time.

After finishing, Krishna tiptoed into the pantry, where more pots of fresh butter hung high from the ceiling. To reach them, He climbed up onto a wooden mortar. He began to eat and also shared the butter with the monkeys outside.

Krishna (laughing): “Eat, my friends! This is the best butter in all of Gokula!”

When Yashoda returned, she saw the broken pot and the spilled yogurt.

Yashoda: “Ah, these are surely the tricks of my naughty little boy!”

She took a small stick and went looking for Him. Peeking into the pantry, she saw Krishna feeding butter to the monkeys, happily giggling.

Yashoda (sternly): “Krishna! There you are!”

Krishna turned, saw the stick in her hand, jumped down from the mortar, and ran as fast as His tiny feet could carry Him. The monkeys, terrified, ran too!

Krishna (running and crying): “Mama, I won’t do it again!”

Mother Yashoda chased after Him — and though He was quick, her love was quicker. She finally caught Him. Krishna trembled, tears glistening on His cheeks, realizing He would be punished for His mischief.

Krishna (through tears): “Mother, I won’t do it again!”

Yashoda (thinking): “Oh, He’s so frightened… I can’t hurt Him. I’ll throw this stick away. But still, I must teach Him somehow not to be so naughty.”

Then she smiled.

“I know! I’ll tie Him to this mortar for a little while.”

She brought a rope to tie Krishna, but it turned out to be two fingers too short . She added another piece — still too short. She tied a third rope — and it was again two fingers short!

Yashoda (astonished): “How can this be?!”

She kept trying, again and again, her hands trembling, her forehead damp with sweat.

Yashoda (breathing heavily): “O Krishna… what am I to do with You?”

Seeing how exhausted His mother was, Krishna felt compassion.

Krishna (thinking): “My mother loves Me so much. She’s trying with all her heart to bind Me —

but no rope can bind the Lord of the Universe… Still, out of her pure love, I will let her tie Me.”

And then, finally, the ropes joined together perfectly. Mother Yashoda tied Krishna to the overturned mortar, smiled tenderly, and went back to her chores. Krishna sat quietly for a moment… then looked toward two tall trees in the courtyard.

Krishna (to Himself): “These trees aren’t ordinary. They are the sons of Kubera — Nalakuvara and Manigriva — cursed to stand here for many lifetimes. Sage Narada promised they would be freed by Me.

I love My devotees, and I shall keep that promise.”

Still bound to the mortar, Krishna crawled toward the trees and tugged with His strength.

The heavy mortar rolled and CRASH! — both trees fell with a thunderous sound.

From their broken trunks emerged two radiant beings.

Nalakuvara and Manigriva (bowing): “O Lord, thank You for Your mercy! You have freed us from our curse. We are forever grateful to You, Lord Krishna.”

Krishna smiled, radiant and calm, and returned to His play — as if nothing had happened at all.

Peace filled Gokula once more, and Mother Yashoda’s heart overflowed with joy for her playful, miraculous little son.