The Forest Fire

One day, the young cowherd boys drove their herds into the forest to graze. After letting the cows wander, they began to play together.

Krishna (joyfully): “How beautiful this forest is! The bees are humming, the peacocks are calling, and the birds are singing!”

Balarama (excitedly): “Look! The birds are flying from branch to branch, and their shadows dance across the ground!”

Madhumangala (mischievously): “Hey! What if we catch a bird’s shadow with our feet — will the bird stop flying?”

Subala (laughing): “Let’s try it! Let’s chase their shadows!”

The boys ran, laughing, after the fluttering shadows, while the cows grazed peacefully nearby.

Cow 1 (happily): “Look at that lush green grass on the next meadow! Moo!”

Cow 2: “Let’s go taste it! Moo!”

The cows wandered off from one meadow to another, each patch greener than the last, until they went deep into the forest and got lost among the tall reeds.

Meanwhile, the boys suddenly realized the cows were gone.

Krishna (seriously): “We’ve been playing too long — we forgot our cows!”

Balarama (worried): “Where could they have gone?”

Krishna (concerned): “How could we lose them?”

Balarama (bravely): “Come on! Let’s go find them!”

The boys began searching everywhere, calling out, but couldn’t find the cows.

Balarama (excitedly): “Look! Here are hoofprints in the soil!”

Krishna: “Let’s follow them — they’ll lead us there!”

Following the tracks, they went deeper and deeper into the forest.

Krishna (calling out): “Harini! Hasini! Where are you, my cows?”

Cow 1 (joyfully): “That’s Krishna’s voice! Moo!”

Cow 2: “Krishna, we’re here! Moo!”

Krishna (affectionately): “My dear ones! Come, let’s go home!”

Balarama (relieved): “Thank goodness we found you!”

But just then, flames began to rise around them — a great forest fire had broken out!

Madhumangala (frightened): “Fire! Fire! The flames are all around us!”

Subala (panicking): “It’s getting closer — we can’t escape!”

Cow 1: “The heat is burning us! Moo!”

Cow 2: “I’m scared! Moo!”

Subala (pleading): “O Krishna! O mighty hero! O Balarama, whose strength knows no bounds!”

Madhumangala (desperate): “Please, save Your faithful friends from this terrible fire!”

Subala: “We have no refuge but You!”

Madhumangala: “Krishna, don’t let Your friends perish!”

Krishna (calmly): “Close your eyes — and do not be afraid.”

The boys and cows shut their eyes tightly. And then the Supreme Lord opened His mouth — and swallowed the raging fire.

Krishna (smiling): “That’s it. There’s nothing to fear now. Open your eyes.”

Madhumangala (astonished): “It’s true! The fire is gone!”

Subala (in awe): “This is a miracle! Krishna, You’ve shown us Your divine power!”

Madhumangala: “Only God could do something like this!”

Subala: “But… Krishna can’t be God — He’s just our friend, a simple cowherd boy!”

Madhumangala: “Of course! But still — the fire vanished!”

Subala (thinking): “Maybe He’s a demigod? The elements obey the demigods!”

Madhumangala (proudly): “Exactly! And since He’s our friend, that makes us demigods too! That explains my greatness!”

Subala (laughing): “Then we’re all demigods — masters of the elements!”

The sun was setting, painting the sky with gold. Krishna and Balarama led the cows home.

Krishna (laughing): “Come on, demigods! Let’s go home before our mothers start to worry!”

On the way, the boys praised their friend.

Madhumangala (admiringly): “Krishna, You’re amazing!”

Subala (excitedly): “As soon as we closed our eyes, the fire disappeared!”

Madhumangala (proudly): “Our Krishna can do anything!”

Subala (happily): “How lucky we are to have a friend like Him!”

Cow 1 (gratefully): “Thank You, Krishna, for saving us! Moo!”

Cow 2 (tenderly): “We’ll give You our sweetest milk! Moo!”

Balarama: “Krishna, play Your flute for us!”

Krishna lifted His flute and played a soft, gentle melody. The forest glowed with peace once more, and all the fears and troubles of the day melted away in the sweetness of His song.