Chapter 11: A New Residence, the Fruit Vendor and Vatsâsura and Bakâsura Defeated

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The cowherd men lead by Nanda heard the tumult of the falling trees and, afraid that it had been the thunder, went to the spot oh best of the Kurus. (2) Discovering that the two arjunas had fallen to the ground they, flabbergasted, had no idea what the cause of this apparent crash would be. (3) Who could have done this? The child, dragging the wooden mortar that He was bound to by the rope? How could this wondrous thing have happened? They were perplexed. (4) The other children said: 'He has done it, with the mortar getting across. He dragged it in between the trees! And there were also two personalities. We saw it with our own eyes!' (5) They could not believe what they said. 'That is not possible! How could such a small child have uprooted the trees?' But some of them had doubts [and deemed it very well possible].  (6) When Nanda saw that his son with a rope being tied to a big mortar was dragging around with it, he had to smile and released Him.

(7) The Supreme Lord encouraged by the gopîs, sometimes danced or sang for them, as if He was a simple, ordinary child they could control like a wooden doll. (8) Sometimes He on request carried a wooden seat, a measuring jug or a pair of shoes, to which He made fun with His relatives by striking His arms [as if He would be a strong adult]. (9) By acting like a child to the pleasure of everyone, the Supreme Lord in Vraja showed the world to what extent He submits to His devotees.

(10) Krishna [one day] heard a fruit vendor calling: 'Oh people, come and get your fruits!' And so the Infallible One, the Bestower of all Fruits who wanted some fruits, quickly grabbed some paddy and came to buy fruit. (11) What He had to offer  had slipped from the palms of His hands [on the way], but the fruit lady filled them [nevertheless] with fruits. Thereupon the entire basket of fruits filled with gold and jewels!

(12) After the incident with the arjunas Rohinî Devî once called for Krishna and Râma who were absorbed in their playing with the other children at the riverside. (13) When the boys immersed in their games upon being called did not show up, Rohinî sent mother Yas'odâ to take care of the sons. (14) As she was calling for her son Krishna and for the other boys whom He so late still was playing with, because of her love the milk flowed from her breasts. (15) 'Krishna, oh Krishna my lotus-eyed one, oh darling, stop playing and drink some milk. You must be tired and hungry my son! (16) Oh Râma, please come right now together with Your younger brother oh love of the family. You enjoyed Your breakfast this morning and You now must be needing some more! (17) Oh scion of Dâs'ârha ['worthy of service', the Yadus], the king of Vraja wants to eat and is waiting for You. Come here, be nice and let the other boys go home. (18) You are covered with dirt my son, come and take a bath. Today is the day of Your birth star, be clean and then we'll give cows to the brahmins! (19) Just see how the boys of Your age, being washed by their mothers, are all dressed up. You too with a bath, having eaten and being decorated should enjoy now.' (20) Mother Yas'odâ thus in her intense love considering the Highest of them All to be her son oh ruler of man, took Krishna and Râma by the hand and brought them home to get them presentable.'

(21) S'rî S'uka said: 'The elderly gopas who witnessed the great disturbances in the Big Forest came together with Nanda to discuss what was happening in Vraja. (22) Upananda [Nanda's elder brother], the oldest and wisest one with the greatest experience, said in that meeting what, according to the time and circumstances, to the interest of Râma and Krishna would be the best thing to do: (23) 'We who wish the best for our Gokula, should leave this place all together. Great disturbances are occurring here with the evil intent to kill the boys. (24) The reason for this is that, somehow or other with the grace of the Lord, He, this boy, was delivered from the hands of the Râkshasî [Pûtanâ] who came here to kill the children and because of the fact that the falling handcart almost hit Him. (25) And then the Lord of the Suras had to save Him from the demon in the form of a whirlwind who transported Him into the sky and so dangerously collapsed on the rocky ground. (26) Being protected by the infallible One the child and the other children also escaped from dying because of the two [falling] trees He got stuck in between. (27) As long as that devil [behind these attacks] is harassing us, we cannot stay in this cow place. To the interest of the boys we all together have to move to another place, before it is too late. (28) There is a[nother] forest named Vrindâvana [the 'clustered forest' *] with lots of fresh greenery and serene rock formations that with its variety of plants and wealth of grasses is a very suitable place for gopa, gopî and cow [go]. (29) Let us therefore immediately go there today and not waste any time. We get all carts ready and be on our way with the cows, our wealth, in front - if you all agree.'

(30) Hearing that, the gopas said unanimously: 'That is the right way, the correct approach', and began to assemble the cows and load their belongings. (31-32) Putting the elders, the children and women on the bullock carts and next their belongings, the gopas with the greatest care took their bows and arrows and departed together with the priests oh King, thereby keeping the cows in front and loudly vibrating their horns and bugles all around. (33) The gopîs, nicely dressed with their gold around their necks and their bodies decorated with fresh kunkum, sang during the ride on the carts with great pleasure about Krishna's pastimes. (34) Yas'odâ and Rohinî, beautifully together with Krishna and Balarâma being seated on one cart, were very happy to hear the stories being sung. (35) Reaching Vrindâvana, a place most agreeable throughout all seasons, they settled for a cow compound by placing their carts in a semi-circle like the form of the moon. (36) Oh ruler of man, when Râma and Mâdhava saw Vrindâvana with Govardhana hill and the banks of the Yamunâ, they were very happy. (37) The two boys with Their children's games and broken language thus delighted the inhabitants of the cow community [the new Vraja]. In due course of time They were old enough to take care of the calves. (38) Sporting in different ways with all kinds of games, They together with the other cowherd boys, tended the calves close to the lands of Vraja. (39-40) Sometimes blowing their flutes, sometimes hurling with a sling [for the fruits], sometimes moving their feet for the tinkling [of their ankle bells], sometimes playing cow and bull while bellowing loudly imitating the animals that fought with each other and sometimes imitating the sounds of other animals, They wandered around just like two normal children.