The Shreemad Bhagavatam | Episode 26: Baby Krishna’s Arrival in Gokul
In Gokul lived Nand Baba and Yashoda; a couple well past their youth, yet full of spirit. They belonged to a simple pastoral community, growing crops, tending cows, and living off the land. Life in Braj was modest and unhurried, untouched by urban complexities.
At that time, Bharat Varsh was dotted with small kingdoms, each governed by a local chieftain. Braj, too, was home to a few such rulers, including Vrishabhanu. Foremost among them was Nand Baba himself.
Widely admired, Nand and Yashoda radiated an innate goodness, their generosity evident in every glance and gesture. One day, a group of Brahmins arrived at their doorstep.
Hour of Anticipation
With deep reverence, Nand Baba and Yashoda served the Brahmins. Pleased with their devotion, the Brahmins lifted their palms in benediction: “May you live long! May you be blessed with a son!"
Nand Baba folded his hands. "Maharaj, your blessing fills our hearts, but we have remained without a child all these years.” The Brahmins’ eyes brimmed with conviction. "Our words do not fall to the dust. Because the blessing has been spoken, it shall come to pass. A son will surely grace your home.”
"Maharaj," Nand Baba hesitated, "what if a daughter is born to us instead?”
"We are no ordinary Brahmins," they said. "Should a daughter be born, we shall transform her into a boy." With that enigmatic promise, they faded into the winding paths of the countryside.
Before long, all of Braj was abuzz with the heartening news: Yashoda was expecting. "Our Braj ki Rani is to be a mother!" the villagers rejoiced. Month after month, the expectation grew. Finally, the month of Bhado arrived. The dark fortnight of the Krishna Paksh had reached its Ashtami Tithi. The universe itself seemed to align for the sacred moment. Afterall, the Lord was about to step onto the earth that very night.
Outside Nand Baba’s courtyard, the Brajvasis gathered under the ink-black sky. They waited for hours to hear the first cry of the newborn. But the hours dragged on with no sign of the child. The village elders, weary from a long day in the fields, chuckled softly, “Nand Baba, your little lala seems to be taking his sweet time! Our eyes grow heavy. We shall return at dawn to catch our first glimpse of him." Nand Baba laughed warmly, waving them home. "Yes, do go and get some rest."
Another hour passed.
Stifling a yawn, Nand Baba turned to Yashoda. "Your little one is in no hurry tonight. I will lie down just outside. Call me the second anything changes." He retired, leaving Yashoda in the care of his two sisters, Nanda and Sunanda. By the next hour, exhaustion pressed against Nanda’s eyelids. "I can barely keep my eyes open," she whispered to Sunanda. "I will lie down just beyond the doorway. Call me the moment you need me."
Then, there was only Sunanda. After another hour, she also began to doze off. "Yashoda, this is extraordinary!" she murmured, rubbing her tired eyes. "The child simply refuses to emerge. I shall be in the next room—just call out, and I will rush back." With that, she too left. And so, as the clock edged toward midnight, the house grew still, the lamps flickered low, and Yashoda was all alone.
The Wait Is Over!
Meanwhile, in Mathura, the divine child had just been born. Cradling Him in his arms, Vasudev ji stepped out of the prison. At that very moment, something extraordinary unfolded in Gokul. A baby girl was born to Yashoda. Exhausted by childbirth, she drifted into a deep, unconscious slumber, while the rest of the household remained fast asleep.
Entering Nand Baba’s home unnoticed, Vasudev gently laid the bluish-complexioned, baby boy beside the sleeping mother, lifted the newborn girl, and slipped back into the rainy night toward Mathura.
Now, the Supreme Lord lay nestled in the warmth of Gokul. Yet the world around Him remained utterly oblivious, wrapped in deep, unbroken slumber. It was as though He mused, "What is this? I have descended to the earth, and my people are fast asleep? This simply will not do.”
So, the infant let out a ringing cry.
The sound broke the stillness, rousing Yashoda back to consciousness. Her eyelashes fluttered open, and the first sight that greeted her was an exquisitely beautiful baby boy lying beside her. Completely unaware of the silent exchange that had taken place in the darkness, she gathered Him into her arms. Her heart overflowed with motherly love. He was her own. There was never a shadow of doubt.
The sisters in the adjacent rooms snapped awake and hurried to Yashoda's chamber. The moment they beheld the child, their faces lit up with delight, and every trace of weariness vanished. Unable to contain their joy, they bolted into the hallway, their voices echoing through the courtyard as they announced the blessed news to Nand Baba. With his heart leaping in anticipation, Nand Baba hurried in.
Yashoda had tenderly pulled a soft cloth over the child's face. "Yashoda," he exclaimed, "let me have darshan of your Lala!" A playful smile danced across Yashoda's face as she teasingly held him back. “Not so fast, Chief of Gokul. What will you give me for His mukh dikhai?” She referred to the cherished tradition of presenting a gift before beholding a newborn's face for the very first time. Nand Baba chortled warmly. "That…depends on the mukh."
Gently, Yashoda drew back the cloth. As Nand Baba's gaze fell upon the child, he stood spellbound by the baby's incomparable charm. "My goodness, Yashoda…” he gasped, tears of love welling in his eyes. “For this lala of yours, I gladly offer my tan, my mann, and my praan—my body, my mind, and my very soul!"
Soon, word swept across the meadows of Braj. Men, women, and children came running for little Krishna’s darshan and to congratulate the blessed couple. The air reverberated with the sweet hum of flutes, the thrum of drums, and cheerful cries of celebration spilling from every doorway. Overnight, the tranquil village blossomed into a festival of Nandotsav.
Nand ke anand bhayo, Jai Kanhaiya Lal ki!
Braj mein anand bhayo, Jai Yashoda Lal ki!
Shankar ji Comes to Braj
Among the many visitors was Shankar ji, drawn by an irresistible longing to behold baby Krishna. During the Treta Yug, when Ram had descended, Shankar ji had disguised His Form before going for the Lord’s darshan. But this time in Dwapar Yug, He came as He was.
Shiv ji knocked on the door. When Yashoda opened it, she was startled. Standing upon her porch was a figure with ash smeared across His body, matted locks, a garland of skulls, scorpions dangling from His ears, and a serpent coiled around His neck. Shiv ji spoke gently, “I have traveled from afar to seek the darshan of your newborn child.” Yashoda instinctively took a step back, her maternal instincts on high alert.
"That is not possible."
"Why not?" asked Shankar ji.
“My lala is barely two days old! If He lays eyes on you, He will be frightened out of His wits.” Yashoda replied firmly.
Shankar ji replied with a knowing smile, “Mother, He will not be frightened. The entire cosmos fears Him.”
“Say what you will,” Yashoda insisted, shaking her head as she went to close the door. “Take gold, take grain, ask for whatever wealth you desire—I shall gladly give it to you. But I will not let you see my child.”
What could a jeev offer Lord Shankar? The mystic powers—riddhis and siddhis—are but His maids, while Kuber, the god of wealth, is His servant. Yet, though Shankar ji is Bhagavad-svaroop Himself and Yashoda is a jeev, her position is uniquely exalted. The Supreme Lord had accepted her as His mother. Such is the glory of her love that even Lord Shankar honored her decision.
Shankar ji quietly retreated to the banks of the Yamuna. Sitting on the riverbank, He employed His final means. Closing His eyes, He cried out, “Shyamsundar! I came only for Your darshan... Will You not let me see You?”
Inside the house, baby Krishna suddenly burst into a wailing cry. Yashoda rushed to His cradle. She rocked Him, sang to Him, fed Him, but nothing worked. One of Yashoda’s companions leaned in and whispered, “Yashoda... you turned away that baba at the door. Who knows what mystic powers such holy men possess? Perhaps his unfulfilled desire has troubled the child.”
A pang of worry struck Yashoda. “Quickly!” she urged her maids. “Go to the river bank. Bring the holy baba back!” Moments later, Shankar ji was respectfully escorted back into the courtyard. And as little Krishna looked upon Shankar ji, He erupted into a bright, joyful, gurgling laugh. Shiv ji’s heart overflowed with bliss as He drank in the divine vision of the Lord playing the part of a helpless infant. Such was the beautiful pastime that took place when Shree Krishna was just two days old.
Relish this leela through Swamiji's nectarian narration. Watch here: Why Lord Shiv and Shree Krishna Cried for Each other | Mahashivratri Special - Swami Mukundananda
On the sixth day after Lord Krishna's birth, Nand Baba, accompanied by several Brajvasis, set out for Mathura to pay the annual taxes. There, Kans’s fear over his unseen adversary continued to fester, and a deadly new chapter was brewing...
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is more important: studying spiritual principles or hearing the Lord's divine pastimes?
Answer: Shravan related to God is of two kinds. The first is tattva gyan shravan—hearing or reading philosophical truths. This is essential because the clearer our understanding, the better we can apply those principles in practice. The second is leela shravan—hearing the pastimes of God. This is equally beneficial for a sadhak because it naturally leads to Roopdhyan (contemplation of the Lord's divine Form). The Gopis themselves glorified the power of leela shravan in the Gopi Geet, saying, “O Shree Krishna! Tormented by the pain of separation from You, we find solace by hearing narrations of Your divine pastimes.” This is the sweetness of katha ras. It deepens one's devotion.
Question: Why did Yashoda see Krishna as her son rather than the Supreme Lord?
Answer: In devotion, we can relate to God in different ways. Broadly, these fall into two categories: Aishwarya bhakti and Madhurya bhakti.
In Aishwarya bhakti, devotees contemplate God's almighty nature. The dominant mood is one of awe and reverence. In Madhurya bhakti, however, devotees share a close, personal relationship with Him. Yashoda's bond with Krishna is a beautiful example of this form of devotion. Its sweetness surpasses that of Aishwarya bhakti.
Hence, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj states:
सबै सरस रस द्वारिका, मथुरा अरु ब्रज माहिँ
मधुर, मधुरतर, मधुरतम, रस ब्रजरस सम नाहिँ ~ Bhakti Shatak, Verse 70
"The divine bliss of God is immensely sweet in all His forms. Yet there is a gradation in it—the bliss of His Dwaraka pastimes is sweet, the bliss of His Mathura pastimes is sweeter, and the bliss of His Braj pastimes is the sweetest."
In Madhurya bhakti, awareness of God's majesty recedes into the background, allowing devotees to relate to the Lord intimately. Shree Krishna does not remain God. He becomes the friend of the cowherds, the beloved of the Gopis, and the child of Yashoda.
Take your understanding of devotion to the next level with Narad Bhakti Sutras by Swami Mukundananda.