Krishna began moving on His hands and knees. He crawled across the jeweled veranda. Sometimes the sound of His waist bells startled Him. Then He paused and turned His head in wonder. His movements delighted His mother. The gopis watched Him with pleasure. On the shining supports He saw reflections of birds. He tried to catch them with His soft fingers.
The women asked where His mouth, ears, and eyes were. Krishna pointed to them with His little finger. When asked about His teeth, He placed His hand over His mouth. With a smile He showed that they had not yet grown. Another woman asked who His mother and father were. He pointed to both with His hand. The nurse encouraged Him to say their names. In His indistinct words were the first sounds for mother and father.
At another time He noticed His own reflection on the shining floor. He tried to wipe it away with His palm, then returned fearfully to His mother. When He began standing beside the wall, He wanted to grasp His reflection's hand. But no real support was there, and He stumbled. With a saddened face He looked at Yashoda and began to cry. She gently caressed Him with her hands. She gave Him her finger to hold and slowly guided Him. Then His smile replaced His tears.
When He could walk, the nurse gave Him little household tasks. Nanda watched Him with curiosity. She called on Him to bring a plate, stool, or vessel. Krishna grasped what He could carry with both hands. He supported it against His little belly. He moved slowly and paused to rest. What was too heavy He merely touched and left behind. Upananda's and Sannanda's wives took Him onto their laps, protesting such exertion.
They objected to the nurse that the child should not be tired in that way. Affectionately they relieved Him of the task. On another occasion a woman promised Him butter if He danced. Krishna began dancing in a graceful rhythm. He moved His hands gently and placed His feet beautifully. His dance brought joy to Yashoda. When a woman teased Him about the shining golden mark on His chest, He shook His head. He laughed and made everyone around Him laugh.
Once Yashoda dressed Him in a delicate yellow garment around His waist. Krishna was not yet accustomed to it. He tried to remove it with His hands and protested tearfully. This childhood response also delighted His mother. On another occasion the women gathered to adorn Yashoda. Krishna playfully disturbed their work. He pulled at the ornaments and moved them into the wrong places. Thus His little actions became fresh occasions for a mother's delight.