← Stories from Vraja
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · 10.9

Mother Yashoda's love

Little Krishna, the butter pot, and the rope that always seemed too short.

Mother Yashoda and young Krishna beside a wooden mortar in a Vraja courtyard
Artistic illustration of the story’s theme

In Nanda's courtyard, mother Yashoda churned yogurt and sang about her son. Krishna came to ask for milk. She held Him close, but stepped away when milk began to boil over on the stove. Left alone for a moment, the little boy broke a pot of yogurt and went to eat butter.

Yashoda found Him beside a wooden mortar, sharing butter with the monkeys. Krishna ran when she approached, but she finally caught Him. Seeing His fear, she put down her stick. She decided to tie Him to the mortar so she could finish her work without another mishap.

However much rope she added, it remained two fingers too short. Yashoda grew tired, and Krishna, moved by her effort, allowed her to bind Him. In this scene, divine greatness meets a mother's simple and steadfast love.

Source: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · 10.9 ↗

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