“Our dear friend Yashoda, your son sometimes comes to our houses before the milking of the cows and releases the calves, and when the master of the house becomes angry, your son merely smiles. Sometimes He devises some process by which He steals palatable curd, butter and milk, which He then eats and drinks. When the monkeys assemble, He divides it with them, and when the monkeys have their bellies so full that they won’t take more, He breaks the pots. Sometimes, if He gets no opportunity to steal butter or milk from a house, He will be angry at the householders, and for His revenge He will agitate the small children by pinching them. Then, when the children begin crying, Krishna will go away.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.8.29)

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वत्सान् मुञ्चन् क्‍वचिदसमये क्रोशसञ्जातहास:
स्तेयं स्वाद्वत्त्यथ दधिपय: कल्पितै: स्तेययोगै:
मर्कान् भोक्ष्यन् विभजति स चेन्नात्ति भाण्डं भिन्नत्ति
द्रव्यालाभे सगृहकुपितो यात्युपक्रोश्य तोकान्

vatsān muñcan kvacid asamaye krośa-sañjāta-hāsaḥ
steyaṁ svādv atty atha dadhi-payaḥ kalpitaiḥ steya-yogaiḥ
markān bhokṣyan vibhajati sa cen nātti bhāṇḍaṁ bhinnatti
dravyālābhe sagṛha-kupito yāty upakrośya tokān

1. Upsetting small children

“He must really not like us. Repeatedly, with this disturbance. We are beginning to predict the patterns. It is like counting on the sun to rise in the morning. Just when there is peace in the home. Just when we have finally found the key to establishing an equilibrium, to bringing a balance, He comes here and ruins everything. Our children start to cry, and He just runs away. It is like He takes pleasure from it.”

2. Depleting reserves

“He must really not like us. Is there something wrong at home? Are the cows not producing enough? We are not hoarders, trust me. We are not hiding anything from anyone. We are simply doing what we always do. Why does He have to come in here and take our stuff? It is like He prefers our products over anything available anywhere else. We try to place the containers at a height only reachable by adults, but that does not stop Him from succeeding.”

3. Making unannounced visits

“He must really not like us. It is always at the worst times. When we are involved in something else. It is like He would rather have us distracted. His success hinges upon deception. He can better deceive when we are preoccupied. Who would think a small child would have crafted such a reliable and stable business plan of sorts?”

4. Colluding with neighborhood animals

“He must really not like us. It is not enough to cause a disturbance. He is not happy with only taking from our storerooms. He has no problem showing up without an invitation. He feels the need to go further and involve the local animals. Those pesky monkeys who are always up to no good. They are on the receiving end of the stolen merchandise. They have no concern for how the food was secured, whether it was through lawful means or not.”

5. Pretending to be innocent

“He must really not like us. He knows exactly what He is doing. He knows exactly where He has been. He always knows that we know what He has been up to. But for some reason, He pretends to be innocent in front of His mother. What a clever little child. He has a certain charm to Him, we must admit. He annoys us, but the long-term effect is something different. It is almost like He wants to make sure we are paying attention to Him.”

…

The critics have their justifications. They make their accusations. He is a false god, you see. He is the central figure in that demonic cult, the one that worships cows and urges others to do the same.

“Sorry, pal, but we are not a bunch of weirdos. Don’t you even look at my cat or dog the wrong way, but I will surely sanction the slicing of the throat of the adult female animal that produces milk upon sight of her children. That’s what rational people do.”

In another case, the antagonism is due to the limitation placed on the standing. He is just a prophet, you see. One in a line of many.

“It is silly to consider Him otherwise. He appeared in this world, made a mark, and then left. Many others have done the same, after the fact. Many others will continue to teach, into the future. We do not insist upon exclusivity. We are not saying any one prophet is better than another.”

Subtly implied is that if the real thing should ever appear, to have the direct association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, supplication would surely be central to the interaction. And a steady dose of it, in fact. In the manner that people show up to a house of worship once a week and beg for clemency for their offenses committed over the recent past, if the highest celebrity figure were to be available to the community at large, it would make sense for people to live in some kind of fear. There would be an enhanced awareness, as if the company you work for has surreptitiously installed time-tracking software, as a means to measure your productivity.

Indeed, there is more than one way to keep a person alert. Someone might fear God, without ever properly identifying Him. They might be so attune to His ways, in this steady consciousness of His presence, it is like He never leaves. That highest being of all might also be the greatest nuisance. I will complain about Him to everyone I know, at all times of the day, including to people who have influence over His behavior.

Except deep down, in an honest assessment, I do not really mind. I actually enjoy the disturbance. The things which annoy me actually bring great delight. It is not the vision of God that others would easily understand, identify, or rationalize, but to the people of Gokula-Vrindavana, it is the only vision of God that they want. It is the one that they will always keep, whether others insist upon it or not, whether it leads them to the highest destination or to some other place. As long as that butter thief is in their midst, there is never a chance to forget Him.

In Closing:

In that consciousness set,
Never a chance to forget.

Despite on rafters to save,
That intruder steady and brave.

Despite lack of sufficient light,
With effulgence amazing and bright.

Perhaps annoying me night and day,
But preferred in that vision to stay.

Categories: the five

Tags: bhakti, dailyprompt, krishna lila, poem, poems, poetry, yoga