Five Ways The Fruit Vendor Could Have Responded To Krishna Approaching With Payment

“While Krishna was going to the fruit vendor very hastily, most of the grains He was holding fell. Nonetheless, the fruit vendor filled Krishna’s hands with fruits, and her fruit basket was immediately filled with jewels and gold.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.11.11)

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फलविक्रयिणी तस्य च्युतधान्यकरद्वयम्
फलैरपूरयद् रत्नै: फलभाण्डमपूरि च

phala-vikrayiṇī tasya
cyuta-dhānya-kara-dvayam
phalair apūrayad ratnaiḥ
phala-bhāṇḍam apūri ca

1. Go ask your mommy and daddy for more

“Isn’t that sweet? You are trying to buy some fruit. You must be hungry. Did your parents put you up to it? There is only one problem, my dear. I do not see the proper payment. Sadly, I cannot give you anything. You have to learn how business works. Businesses cannot operate on frequent losses. Maybe your mother and father would be kind enough to help you out. Please, can you go back and ask them. Would you do that for me?”

2. Here is an invoice

“Isn’t that sweet? You are trying to make a purchase. You are in such a rush to grow up. I like your enthusiasm. It is endearing to see you try to imitate the adults. The problem is that you do not have sufficient payment. There is barely anything in your hands, which are lotus-like. I will tell you what I am going to do. I will give you fruit for now, but you have to promise to pay the full amount at a later time. I am going to write out an invoice. You are too young to know what that is, but keep it with you. Show it to your mommy and daddy and they will know what it is. Hold it carefully; certainly more carefully than you treated those grains on your way here.”

3. Let me cut this fruit in half

“Isn’t that sweet? You want some fruit. I do carry the tastiest in the land. You have come to the right place. There is only one problem. You do not have enough to pay me. There is barely anything left in your hands. Based on what you do have, I think I can make an exception. I will take this one piece of fruit and cut it in half. That is still more than what you should be getting, but I will let you slide this one time. Because you are so adorable, and all.”

4. Go pick up the grains that fell

“Isn’t that sweet? You want to purchase some fruit. You lack sufficient payment, though. That is a problem. I know what happened. I think you do, as well. All those grains fell out of your hands. I think you should turn around and pick up every last morsel that fell. Make it like a scavenger hunt. Otherwise, those gifts of nature will go to waste. People might be upset at me for disciplining you in this way, but you will thank me later on. Kids should learn early on. It is a rough and tough world out here. No one is ever going to give you a hand out. You have to learn to be tough. Once you gather all the grains, spending all that time, you will acquire an appreciation for how an economy works. You will not be so frivolous with currency in the future.”

5. You get all the fruit that you want

Depending on which part of the world you are from, the living conditions you had while growing up, the role models people looked up to in the family, and your general disposition, the interaction of a young Shri Krishna with the fruit vendor in Gokula-Vrindavana will either melt your heart or leave you scratching your head. To get an understanding for the latter, we consider the following review left by a recent expat who has moved to a foreign country:

“You know, the people in this part of the world are different. You have to get used to it. It takes time. They do not pay much attention to timelines and deadlines. Promptness is not their strength. But they don’t mind if you are late, either. One thing to keep in mind is that these people love children. I cannot emphasize that enough. It is almost like they worship the little ones. You will have to get used to that. The kids run around, without a care in the world. They have such an enthusiasm to them. It is kind of nice to see.”

Meanwhile, someone who is native to that part of the world cannot understand why such a sentiment needs to be expressed. If someone is commenting that people really love their children, then what is the alternative? How are children treated in other parts of the world? Are there people who do not love their children? What does that even mean? Is this what explains corporal punishment for an offender who is barely out of diapers? Does this explain the fear in the general sense, in how those same children later lack a meaningful connection with their parents?

As His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains, the fruit vendor from Krishna-lila was aboriginal. She was not necessarily of the highest status. She took it upon herself to approach people of the village with fruit. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, after all. Social status does not matter much to Him, as it is a temporary designation in the grand scheme of things.

“Aborigines generally go to the villagers to sell fruits. How much the aborigines were attached to Krishna is here described. Krishna, to show His favor to the aborigines, would immediately go purchase fruits, bartering with paddy in His hand as He had seen others do.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 10.11.10 Purport)

As a young Krishna did not care about status, so the vendor was lenient with respect to payment. Krishna did not have enough left to take any fruit. It would be like going to the supermarket and forgetting your wallet. Except there is no guarantee that you will return or that your credit cards will work once you find them. This was not pretend or make-believe for the fruit vendor. Selling fruit is what she did. It was her occupation.

Still, she chose the route of sacrifice. Never mind the particulars, as Krishna should be pleased. Krishna should be happy. If He wants fruit, He will get fruit. Payment is not an issue on this day. Of course, no one loses in the proposal. It was not like the fruit vendor was bargaining. She did not expect anything in return for her kindness, but Krishna had other plans.

In Closing:

With other plans in mind,
Despite sacrifice to find.

That abundant fruit to give,
Like loan the business to forgive.

All for that beautiful smile to see,
Most adorable child is He.

Rewarded with jewels in basket found,
Moment from Krishna-lila profound.