Five Reflections On The Image of Yashoda Binding Krishna

“’O naughty child, now try going from here, if you can.’ Having spoken thus, she returned to her household duties.” (Vishnu Purana, 5.6.15)

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यदि शक्नोषि गच्छ त्वम् अतिचञ्चलचेष्टित
इत्य् उक्त्वा च निजं कर्म सा चकार कुटुम्बिनी

yadi śaknoṣi gaccha tvam aticañcalaceṣṭita
ity uktvā ca nijaṃ karma sā cakāra kuṭumbinī

1. No long lines

Is this a temple established a long time ago? Are there patrons assembled at the crack of dawn, waiting in the queue to have their turn? Is there protocol for how to pray? Is there an offering that has to be made? Is this a fleeting experience, one that lasts but a few seconds, relegating the enjoyment to memory?

Actually, it is a devotee alongside the highest being of all. It is a mother. It is a housewife. It is a person described by the Sanskrit word kutumbini. She was in that role at the time. She was tending to household affairs. The job is not limited to one task. You take care of everything involving the home. From the food production to the care of the children. The scene depicts the outcome of a clash, where responsibilities went against one another. Should Yashoda keep an eye on the kitchen, with what was cooking on the stove? Or should she prioritize feeding her small child, who had asked for milk?

2. No distance through fear or respect

The child in this case is Krishna. He is the same Vishnu worshiped in awe and reverence, in the mood described by the acharyas as shanta-rasa. This is a stance of neutrality, of respecting from afar. Vishnu is the most opulent being of all. He is the source of the amazing light of Brahman. Vishnu is the Absolute Truth. He was around prior to Brahma, who is the creator. When everything is gone, Vishnu will remain.

अहम् एवासम् एवाग्रे
नान्यद् यत् सद्-असत् परम्
पश्चाद् अहं यद् एतच् च
यो ऽवशिष्येत सो ऽस्म्य् अहम्

aham evāsam evāgre
nānyad yat sad-asat param
paścād ahaṁ yad etac ca
yo ‘vaśiṣyeta so ‘smy aham

“Brahma, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains will also be I, the Personality of Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.9.33)

It makes sense to worship from a distance. It is good to carry a healthy level of respect. In this image, however, the devotee not only sets formalities aside, but they feel they are in the commanding position. Yashoda binds Krishna to a mortar. Yashoda does this as punishment, to teach Krishna a lesson. Yashoda is not afraid of approaching her son in this way.

3. A cleverness to get what He wants

Amazingly, this is exactly what Krishna wanted. It is like He looks for genuine parenting from Yashoda. She should not be afraid. She should treat Him like a loving parent would treat their son. If the son misbehaves, the parent corrects. They do so out of love. They are not really upset. They are not that angry, since they know breaking a pot of butter in anger is a minor offense.

Nevertheless, Krishna follows through. He pretends to be scared, in shedding tears. He is in charge of the entire creation, after all. Just what does He have to be afraid of? Yashoda is unsuccessful in her first few attempts. She cannot gather enough rope to tie Krishna to the wooden grinding mortar. It appears that only after Krishna provides sanction does she succeed. The sanction is subtle. You need to be blessed with the proper vision in order to see it.

4. Indescribable love

It is a child being punished. It is a child staying put. The Sanskrit word “sthana” refers to a position or standing. The deity in the temple become sthana, by agreeing to stay in one place. This allows others to worship. This facilitates the exercise of dharma, to make sure it is more than just a concept. The temple with the deity is like the playing field upon which dharma can be acted upon.

This particular scene is no different than the altar in a temple. The love shared between the two participants is indescribable. Who could ever imagine landing in such a position? Who would ever think of acting as a superior to the one who creates the many universes?

5. A place to live

We have many things to do in a day. We call them “responsibilities.” Outside of that, we have choices in how to spend our time. Play games. Visit places of interest. Talk to friends. We might be living in one place, but our mind goes to wherever it enjoys. In this respect, a person can choose to live in that image, which depicts a moment in time in the sacred land of Gokula. Across the ages, saints have composed beautiful songs about the event. This is to facilitate worship, to find real and lasting pleasure.

कार्तिके श्रीदामोदरं संपूज्य प्रतिदिनं सत्यव्रतमुनिप्रोक्तं श्रीदामोदराष्टकं पठेत्

kārtike śrīdāmodaraṃ saṃpūjya pratidinaṃ satyavratamuniproktaṃ śrīdāmodarāṣṭakaṃ paṭhet

“In the month of Kartika, having worshipped Shri Damodara, one should daily recite the Shri Damodarashtaka spoken by the sage Satyavrata.” (Shri Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 2.16.198)

In Closing:

From poetic words to give,
An eternal place to live.

After authorities consulting.
That beautiful image resulting.

In setting of Gokula finding,
Child to mortar binding.

By mother without any fear,
Showing pure devotion clear.