Shri Krishna’s Childhood Pastimes Reveal His Divinity
Shri Krishna’s Childhood Pastimes Reveal His Divinity: How His Astonishing Childhood Acts Revealed Him as the Supreme Being
Decolonized and retold by Jeffrey Armstrong (Kavindra Rishi)
A Summary of Śrīla Vyāsadeva’s Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Tenth Canto
---Without fully understanding the divine identity and limitless opulences of Shri Krishna—the Supreme Being incarnate—the simple and innocent cowherd men and boys of Vṛndāvana began to marvel at His extraordinary deeds. Though unaware of His cosmic stature, they were irresistibly drawn to the child whose actions eclipsed those of even the greatest sages and warriors.
One villager exclaimed, “My dear friends, how is it possible that such a miraculous boy has come to dwell among us? How can such a child be born in a cowherd’s home? He is only seven, and yet—He lifted Govardhana Hill as easily as the king of elephants lifts a lotus! For an elephant, such a flower is weightless—and in the same way, our Shri Krishna held aloft an entire mountain to protect us from Indra’s wrath, without effort or fatigue. It was as if Mother Earth herself offered no resistance to His touch.”
“Even when He was a mere infant—so small He could barely open His eyes—He displayed power beyond imagination. The dreadful Asura Pūtanā, cloaked in the illusion of a gentle mother, came to murder Him with poisoned milk. But as she nursed Him, He drank not only the milk—but her very life-force. That hideous being, who had slain countless children with her deadly touch, shrieked and fell to the earth in her monstrous form, sprawling across the land like a felled mountain. Yet in her arms, Shri Krishna looked as innocent as ever—as if nothing had happened.”
“And remember the handcart!” another said. “Only three months old, He lay sleeping under a heavy, towering cart loaded with household wares. That cart represented the burden of lifetimes, the weight of karma, of unconscious tradition, of material bondage. Suddenly, overcome with hunger, He began to cry. Waving His tiny legs in frustration, His delicate heel struck the axle—and in an instant, the cart shattered. Pots, wheels, and iron fittings flew in every direction. The Asura hidden within—Śakaṭāsura—was destroyed. How could the casual kicking of a baby’s feet destroy such a massive structure? Unless that child was Shri Bhagavān Himself?”
The villagers’ voices grew animated as more tales poured forth:
“When Shri Krishna was a year old, the whirlwind Asura Trinivarta seized Him and carried Him high into the sky like a cyclone. Higher and higher the Asura rose, determined to smash the child from above. But Shri Krishna, calm and radiant, simply clung to the Asura’s neck, weighing him down until the creature could no longer remain aloft. Dragged by the unbearable divine weight, the Asura plummeted to the ground—his body shattered on the rocks, while Shri Krishna sat unharmed amidst the dust, smiling.”
This līlā symbolizes how Shri Krishna defeats subtle, overwhelming forces that seek to uproot our inner stability.
The Asura Trinivarta, appearing as a violent whirlwind, represents the mental storms—pride, confusion, doubt, and chaos—that can suddenly seize a person and carry them away from grounded awareness. The fact that he targets Shri Krishna while He appears vulnerable shows how ego-driven forces often attack when one seems most defenseless.
But Shri Krishna, even as a child, remains unmoved—calm, radiant, and rooted in Divine Gravity. By simply clinging to the Asura’s neck and increasing His weight, He brings the whirlwind crashing down.
“Once, to discipline Him for His mischievous butter thefts, His mother tied Him to a grinding mortar. But the moment her back was turned, the crawling Shri Krishna dragged the heavy mortar between two ancient arjuna trees—trees cursed to stand immobile for generations. With a thunderous crack, they split and fell to the ground, revealing within them two radiant beings—Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva—freed from their curse by Shri Krishna’s touch. Who but Bhagavān could liberate the fallen with such playful ease?”
This līlā reveals that Shri Krishna, even when supposedly bound, is the liberator of all beings.
Tied to the grinding mortar as punishment, Shri Krishna drags it between two cursed trees—symbolizing atmas trapped in arrogance and material attachment. With His playful act, He breaks the trees and frees the bound beings within, showing that even in apparent limitation, His divine will brings liberation.
“Another time, as He tended calves with His elder brother Balarāma, the Asura Bakāsura appeared in the form of a monstrous crane with a razor-sharp beak. He lunged at Shri Krishna and swallowed Him whole! But in a moment, Shri Krishna tore open his throat from within and burst forth, splitting the Asura in two like a blade through dry wood. The deva realm and the Devas themselves must have trembled.”
“Then the Asura Vatsāsura—cunning and cruel—disguised himself as an innocent calf in order to assassinate Shri Krishna. But Shri Krishna saw through the illusion at once. He grabbed the Asura, swung him overhead, and dashed his body into a tree with such force that the trunk split. The forest echoed with the cries of this perishing evil being.”
The deeper meaning of this līlā lies in its subtlety. Vatsāsura did not come as a monstrous figure or fearsome threat—he appeared as something familiar, harmless, even endearing: a calf. In this way, he represents falsehood hidden within apparent innocence, danger disguised as trust, and adharma masked as dharma.
In our inner life, Vatsāsura symbolizes the subtle anarthas—jealousy disguised as care, ego wrapped in humility, or ambition clothed in service. These are not external enemies, but inner distortions that appear harmless at first, yet quietly erode the purity of human consciousness and our connection to the Divine Persons.
Shri Krishna’s act of instantly exposing and destroying Vatsāsura reflects the power of divine discrimination (viveka)—the ability to discern truth from illusion, even when the illusion is subtle and dressed as innocence. It is also a reassurance to the devoted that nothing false can endure long in the presence of Shri Krishna. He will, by His grace, uproot the most deeply embedded deceptions within and without.
The tree that split symbolizes the rupture of false appearances—the moment when truth cuts through pretense, and the hidden is brought to light. The cry that echoed through the forest was not merely the death of an Asura, but the liberating sound of truth reclaiming its space.
“They also entered Tālavana,” another added, “where the donkey-shaped Dhenuka Asura ruled with terror, hoarding the luscious palm fruits and keeping animals and villagers at bay. When Shri Krishna and his older brother Balarāma arrived, the Asura charged at them like thunder and lightning. But Balarāma seized him by the hind legs and hurled him into a tree with such power that it fell and crushed the Asura. His fellow Asuras attacked, but Shri Krishna and Balarāma defeated them all—restoring the forest as a peaceful abode to its rightful inhabitants.”
This līlā represents the removal of oppressive, greedy forces that block access to natural abundance and harmony in the loves of devoted Bhakti practitioners.
Dhenuka āsura, in the form of a wild donkey, hoarded the rich fruits of the Tālavana forest, allowing no one to enter. He symbolizes tamasic ignorance, stubborn attachment, and selfish control over resources meant for the benefit of all beings. When Shri Krishna and Balarāma arrived, they did not just defeat the Asura—they restored the natural dharma of the forest, making it once again accessible to animals and villagers alike.
On a deeper level, this līlā illustrates how Divine Forces dispel inner tamas (darkness and ignorance), clearing the path for dharmic growth and purity of consciousness in those dedicated to Shri Krishna.
"Even the mighty and poisonous serpent Kāliya was subdued! When his venom had poisoned the Yamunā River, killing fish and fowl alike, Shri Krishna leapt into the swirling waters. He danced upon Kāliya’s many heads with divine grace, subduing him with rhythmic precision and effortless mastery, until the serpent’s wives begged for mercy. Shri Krishna then banished him, and the Yamunā River flowed clean and pure once again."
This līlā symbolizes the cleansing of inner toxicity and the restoration of natural harmony.
Kāliya, the multi-hooded serpent, had poisoned the sacred Yamunā, representing how envy, arrogance, and unchecked negativity can pollute even the most sacred spaces—both within nature and within the human heart. Shri Krishna fearlessly entered the toxic waters and danced upon Kāliya’s heads, subjugating his destructive influence with the rhythm of divine grace and the potency of Vedic wisdom.
His graceful yet firm action reveals that only the Supreme can transform deep-seated poison into purity. Once subdued, Kāliya is not destroyed but banished, showing that even harmful tendencies can be redirected when surrendered. With the Asuras departure, the Yamunā flows clear again—just as consciousness becomes purified when touched by the truths and beauty of Shri Krishna's presence.
At this, one of the cowherd boys turned to Nanda Mahārāja. “O Nanda, what child is this whom you have raised? Why are we all so helplessly drawn to Him that we not forget Him, nor can we explain Him. He must be one of the Devas—or perhaps... the Supreme Being Himself.”
Upon hearing the praises of the cowherd men in Vṛndāvana, Nanda Mahārāja replied with humility and wonder, “My dear friends, I too have pondered these mysteries. When the great sage Garga Muni came to perform the name-giving ceremony, he revealed astonishing truths. He told us that this child appears in every Yuga cycle, taking on different hues: white, red, yellow—and now blackish blue, as Shri Krishna. He said that previously, my child was born to Vasudeva, and so now, is also known as Vāsudeva. He is known by many names, each reflecting His endless divine qualities and deeds.
The great Gargā Acharya assured me that this boy would be all-auspicious for our family, and that He would bring joy to all the cowherd men & women, and even the cows of Vṛndāvana. Though we might face dangers, by His loving grace we would overcome them with ease. He said that in former times, this Avatar disguised as a boy saved the world from chaos, protecting the righteous from the wicked. He told me that anyone fortunate enough to become attached to this Divine ‘child’ would never be defeated by enemies.
Shri Krishna is like Shri Vishnu—ever the protector of the Devas—never defeated, never shaken. Garga Muni concluded that this child would grow to embody Vishnu’s transcendental beauty, virtue, power, and splendor. So, we should not be surprised at His incredible deeds and lilas.
After revealing all this, Garga Muni returned home. Since that day, we have continued to witness Shri Krishna’s divine powers unfold again and again. I now believe that whether He is Nārāyaṇa Himself or a plenary portion of the Supreme Being—He is not of this world.”
The cowherd men listened in awe. Their hearts swelled with ecstatic devotion as their doubts dissolved like mist before the morning Sun.
They praised Nanda Mahārāja with reverence. “May Shri Krishna, who is so kind, so beautiful and so full of mercy, always protect us,” they implored in a choir of voices.
And then, with excitement another villager spoke up…
“When the arrogant Deva Indra poured down rain and hail in fury upon Vrindavan, Shri Krishna compassionately lifted Govardhana Hill to shield us—just as a child might lift a mushroom. He saved our lives, our cattle, and our possessions. May His compassionate glance always fall upon us. May we live in peace, beneath the unending protection of wondrous Shri Krishna.”
The cowherd men, still awestruck, gathered around the memory of that day—when the skies turned black with wrath, and Indra, the Deva of rain, unleashed torrents upon Vṛndāvana. Rivers swelled, trees bent under the weight of hailstones, and winds howled like a vengeful force of nature. But amidst the chaos, Shri Krishna—barefoot, smiling, still adorned with His peacock feather—lifted Govardhana Hill effortlessly with His left hand, holding it aloft like a playful child might lift a mushroom.
The villagers and cows gathered beneath the hill, marveling at the canopy of protection that now sheltered them. For seven days and nights, Shri Krishna stood unmoved, holding the mountain as naturally as one might hold an umbrella. The hill itself became a temple, a womb of safety, where the Vrajavāsīs saw not just refuge, but the highest revelations of the Supreme Bring Shri Krishna.
Noted here: Vrajavāsīs (Sanskrit: Vraja-vāsinaḥ) are the inhabitants of Vraja, the sacred land where Shri Krishna spent His childhood. "Vraja" refers to the region around Vṛndāvana, Gokula, Nandagrāma, and Govardhana, and "vāsīs" means residents or dwellers.
The Vrajavāsīs include:
- Gopas – the cowherd men
- Gopīs – the cowherd women
- Nanda and Yashodā – Shri Krishna’s foster parents
- Friends like Subala, Śrīdāmā, and Balarāma
- Elders, sages, animals, and even the hills and rivers—all are considered part of this sacred community deeply connected to Shri Krishna in loving service.
In Vaishnava devotional literature, Vrajavāsīs are revered as the highest examples of pure bhakti (loving devotion), because they love Shri Krishna not as the Supreme Being, but as their own beloved child, friend, or lover—free of awe, and full of intimacy (mādhurya).
To continue the story:
It was on that day, that the veil of illusion began to lift from many of their hearts. They realized that this was not merely the son of Nanda and Yashodā. This was not just a gifted boy with mystical powers. This was Pūrṇa-Tattva—the complete expression of the Supreme Being—revealing Himself through compassion, not commandments; through protection and not fear of punishment.
The meaning of Govardhana-līlā is profound. Shri Krishna did not simply challenge Indra—He transformed the very foundation of the Vrajavāsīs’ relationship with the sacred. By instructing them to honor and offer seva to Govardhana Hill, the cows, and the land itself, He taught a deeper truth: that divinity resides not only in celestial beings, but in the earth beneath our feet, in our duties to protect and preserve nature, and in the love exchanged between conscious beings.
By lifting Govardhana Hill, He elevated their consciousness—from fear to pure unlimited bhakti, from outer superficial ritual to profound inner realizations.
When the storm finally subsided, the humbled Indra descended to offer his apologies and Shri Krishna simply smiled. There was no triumph, no pride, no vengeance. Only karuṇā—boundless compassion. And from that day forward, the Vrajavāsīs lived not just under the shelter of Govardhana hill, but under the eternal shelter of Shri Krishna—tender, watchful, and all-knowing.
Conclusion:
"Through the wondrous childhood līlās of Bhagavān Shri Krishna, we witness the eternal dance of divinity woven into the fabric of everyday reality. These divine līlās are not mere stories; they are timeless metaphors, revealing that the Supreme Being—Pūrṇa-Tattva—is a conscious person who dwells within our hearts with loving simplicity, plays with destiny, and constantly restores balance to the Universe. May we also recognize the hidden divinity in our own lives and allow the presence of the Infinite Being to lift the veils of illusion, just as Shri Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill. For where there is bhakti, there is moksha—liberation; where there is dharma, there is harmony; and where there is remembrance of Shri Krishna, there is shānti—eternal peace—and the boundless joy of ecstatic loving grace for all who hear this sacred tale."
— Jeffrey Armstrong (Kavindra Rishi)
The FULL narrated version of Krishna's Lilas in Vrindavan is available in this video class
