Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.15.13
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Plays as If Afraid
“Sometimes He would cry out in imitation of birds such as the cakoras, krauñcas, cakrāhvas, bhāradvājas and peacocks, and sometimes He would run away with the smaller animals in mock fear of lions and tigers.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa imitated the calls of birds, including peacocks, and ran with the smaller forest animals.
- The words “as if afraid” show that His fear of lions and tigers was only play. Lord Kṛṣṇa acted just like an ordinary boy.
- In Vṛndāvana, the Lord’s abode, lions and tigers are not violent. There was actually no reason to fear them.
Try this today
Spend a minute remembering Kṛṣṇa playing with the birds and smaller animals in Vṛndāvana.
Ask yourself
How does knowing that Kṛṣṇa’s fear was playful change your understanding of this scene?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.