Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.8.36
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDivine Opulence Within Loving Childhood
“Mother Yaśodā challenged Kṛṣṇa, “If You have not eaten earth, then open Your mouth wide.” When challenged by His mother in this way, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja and Yaśodā, to exhibit pastimes like a human child, opened His mouth. Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, who is full of all opulences, did not disturb His mother’s parental affection, His opulence was automatically displayed, for Kṛṣṇa’s opulence is never lost at any stage, but is manifest at the proper time.”
What the purport teaches
- At mother Yaśodā’s command, Kṛṣṇa opened His mouth like a human child. Yet He remained the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full of all opulences.
- Kṛṣṇa’s opulence is never lost at any stage. It becomes manifest at the proper time.
- He displayed His natural opulences without disturbing His mother’s affection. Even while possessing all opulences, He did not neglect the transcendental sweetness of maternal affection.
Try this today
Reflect for one minute on Kṛṣṇa’s opening His mouth: fully opulent, yet responding like His mother’s child.
Ask yourself
What does Kṛṣṇa’s response show about the place of loving affection in His pastimes?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.