Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.9.8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesYaśodā Follows Kṛṣṇa’s Butter-Smeared Footprints
“Kṛṣṇa, at that time, was sitting on an upside-down wooden mortar for grinding spices and was distributing milk preparations such as yogurt and butter to the monkeys as He liked. Because of having stolen, He was looking all around with great anxiety, suspecting that He might be chastised by His mother. Mother Yaśodā, upon seeing Him, very cautiously approached Him from behind.”
What the purport teaches
- Mother Yaśodā traced Kṛṣṇa by following His butter-smeared footprints. Seeing Him stealing butter, she smiled.
- Kṛṣṇa sat on an upside-down wooden mortar and distributed milk preparations to the monkeys as He liked.
- Afraid that His mother might chastise Him for stealing, Kṛṣṇa anxiously looked around. Mother Yaśodā approached Him cautiously from behind.
Try this today
Recall this scene for one minute, beginning with Kṛṣṇa’s butter-smeared footprints.
Ask yourself
What stands out to you in the contrast between Yaśodā’s smile and Kṛṣṇa’s anxious glances?
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.