KRSNA CARRIES HIS FATHER’S WOODEN SHOES
In any situation, Krsna is always the infinitely powerful Supreme Personality of Godhead. But just to increase the ecstatic emotion of His intimate, loving devotees like mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja, Krsna agrees to come under their control.
Sometimes Nanda Maharaja would ask Krsna to bring him his wooden slippers, and Krsna, seemingly with great difficulty, would put the slippers on His head and take them to His father. At such times Nanda Maharaja would exclaim, “My dear Yasoda, just look at our son, Krsna. See His blackish bodily luster, His eyes tinged red, His broad chest, and His beautiful pearl ornaments. How wonderful He looks, and how He is increasing my transcendental bliss more and more!” The elder gopis would say, “If You dance, my dear Krsna, then I shall give You half a sweetmeat.”
By saying these words or by clapping their hands, all the gopis encouraged Krsna in various ways. At such times, although He was the supremely powerful Personality of Godhead, He would smile and dance according to their desire, as if He were a wooden doll in their hands. Sometimes He would sing very loudly, at their bidding. In this way Krsna came completely under the control of the gopis.
Sometimes mother Yasoda and her gopis friends would tell Krsna, “Bring this article,” or “Bring that article.” Sometimes they would order Him to bring a wooden plank, wooden shoes, or a wooden measuring pot, and Krsna, when thus ordered by the gopis, would try to bring them. Sometimes, however, as if unable to raise these things, He would touch them and stand there. Just to invite the pleasure of His relatives, He would strike His body with His arms to show that He had sufficient strength.
PAINTING BY PARIKSIT DASA (1975)