The Cowherd Men Glorify the Pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa
This article presents a thematic survey of the elder cowherd men's awe, their recounting of miraculous pastimes, and their ultimate prayers of unalloyed surrender. It organizes the profoundly sweet verses found in the Vanisource category Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Verses Spoken by the Cowherd Men.
The cowherd men of Vṛndāvana, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, are pure devotees eternally situated in vatsalya-rasa (parental affection). After witnessing the seven-year-old Kṛṣṇa effortlessly lift the massive Govardhana Hill to protect them from Indra's wrath, their intense parental love mixes with overwhelming awe. Gathering together, they recount all of Kṛṣṇa's miraculous childhood pastimes—from vanquishing the witch Pūtanā and kicking over the heavy cart, to destroying fierce demons like Bakāsura, Tṛṇāvarta, and Kāliya. Realizing that the infallible prophecies of Garga Muni have perfectly come true, they marvel at their own spontaneous, unbreakable affection for the boy. Establishing the absolute highest standard of bhakti-yoga, these simple cowherds do not ask for liberation; they pray only that wherever their karma forces them to wander, their minds, words, and bodies will remain eternally dedicated to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The Cowherd Men are the 65th top speakers of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with 21 verses at Vanisource. They speak only in the 10th canto (21 verses).
The Infallible Words of Garga Muni
Garga Muni had previously predicted Kṛṣṇa's extraordinary nature and pastimes to Nanda Mahārāja during the Lord's secret name-giving ceremony. Witnessing the boy's impossible feats, the elder cowherds realize that the words of a self-realized brāhmaṇa are absolute and eternal.
The Astonishing Boy of Vraja
Kṛṣṇa appears as an ordinary child, yet He effortlessly vanquishes the most formidable mystic threats. The cowherd men marvel at how the very causes of death are themselves annihilated simply by approaching the Supreme Lord, just like insignificant flies flying blindly into a blazing fire.
- "The cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, began to contemplate: It is very astonishing that although this boy Kṛṣṇa has many times faced many varied causes of death, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead it was these causes of fear that were killed, instead of Him."
- "Although the causes of death, the daityas, were very fierce, they could not kill this boy Kṛṣṇa. Rather, because they came to kill innocent boys, as soon as they approached they themselves were killed, exactly like flies attacking a fire."
- "The words of persons in full knowledge of Brahman never become untrue. It is very wonderful that whatever Garga Muni predicted we are now actually experiencing in all detail."
- "(The cowherd men said:) Since this boy performs such extraordinary activities, how could He warrant a birth among worldly men like us—a birth that for Him would seem contemptible?"
- "On the one hand this boy is only seven years old, and on the other we see that He has lifted the great hill Govardhana. Therefore, O King of Vraja, a doubt about your son arises within us."
Recounting the Miraculous Pastimes
From infancy to His seventh year, Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibited supreme opulence disguised as charming childhood play. The cowherd men recount these terrifying encounters, astounded by how their darling boy effortlessly dismantled the greatest dangers dispatched by King Kaṁsa.
Deliverance in Infancy
Even as a helpless infant, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is never in danger. Whether sucking the life air out of the colossal witch Pūtanā or playfully kicking over a massive cart, Kṛṣṇa proves that His supreme power is entirely independent of material age or physical size.
- "As a mere infant who had hardly yet opened His eyes, He drank the breast milk of the powerful demoness Pūtanā and then sucked out her very life air as well, just as the force of time sucks out the youth of one's body."
- "Once, when only three months old, little Kṛṣṇa was crying and kicking up His feet as He lay beneath a huge cart. Then the cart fell and turned upside-down simply because it was struck by the tip of His toe."
- "At the age of one, while sitting peacefully He was taken up into the sky by the demon Tṛṇāvarta. But baby Kṛṣṇa grabbed the demon's neck, causing him great pain, and thus killed him."
- "Once, His mother tied Him with ropes to a mortar because she had caught Him stealing butter. Then, crawling on His hands, He dragged the mortar between a pair of arjuna trees and pulled them down."
Protecting the Forests of Vṛndāvana
As Kṛṣṇa grew to tend the calves and cows, Kaṁsa dispatched a parade of powerful demons to the forests of Vraja. Yet, whether tearing apart Bakāsura, chastising the Kāliya serpent, or playfully lifting Govardhana Hill, the Lord continuously protected His pure devotees.
- "How could this seven-year-old boy playfully hold up the great hill Govardhana with one hand, just as a mighty elephant holds up a lotus flower?"
- "Another time, when Kṛṣṇa was tending the calves in the forest together with Balarāma and the cowherd boys, the demon Bakāsura came with the intention of killing Kṛṣṇa. But Kṛṣṇa seized this inimical demon by the mouth and tore him apart."
- "Desiring to kill Kṛṣṇa, the demon Vatsa disguised himself as a calf and entered among Kṛṣṇa's calves. But Kṛṣṇa killed the demon and, using his body, enjoyed the sport of knocking kapittha fruits down from the trees."
- "Together with Lord Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa killed the jackass demon and all his friends, thereby securing the safety of the Tālavana forest, which abounded with fully ripened palm fruits."
- "After arranging for the mighty Lord Balarāma to kill the terrible demon Pralamba, Kṛṣṇa saved Vraja's cowherd boys and their animals from a forest fire."
- "Kṛṣṇa chastised the most poisonous serpent, Kāliya, and after humbling him He drove him forcibly from the lake of the Yamunā. In this way the Lord made the water of that river free of the snake's powerful poison."
Inconceivable Affection and Pure Devotion
Despite recognizing Kṛṣṇa's supreme opulence and witnessing His Godly power, the cowherd men remain bound by the sweet ropes of parental affection. Their natural, spontaneous love continuously overrides their awe and reverence, establishing the highest standard of intimacy in the spiritual world.
The Mystery of Spontaneous Love
The residents of Vraja cannot logically explain their overwhelming attraction to Nanda's son. This spontaneous, unmotivated affection is the supreme perfection of the soul, culminating in an eager, ecstatic desire to enter the Lord's transcendental, eternal abode.
- "Dear Nanda, how is it that we and all the other residents of Vraja cannot give up our constant affection for your son? And how is it that He is so spontaneously attracted to us?"
- "[Hearing about Kṛṣṇa's pastimes with Varuṇa,] the cowherd men considered that Kṛṣṇa must be the Supreme Lord, and their minds, O King, were filled with eagerness. They thought, "Will the Supreme Lord bestow upon us His transcendental abode?""
The Ultimate Prayer of Surrender
Establishing the absolute zenith of bhakti-yoga, the cowherds do not pray for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. They simply beg that regardless of where their karma forces them to wander, their minds, words, and bodies may remain eternally dedicated to Kṛṣṇa's service.
- "(Nanda and the other cowherds said:) May our mental functions always take shelter of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet, may our words always chant His names, and may our bodies always bow down to Him and serve Him."
- "Wherever we are made to wander about this world by the Supreme Lord's will, in accordance with the reactions to our fruitive work, may our good works and charity always grant Us love for Lord Kṛṣṇa."
The Reunion at Kurukṣetra
Years after Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma left Vṛndāvana for Mathurā and Dvārakā, the cowherd men reunite with Them at the holy place of Kurukṣetra during a solar eclipse. This emotional meeting reveals the indestructible nature of spiritual relationships and the deep gratitude of the Vrajavāsīs.
Gratitude and Enduring Love
Even after decades of agonizing separation, the love of the elder cowherd men remains fully intact. Meeting Lord Balarāma, they express immense relief and joy that the tyrannical Kaṁsa has finally been vanquished and their beloved relatives are secure.
- "(The cowherds said:) O Rāma, are all our relatives doing well? And Rāma, do all of you, with your wives and children, still remember us?"
- "It is our great fortune that sinful Kaṁsa has been killed and our dear relatives have been freed. And it is also our good fortune that our relatives have killed and defeated their enemies and found complete security in a great fortress."
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
This article is a thematic compilation of the teachings presented in the Vaniquotes category Bhagavatam Verses Spoken by the Cowherd Men. We invite you to visit the link to read the complete collection of verses presented in alphabetical order.