Kanhaland

Krishna storybook · Chapter 4:Brahma and the missing calves

A picnic by the Yamuna

Krishna and His friends took their calves to the Yamuna for a picnic.

The boys sat around Krishna like lotus petals, sharing lunch and laughing at His jokes.

Tell me more

The Bhagavatam describes Krishna sitting in the middle with His flute tucked in His belt and a ball of rice and yogurt in His hand, joking with His friends while the demigods in the sky watched in wonder. The boys loved Him so much that they forgot everything else.

Where are the calves?

While they ate, the calves wandered off into the forest.

“Keep eating,” said Krishna. “I’ll bring them back!” And off He went, food still in His hand.

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Brahma’s trick

Lord Brahma, the creator, wanted to test Krishna’s power.

So he hid the calves in a cave, and then all the cowherd boys too, fast asleep.

Tell me more

Brahma had just seen Krishna perform wonderful pastimes in the forest, and he wondered: could this little cowherd boy really be the Supreme Lord? He wanted to see what Krishna would do.

Krishna becomes everyone

Krishna understood the trick, so He became every calf and every boy, even their sticks and flutes!

That evening, they all walked home as usual.

Tell me more

He could not find the calves or His friends anywhere. The new boys had the same faces and the same clothes.

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Which calf is Krishna?

Every calf looks just the same as before.

Tap each one and ask, “Is this one Krishna?”

Tap a calf. Is it Krishna?

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A year of extra love

For a whole year nobody knew, but the mothers loved their boys even more than before.

Balarama wondered why, then understood: every boy and calf was Krishna!

Tell me more

The cows loved their calves more too.

Brahma is amazed

Brahma came back, confused: the boys he hid were asleep, yet here they were!

Then every boy and calf turned into the shining, four-armed Lord.

Tell me more

They were playing with Krishna as if nothing had happened. Brahma had been away for just a moment of his own time, but on Earth a whole year had passed. Krishna showed Brahma that He is the source of everything, and that every soul is His part.

Brahma’s prayers

Brahma bowed at little Krishna’s feet, asked to be forgiven, and brought the boys back.

They woke up and said, “You found the calves so fast! Let’s finish lunch!”

Tell me more

Krishna was a little cowherd boy again, still holding His lunch, and Brahma offered Him beautiful prayers. For the boys, no time had passed at all. Brahma’s prayers fill a whole chapter of the Bhagavatam. In them he says that the people of Vrindavan are the most fortunate of all, because Krishna is their dearest friend.

What we learn

  • It’s better to love Krishna than to test Him.
  • Krishna became His friends, so their mothers wouldn’t be sad.
  • Loving Krishna makes all our love sweeter.

Did you like this story? Say “Hare Krishna!” out loud.

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Retold from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 10, chapters 12–14. Placeholder pictures only.

All chapters of the Krishna storybook