Kanhaland

Krishna storybook · Chapter 3:Damodara

Churning butter

One morning, Mother Yashoda was churning butter and singing about her son.

Hungry little Krishna grabbed the churning rod, and she took Him on her lap to feed Him.

The milk boils over

Suddenly the milk on the stove boiled over, and Yashoda put Krishna down to save it.

Upset, Krishna broke the pot of yogurt and ran off.

Butter for the monkeys

Yashoda found Krishna on an upturned mortar, handing butter to the monkeys!

When He saw her coming with a stick, He jumped down and ran.

Tell me more

When Yashoda finally caught Him, Krishna rubbed His eyes and cried, afraid He would be punished. Seeing His tears, she threw the stick away. She only wanted Him to stop running, so she decided to tie Him to the mortar for a little while.

Two fingers too short

Yashoda tried to tie Krishna to the mortar, but every rope was two fingers too short!

Help her add more rope, and see what happens.

Tell me more

She added rope after rope, and the gopis laughed in wonder. Devotees explain the two fingers this way: one is our own sincere effort, and the other is Krishna’s mercy. Yashoda tried with all her heart, but she could only tie Krishna when He kindly agreed to be tied.

Tied with love

Seeing His mother so tired, Krishna let Himself be tied.

That’s why He is called Damodara: the one with a rope around His waist.

Tell me more

Flowers were falling from her hair. The Lord whom nothing can hold was held by His mother’s love. Damodara comes from dama, a rope, and udara, the waist. Every year in the month of Kartik (around October), devotees offer small ghee lamps to baby Damodara and sing the Damodarashtaka, a prayer that remembers this pastime.

The two trees

Krishna crawled off, dragging the mortar between two tall trees. CRASH! Both trees fell.

Two shining young men stepped out and thanked Him for setting them free.

Tell me more

They were Nalakuvara and Manigriva, sons of the wealthy demigod Kuvera. Long ago they had been proud and careless, so the sage Narada turned them into trees, promising that one day they would see Krishna face to face and be freed. His “curse” was really a blessing.

What we learn

  • Love, not force, brings us close to Krishna.
  • Do your best, and Krishna’s kindness does the rest.
  • Even Krishna’s mischief brings blessings.

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

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Retold from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 10, chapters 9–10. Placeholder pictures only.

All chapters of the Krishna storybook