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Stories From The Bhagavatham - Krishna Avatar - Vatsasur and Bakasur

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  Worried about the misfortune circling little Krishna and the kids, the elders of Gokul decided to leave the village and migrate to Brindavan, a cozy village nestled under the great Govardhan mountain range. The river Yamuna flowed nearby and the land was fertile. The people of Gokul soon settled here and lived a comfortable life. However, Krishna’s tryst with the Asuras didn’t end even after shifting places. Now that he was growing up, Kamsa sent more vicious Asuras to defeat and kill him. One day, Balaram and Krishna were playing by the banks of the Yamuna river, their cows grazing there. Unknown to them, an Asura named Vatsa took the form of a calf and quietly joined the herd in grazing. However, nothing can escape the notice of Krishna, He who has His sights on the entire universe. Krishna noticed the new calf and realized that this was no ordinary cow but an Asura in disguise. He stealthily informed Balarama about the Asura, not wanting to spread panic among the other kid...
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Stories From The Bhagawatham - Krishna Avatar - A 'Handful' Of Gifts!

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  Once Krishna was playing in the courtyard when he heard someone calling out, “Jambul fruits! Does anyone want Jambul fruits?” Krishna ran towards the door of his house and saw a lady outside, carrying a basket full of Jambul (Aranyaka) fruits. They looked very temptingly fresh. “These fruits look very fresh.” Krishna said to the lady. “Can you give me some?” The lady smiled. “Yes, I can give you some fruits. But you have to pay for them.” “What do you mean?” Krishna asked innocently. “You have to give me something in return for the fruits.” The lady explained. Krishna thought for a while. “I can give you some cereal grains. Will you give me fruits in exchange?” “Yes, I will give. You bring the grains.” The lady said and placed the basket on the ground while Krishna ran inside. He went to the storage room where grains had been kept inside sacks. Folding both his palms together, Krishna collected as much grains as he could in his small hands and ran towards the fruit-...
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Stories From The Bhagawatham - Krishna Avatar - Damodar Leela

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  It was another day in Gokul, and like always, Krishna had frustrated Yashoda with his mischief. This time, he had broken vessels of curd and butter and had eaten the butter. Yashoda went after him with a stick. When she approached him, he started running. Yashoda ran after him, wanting to capture him.  But who has managed to capture the Divine without His will!? Krishna kept running until he saw Yashoda looking tired. He felt sorry for her and slowed down finally, allowing her to capture him. “Your mischief has become too much now! Breaking vessels, eating butter… Wait, I am going to punish you.” Yashoda said angrily. She brought a rope and placed Krishna beside the mortar. “Let me see how you do any mischief while tied securely!” She tried to tie him but the rope was too short. She added some more rope to the first one and tried to tie Krishna with the bigger rope but that too proved to be short. The ends didn’t meet. No matter how many times she lengthened the rope...
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Stories From The Bhagawatham - Krishna Avatar - Yashoda's Vision

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  (Image credited to the respective owner) One day the children of Gokul were playing blissfully with Krishna and Balaram. Yashoda was in the midst of a household chore when Balarama came running and said, “Mother! Krishna is eating mud! A lot of mud!” Yashoda looked at Balaram, wondering whether to believe this mischievous boy or not. But the other children came running to her and everyone said the same thing. Krishna had apparently eaten a lot of mud. Yashoda went running to Krishna and caught hold of him. “When will your mischief end?” She asked him angrily. “Did you eat mud? Today I am going to punish you.” Krishna shook his head, “No, mother. I did not eat mud. I do not like it, so why would I eat it?” “But your friends, why, your brother himself said that you ate mud!” “They are lying.” Krishna said. “Look for yourself. Check inside my mouth and you will know who is telling the truth and who is lying.” “Show me your mouth!” Yashoda said angrily. Krishna opened...
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Stories From The Bhagavatham - Krishna Avatar - Shakatasura and Trinavartha

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  Little Krishna was now already 3 months old and the darling of Gokul. On the eve of his nakshatra (birth star), Yashoda and Nanda decided to host a celebration in the village along with some chanting of sages. Accordingly everyone gathered at the banks of the Yamuna river, where amidst music and dancing, Krishna was given a holy bath and gifts were distributed by Nanda to the villagers. Soon, Krishna appeared to be tired and sleepy. Yashoda placed him inside a cradle and kept the same beneath a cart. After a while, Krishna woke up but Yashoda wasn’t nearby. She was talking to the villagers and couldn’t hear his cries. Little Krishna, in anger, started flailing his legs and kicked the cart. All of a sudden, a huge noise erupted and startled everyone. People came running and saw the cart flung away at a good distance, as if someone had thrown it. All the vessels kept inside the cart were thrown out and broken and one of the wheels had come off. No one could understand what ha...
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Stories From The Bhagawatham - Krishna Avatar - Putanamoksham

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  (Image credited to the respective owner) Every day in Gokul became a celebration after the arrival of Krishna and Balaram. Yashoda and Rohini had their hands full, looking after their children and enjoying their childhood antics. Chief Nanda had to make a yearly visit to Mathura to pay his tributes to the city’s treasury. When Vasudeva came to know that Nanda had come to the city, he rushed to meet him. “I am very happy to know that a son has been born to you.” Vasudeva said to Nanda. “You are very dear to me but I do not get to see you as often as I wish. I am fortunate to share your happiness at being a father. You and I are like one soul in two different bodies. Your son feels like my son. I hope he is well.” Nanda’s eyes welled up as he knew about the fate of Vasudeva’s children. “Fortune has not been kind to you. But I hope times will change now. The wise do not get swayed by fortune and misfortune and stay firmly rooted in the ultimate knowledge of the self.” “Nanda...
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Stories From The Bhagawatham - Krishna Avatar - The Beginning Of The End

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  The palace resonated with the sounds of a newborn baby. The guards outside the cell ran to Kamsa and informed him that Devaki had given birth to another baby. Kamsa was lying on his bed but wasn’t asleep. He and sleep had parted ways long ago. Ever since he had come to know about Devaki’s eighth pregnancy, he had lost his peace. The radiance surrounding Devaki during this pregnancy left him no doubts that this infant was the prophesied one, the one that could bring his downfall. The moment he heard the news, he rushed out of his bed, grabbing his sword with him, and ran to the prison. Devaki looked at him in terror, for this time, Kamsa looked like the lord of the death, having a terrible look on his face. She fell at his feet. “Brother, this is a girl! Spare her life! I gave you each and every one of my sons, and you killed them all. What will this baby do? I was once dear to you, brother, and in the name of that love that you had for me, I beg of you to spare this child...
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