Putana’s death gave an important clue to Kamsa and his allies about the whereabouts of the child, who was supposed to destroy Kamsa. As a result, all the asuras (demons) kept an eye on Gokula now.
Meanwhile, the child was yet to be named. All of three months old, the child was now called Nandagopa’s little one. His complexion was unique and was lovingly called ‘Meghashyam’ (as blue/dark as the rain-bearing clouds)*.
The delightful little baby was doing its job of keeping his mother entertained all the time. Yasoda had just about realised that her three-month-old had just learned to turn over on his belly. The little one had just turned on his belly and was smiling at his mother. Since that day happened to be the janmanakshatra (the star under which the child was born) of the child, she decided to celebrate.
The gopis and gopas of Gokula assembled on the banks of the river Yamuna to celebrate. Amidst music, chanting, and dancing, the little baby was showered with gifts.
After some time, Yasoda looked at her child. He looked a little tired, perhaps because of the day’s celebration. She affectionately picked up her little baby and placed him in a cradle. The cradle was then kept under a cart in which they had come to the river bank.
Yasoda was sitting with her friends and did not notice that the child had woken up. He went on crying but people were busy with other chores and did not pay him any attention. He became angry and with his foot, he kicked the cart under which he was placed. A shrill noise followed. The wheel had come off the cart and the cart had fallen on its side. People saw that the wheel was flung away. All the vessels and pots which had been placed on the cart were broken. While some wondered what may have caused such an incident, Yasoda picked up her son and thanked God that he was safe.
Actually, Kamsa’s henchman, Shataka had come to Gokula with the purpose of killing the little baby. He had entered the wheel of the cart wanting to run over the sleeping child. But Vishnu, in the form of the little child, was aware of his presence. With a kick, the little child killed the asura and nobody realised the truth behind this incident.
***
*As an aside to ‘Bhagvatam’, there have always been attempts by great poets to praise the beauty that is not fair in complexion throughout Indian mythology. Krishna, who was supposed to be very attractive and hence irresistible, was not fair. Megha, in Sanskrit and many Indian languages, means the cloud. Shyam is a shade of blue; it is the exact colour of the darkish-blue rain-bearing clouds. Rabindranath Tagore also celebrates the dark-complexioned beauty in his poem:
Krishnakali aami tarei boli,
Kalo tare bole gayer lok…”
(Translated thus – I call her a bud who resembles the complexion of Krishna,
The villagers call her dark…)
[To be continued]
Footnote: Srimad Bhagavatam is often called the Bhagavad Purana. Authored by Ved Vyasa, the stories are about the various avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu, also known as Narayana.
Published link: http://differenttruths.com/religion/tales-from-srimad-bhagavatam-the-crawling-baby-xxxiii/
Kataah 