Today's Beautiful Gem: Yasoda and Krishna from Leelasuka's Krshnakarnaamrta

"maatah kim yadunaatha dehi cashakam kim tena paatum payas
tan naasti adya kadaa 'sti vaa nisi nisaa kaa vaa 'ndhakaare |
aameelyaakshiyugam nisaa 'pi upagataa dehee 'ti maaturmuhur
vakshojaambarakarshanodayatakarah Krshnah sa pushnaatu nah ||

"'Mother!' 'What is it, Prince of Yadavas?' 'Give me a cup.'
'Why?' 'For drinking milk.'
'There is no milk now.' 'When will there be?' 'Tonight.'
'What is night?' 'When it becomes dark.'
Krishna closed his eyes and said, 'Night has come, give me milk.'
while with his raised hand he kept pulling at the garment across
his mother's bosom.

"Kaalindeepulinodareshu musalee yaavad gatah khelitum
taavat karburikaapayah piba hare vardhishyate te sikhaa |
ittham baalatayaa prataaranaparah srutvaa Yasodaagirah
paayan nah svasikhaam sprsan pramuditah ksheere 'rdhapeete harih ||

"'Your brother Balarama has gone to play on the sandy islands of Yamuna;
While he is away, Hari, drink the cow's milk; your topknot will grow!'
Hari listened to these coaxing words of his mother Yasoda
and when he had taken half the milk, with childish anicipation he
felt his topknot!"

Note: This concludes the Mother's Day specials.

Om Santih! Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

<:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:>29<:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:><:>