The Universe in Krishna's Mouth

When Mother Yashoda made little Kanha open his mouth after he was accused of eating clay, she saw the entire universe within it.

One day, while playing, Balarama and the cowherd boys came running to Mother Yashoda and said, "Mother, Kanha has eaten clay!" Worried that her child might fall ill, Yashoda caught him by the hand and scolded him: "You naughty one, why did you secretly eat clay? Your elder brother and all your friends are saying so."

Looking a little frightened, Kanha replied innocently, "Mother, I did not eat any clay. They are all telling lies. If you believe them, look into my mouth yourself." Saying this, the little child opened his tiny mouth wide.

As soon as Yashoda looked inside, she was struck with wonder. Within that small mouth she saw the entire cosmos: the sky and the directions, mountains, islands and oceans, the earth, the blowing wind, fire, the moon and the stars. She saw the elements, the senses, the mind and the three qualities of nature, and the workings of time and of the karma of all beings. Most astonishing of all, within that mouth she saw Vraja itself, and she saw herself.

Her heart trembled. She wondered whether it was a dream, an illusion created by the gods, or some wonderful power of her own child. Then she took refuge in the Supreme Lord, by whose power the whole world moves, and because of whom she thinks of herself as Nanda's wife and this boy's mother.

When Yashoda had understood the Lord's true nature, he spread over her once more his divine Vaishnavi Maya, the veil of a mother's affection. In a moment she forgot everything she had seen, lifted her darling onto her lap and cuddled him just as before. The Lord values the pure love of his devotees even more than their knowledge of his greatness.

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, ch. 8

Place

Gokul

Lesson

The Lord's glory is infinite, yet what he cherishes most is a sweet, loving relationship with his devotees.