How did Nanda and Yashoda allow Krishna to go to Mathura so readily?
From Hiten P
Transcript
Disclaimer: This transcript was generated using AI and may contain occasional errors or inaccuracies.
Hare Krishna. Question from Hiten Prabhu. When Krishna left for Mathura, at that time, how did Nanda Maharaj and Yashodamayi readily agree to let him go? In some versions of the Katha, it is described that they were very unhappy, whereas the Bhagavatam describes that only the Gopis were unhappy, but Nanda Maharaj and Yashodamayi agreed readily.
Answer? No, it is not that Nanda Maharaj and Yashodamayi agreed readily. The Bhagavatam is focusing on the Gopis because their separation was most intense and that is the rasa, the parakiya bhava, the love of the Gopis is most celebrated in the Bhagavatam. So that is the focus.
Now whatever is told in the Bhagavatam is elaborated by the Acharyas in their commentaries or in their retellings. So Jeeva Goswami has written Gopal Champu in which based on his realization of the Lord's pastimes and his revelations that he has got, he expands on those pastimes. So he describes how when Akrura came, he first spoke to Krishna and Balramji saying that you are actually the sons of Vasudev, so please come.
Kamsa is calling you. So then it is Krishna who spoke thereafter to Nanda Maharaj. He called them and he said, it is a festival and Kamsa has called me.
So at that time, Nanda Maharaj was devastated. Yashodamayi came to know she was also heartbroken. How can we live without Krishna? It is difficult to tolerate the separation of Krishna even just for one day when he goes in the morning.
He is longing when will the day get over and in the evening we will see Krishna. But what to speak of he goes. Who knows when he will come back? There is also a danger of that.
Even the Vrajvasis understood that the demons were being sent by Kamsa. So they knew there was further danger. But then Nanda Maharaj met with his brothers, the four brothers Upananda, Abhinanda, all of them.
And Upananda was the elder. He is the oldest among all of them. So they all discussed and then it was decided that actually if Krishna doesn't go, Kamsa will become very angry and Kamsa may attack and he may devastate Vrindavan.
And Krishna had already been protected by Lord Narayana. That's what the Vrajvasis thought. And they said that although so many demons came over here, Krishna was protected.
So similarly Lord Narayana will protect Krishna even when he goes to Mathura. So they thought that the king must be obeyed. And if the king is disobeyed, then there will be further disruption.
And that's why with a heavy heart the Vrajvasis agreed to let Krishna go. And Yashodamayi couldn't tolerate the separation from Krishna. So at that time it was described that Yashodamayi cooked for Krishna some special items and Krishna talked with her very sweetly.
And Krishna pacified her also. So certainly they were not happy. They did not readily let Krishna go.
But because they were relatively older, so Nanda Maharaj was the king of the community of the Vrajvasis and he had responsibility for the whole community. And he recognized that alienating or antagonizing Kamsa and making him angry would affect the whole of Vrindavan. And Kamsa had sent a very civilized invitation in Akrura.
He had sent an Akrura relative. And he had said that there is a festival, please come and participate. And the Vrajvasis also knew that if the king is inviting, we have to go.
So considering the welfare of the Vrajvasis, considering their duty to the king and considering that Krishna had already been protected earlier by Narayana and similarly he will be protected, the Vrajvasis, Nanda Maharaj and Yashodamayi reluctantly let Krishna go to Mathura. Thank you.