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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 2: Verses 14-25
Uddhava recounts the childish sports of the Lord
Feeling honoured by His love-laden smiles and jokes and sportive glances (which reciprocated their love), the women of Vraja followed Him (in His excursions to the woods) with their eyes and mind and stood (like statues), leaving their household work half-finished. With a mind full of compassion for His gentle forms (Vasudeva and others), that were being persecuted by His wild forms (such as Kamsa), the Lord, who is the Ruler both of Prakrti and the manifest creation, though unborn, appeared (in this world of matter) along with His glorious part manifestation (Balarama) even as fire (which, though present everywhere in a latent form, is manifested through wood). That He who is unborn should assume the appearance of being born in the house of Vasudeva and dwell in Vraja as if for fear of the enemy (Kamsa), and that He who is possessed of infinite prowess should Himself flee the city (of Mathura), scared as it were by Kalayavana, puzzles me (as something irreconcilable with His divinity). My mind is filled with agony as I recall what He said to His parents (Vasudeva and Devaki), bowing at their feet, "Dear father and mother, being in great dread of Kamsa, we (Balarama and myself) failed to render any service to you (repay our debt to you); therefore, be pleased to forgive us I" Having inhaled (the fragrance of) the dust of His lotus-feet, what man can ever forget it, remembering that He is the same Lord who removed the earth's burden by the mere play of His arched eyebrows, which represents the god of death ? You must have seen (with your own eyes) the consummation (oneness with the Lord) attained by Sisupala (the king of Cedi), who hated Sri Krsna-a consummation which even Yogis (ascetics) long to attain through the efficient practice of Yoga ! Who could bear separation from such a benign lord ? Similarly, such other heroes of this mortal world as were killed in action (during the Mahabharata war) by the missiles discharged by Arjuna (son of Prtha), while drinking with (the cup of) their eyes (the nectar of) Sri Krsna's lotus-like countenance, which ravished all eyes, attained to His (supreme) Abode. Himself the suzerain lord of all the three worlds, He is equalled by none, much less surpassed by anybody, and has all His desires satiated by virtue of His own supremely blissful character. Nay, His very footstool is adored by the eternal guardians of the various spheres with the crest of their diadems while offering their presents (tributes) to Him. Standing before Ugrasena, who sat on his royal throne, Hesubmitted, "My lord, listen (to my prayer) !" That He should thus behave like a servant confounds us, His slaves, to the utmost degree, dear Vidura. Oh, even that impious
woman, Putana (the sister of the demon Baka)-who suckled Him (as a Babe) at her breast,
which was daubed with a most deadly poison, with intent to kill Him--got from Him (in return)
the destiny appropriate to a foster-mother Is there anyone so merciful, whom we should
resort to for protection, other than Him ? I consider even those demons as devotees of
the Lord, who had fixed their mind on the Lord of the three worlds through anger (born of
animosity), and who beheld on the battle-field Garuda (son of the sage Kasyapa) swooping
on them, with Lord Visnu (the Wielder of the discus Sudarsana) mounted on his back.
In order to bring relief to this earth the Lord was born of Vasudeva and Devaki in the prison-house of Kamsa (the chief of the Bhojas) in response to the prayer of Brahma (the unborn).
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