THE BHAGAVATA PURANA: THE COWHERD i Birth and Early Adventures ii The Loves of the Cowgirls iii The Death of the Tyrant IV THE BHAGAVATA PURANA: THE PRINCE i The Return to Court ii Marriages and Offspring iii Last Phases iv The Purana Re-considered V THE KRISHNA OF POETRY

III THE BHAGAVATA PURANA: THE COWHERD (i) Birth and Early Adventures The Bhagavata Purana is couched in the form of a dialogue between a sage and a king.

He learns that gods and goddesses are being born as cowherds and cowgirls and, interpreting this as a sign that Krishna's birth is near, he commands his men to slaughter every cowherd in the city.

They retain no recollection of the vision and see him simply as a youthful cowherd, charming in manner, whose skill in slaying demons arouses their love.

Krishna then tears its beak in two, rounds up the calves and taking the cowherd boys with him, returns home.

The calves and cowherd children come tumbling out and all praise Krishna for saving them.

Among the gods is Brahma, who decides to tease Krishna by hiding the calves while the cowherd children are eating.

He takes them to a cave and when Krishna goes in search of them, hides the cowherd children as well.

When the cowherd children awake, Krishna shows them the calves.

Krishna climbs it and a cowherd throws the ball up to him.

During all this time, Krishna as 'son' of the wealthiest and most influential cowherd, Nanda, has been readily accepted by the cowherd children as their natural leader.

During all this time, Krishna as 'son' of the wealthiest and most influential cowherd, Nanda, has been readily accepted by the cowherd children as their natural leader.

Krishna replies that they should not worship him for he is only the child of the cowherd, Nanda.

Having revealed his true nature, therefore, Krishna becomes a cowherd once again and is accepted by the cowherds as being only that.

'Very well,' Krishna answers, 'You be the wolf and the cowherd boys the rams.'

Reaching Mathura, Nanda and the cowherds pitch their tents outside the city walls while Krishna with Balarama and the cowherd children go inside the city for a walk.

He is a mere cowherd's son of low caste who has debased himself by eating the leavings of the cowherds' children and has even been the lover of the cowgirls.

The second role characterizes him both as cowherd and prince but with important differences of attitude and behaviour.

Krishna the cowherd, on the other hand, is essentially a lover.

When, at times, Krishna the cowherd is adored as God, he has already been loved as a boy and a young man.

She is the daughter of the cowherd Vrishabhanu and his wife, Kamalavati, and is married to Ayana, a brother of Yasoda.

Krishna the cowherd on the other hand, was spontaneous, irresponsible and free.

In dwelling, then, on Krishna, it was natural that the worshipper should tend to disregard the prince and should concentrate instead on the cowherd.

Krishna hears of her expedition and along with other cowherd boys waylays Radha and her friends and claims a toll.

Meanwhile a cowherd boy has hidden the boat and night is coming on.