One morning in Gokula, Mother Yaśodā was personally churning yogurt to prepare fresh butter for her beloved son. As she churned, she sang sweet songs describing Krishna's wonderful childhood pastimes. Her heart was completely absorbed in thoughts of Him.

Hearing the sound of the churning rod, little Krishna awoke and came to His mother. Climbing onto her lap, He indicated that He was hungry.

Mother Yaśodā lovingly embraced Him and began to nurse Him. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who nourishes all living beings, now happily taking nourishment from His devotee, relishing the sweetness of her maternal affection.

While Krishna was nursing, Mother Yaśodā noticed that a pot of milk she had placed on the stove was boiling over. She knew that the milk had been specially prepared for Krishna and did not want it to be wasted.

Although she did not wish to interrupt her son, she gently placed Him on the floor and hurried to save the milk.

Krishna was not pleased.

Feeling that His mother's attention had been diverted, He displayed His charming childhood anger. His lips quivered, His reddish eyes filled with tears, and He bit His lower lip.

Looking around, Krishna picked up a small stone and struck the nearby pot of yogurt, breaking it. Yogurt spilled across the floor.

Then, smiling mischievously, He quietly slipped into another room.

There He found freshly churned butter hanging from the ceiling in clay pots. Climbing onto an overturned wooden grinding mortar, He reached the butter pots, took out the fresh butter with His lotus hands, and happily began eating it.

Not content with eating it Himself, Krishna lovingly called the monkeys and shared the butter with them.

The monkeys eagerly accepted the butter from His hand.

Krishna looked around cautiously from time to time, as though afraid someone might discover His secret. His restless lotus eyes moved in every direction while He continued feeding His friends.

Meanwhile, Mother Yaśodā returned after saving the boiling milk.

She saw the broken yogurt pot and the butter scattered about.

"My mischievous Krishna has done this!"

Instead of becoming truly angry, she smiled within her heart. She knew well the playful nature of her beloved child.

Following the tiny butter-smeared footprints on the floor, she quietly searched through the house.

Soon she found Krishna standing on the overturned mortar, happily distributing butter to the monkeys.

Seeing His mother approaching with a small stick in her hand, Krishna realized that He had been discovered.

His eyes widened.

Quickly jumping down from the mortar, He began to run.

Mother Yaśodā chased after Him.

Although she was surrounded by servants who could have caught Him immediately, she desired to capture her son with her own hands. Running after Him, her hair loosened, the flowers decorating it fell to the ground, and perspiration appeared on her face.

The Supreme Lord, whom even the greatest yogīs cannot approach through severe austerities and meditation, now ran in fear before His devotee.

At last, seeing that His mother had become tired from chasing Him, Krishna allowed Himself to be caught.

Divine Teachings