Krishna Leelas: The Universe in a Child’s Mouth
The stories from the Shrimad Bhagavatam are not just mythology; they are mirrors of our inner life.
The Story
One day, little Krishna was playing with His friends in the pastures of Vrindavan. Mischief was in the air, and soon the children ran to Mother Yashoda with a complaint: “Krishna has eaten mud!”
Like any caring mother, Yashoda rushed to Him and said, “Show me your mouth.” She was ready to scold Him with love. But when Krishna opened His tiny lips, what she saw was beyond imagination. Inside His mouth was not mud, but the entire universe. She saw stars, planets, rivers, mountains, the endless sky, and even herself looking into His mouth.
For a moment, Yashoda was stunned. Was it a dream? Was her mind playing tricks? How could her little boy hold infinity within Him? And then, in the very next heartbeat, the vision dissolved. She forgot it all and saw only her sweet child again. Smiling through tears, she gathered Krishna in her arms. Love returned her to the simple bond of mother and son.
The Timeless Message
This Leela is timeless, and its message is as relevant now as it was then.
In our modern lives, we too encounter moments that stop us in our tracks. A breathtaking image of galaxies, a powerful scientific discovery, or a sudden life event can make us feel the immensity of existence. Yet, like Yashoda, we cannot remain suspended in awe forever. We return to what grounds us:
family dinners and laughter with friends
the quiet rhythm of daily work
the touch of someone who cares
the simple bonds that carry us through each day
The infinite may amaze the mind, but it is love and connection that steady the heart.
Living the Leela Today
The wisdom of this Leela is not about staring endlessly at the stars above, but about learning to see the universe reflected in the smallest corners of our daily lives.
Infinite in the Ordinary: Every person we meet and every task we do holds unseen depth. A routine commute may bring an unexpected insight, a casual conversation may carry healing, a child’s smile may reveal more than pages of philosophy. If we pause and look closely, the extraordinary is always hidden in the ordinary.
Humility before Mystery: Modern life trains us to seek answers, to solve, to control. But some questions are not meant to be solved. Why we meet certain people, why life takes sudden turns, why joy and sorrow weave together, these are mysteries to be lived, not cracked. Accepting mystery humbles the ego and opens space for wonder.
Love as Anchor: When the world feels heavy with uncertainty, deadlines, and noise, it is love and care that bring us back to balance. A genuine conversation, time with family, helping someone in need, these restore our centre more than any achievement or possession. Like Yashoda, we too must hold love close when life feels overwhelming.
Play and Joy as Sacred: In a culture that glorifies busyness, we often forget that laughter, play, and joy are nourishment for the soul. Krishna’s mischief teaches us that joy is not separate from the sacred. Singing, playing, joking with friends, or simply allowing ourselves to be light-hearted is not wasted time, it is a way of staying connected to life itself. Yet, His Leela also shows the thin line: play must be rooted in innocence and love, not in harm or selfishness. True joy is sacred when it uplifts, never when it crosses the boundary of righteousness.
The Universe in Our Arms
Infinity is not only out there in some distant galaxy. It hides in the most ordinary places, inside a child’s smile, in the warmth of friendship, in the tenderness of care, in the play we too often deny ourselves.
This Krishna Leela whispers that to live deeply is not to escape the world, but to see the cosmos shining through the people and moments we hold close.
Look closely, and you may discover that the universe has always been here, waiting to be seen, smiling back at you through the simple flow of life.
