Once, Kausalyā Devī, having bathed her son Rāma, laid him in his cradle to sleep. She then went to her prayer room where she worshipped the lord of her heart (iṣṭa deva) and made the customary food offering. Thereafter, she went to check something in the kitchen and, on returning to the prayer room, what did she see? The food that she had offered to the deity was being relished by the little Rāma. Taken aback, she wondered how Rāma could be there eating the food when, just a while ago, she had placed him in the cradle. On checking the cradle, she found the little one fast asleep in it. Again, returning to her prayer room she saw Rāma happily eating the food offering. It was as though the Lord was trying to convey to her that the One to whom she was offering worship was none other than Himself! She had offered Him food and so He was accepting it. Kausalyā did not understand and was, thus, astounded. So Śrī Rama smiled and gave her a glimpse of His cosmic form (viśva darśan) just as in His avatāra as Śrī Kṛṣṇa He had given Yaśodā the same vision in His open mouth. In a flash, Kausalyā saw, at one and the same time, prakṛti or nature in its unmanifest form, the play of māyā, jīvas buffeted here and there because of ignorance and, how, those who gained Knowledge attained liberation. (Source: Discourses on Ramcharitmanas by Swami Tejomayananda)
One day, after eating His fill of butter, Bhagavān ate mud. He loved rolling in the dust of Vraja, but on this day, He ate it as well. All His little gopa friends ran to Yashodā Mā to tell her.
A frantic Yashodā-jī ran to her child. Holding both His hands tightly in hers, she scolded Him and addressed Him in a formal manner, as a parent reprimands a child using the child’s full name. Chastising her little Krishna, Mother Yashodā demanded an explanation. She said, “Tell me, why did You eat mud?”
Bhagavān pleaded innocence and replied, “I did not eat mud, Mother.”
His mother said, “But all Your friends are saying You did. And not only they, but even Your brother, Balarāma, says so!”
Bhagavān coolly replied, “They are all liars. Which mud did I eat?”
Yashodā Mā chided him, “So they all are liars, is it? And You are the only one telling the truth?”
Bhagavān replied, “If you think I am lying, look in My mouth and see for yourself.” After all, what greater means of knowledge is there for most people? Most people say, “Seeing is believing.” Most people are more willing to believe something seen versus something heard.
Yashodā Maiyā said, “Very well, if that is the case, then open Your mouth and show me!” So, Bhagavān opened His mouth. And lo! When she looked into it, she saw space, the five elements, the directions, the sun, the moon, planets, stars, galaxies, the five subtle elements, all of Vraja, all living beings—including their karmas, attributes, and even their samsaras. She saw the entire cosmos. She even saw herself standing and rebuking Krishna! The last time she had seen the entire cosmos in her son’s mouth, she had shut her eyes, but this time, she did not. Instead, she began contemplating.
She thought, “Is this a dream? Or is this the Lord’s maya? Has my mind become deluded? Or does my child have some yogic power?” When she began pondering like this, Bhagavān decided to put a stop to it. Typically, when people contemplate on maya, they become completely confounded. However, the Lord knew that if Mother Yashodā kept deliberating like this, she would soon realize His true nature. And once this happened, how could His childhood pranks and plays continue? His mother would simply start worshipping Him.
Shukadeva-jī said, “This is why Bhagavān cast His maya over her, so that she would see and love Him only as her son.” (Source: Discourses on Srimad Bhagavata by Swami Tejomayananda)
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