Who is Krishna?
The Birth of Krishna (detail with Vasudeva giving baby to Nanda and Yashoda) Next | Back | Section | Home | Index

"As Vasudeva carried out his son in the dead of night, the guards were gripped by Sleep, as were the guardians of Mathura's gate. As they went in the night under cover of clouds that were raining torrents of water, the serpent Sesa followed Vasudeva and sheltered him with his hoods. Carrying Krishna, Vasudeva crossed the deep river Yamuna with its hundreds of whirlpools, but it only reached up to his knees. On the banks of the river he saw the cowherd elders, Nanda and the others ... Yashoda, too, was fooled by Sleep whom she bore as her daughter, while the people were also deluded. Vasudeva, of infinite splendor, put down the boy, picked up the girl from Yashoda's bed and quickly left. When Yashoda awoke and saw that she had born a son who was as dark as a blue lotus petal, Yashoda was estatic with joy." (D & van B, 1978:110)