13 - Annaprasana and names giving ceremonies of Sri Krishna 

Narayana said- О best of the sages, you listen to the glory of lord Krishna which removes all the abstractions and the sins, besides being highly meritorious. 

Once Yashoda the wife of Nanda, seated on a golden lion-throne was feeding Krishna with her breasts. At that point of time a Brahmana arrived there surrounded with his pupils and illumining with the divine lustre he was holding rosary of crystal gems and was reciting the name of eternal Brahman. He carried with him a stuff and an umbrella. Besides being clad in white garment, his lines of teeth were looking quite charming. 

He was well versed in astrology as well as the Vedas and post-Vedic literature. He was wearing over his head the matted locks of hair, looking like the molten gold. 

His face resembled the full moon of the winter season. He had fair complexion and his eyes resembled the lotus flowers. The great yogi happened to be the pupil of Shiva, besides being the devotee of lord Vishnu. 

The great sage delight folly educated his pupil.  His one hand was held in Vyakhyanamudra, which was clearly visible. He used to recite the commentary on the Vedas variously with pleasure. Looking at him, it appeared that all the Vedas had appeared in him in person with all their glory. The goddess of Sarasvati was dwelling in his throat and he happened to be only expert in the interpretation of the scriptures with his mind always devoted at the lotus-like feet of lord Krishna. He was free from birth, lord of the siddhas and was all-knowledgeable. 

Looking at him Yashoda got up and bowed before him. Then she offered him arghya, the cows madhuparka and the gold besides offering him lion-throne for sitting. She also delightfully made her child to bow before the sage. The sage on his part bowed in reverence to lord Krishna a hundred times.

Reciting the hymns of the Vedas the blessed him variously. Thereafter, Yashoda also bowed in reverence to his pupils who blesses her variously. 

Yashoda entertained the pupils of the sage individually bowing before them offering padya etc. Thereafter the sage together with his pupils washed their feet and occupied their respective seats. Thereafter the chaste Yashoda carrying the child in her lap with her mind filled with devotion got ready to ask something from sage.

She said, "Though I am not competent enough to ask you about the welfare of my child, still I am going to enquire about your welfare.  Therefore, you forgive my short comings being a foolish lady before you. The noble people always forgive the sins of foolish people." The sages like  Angira, Atri, Marichi, Gautama, Kratu, Pracheta,  Pulastya, Pulaha, Durvasa, Kardama, Vasistha, Garg, Jaigishavya, Devala or Svayam-Vibhu, Kapila, Sanatkumara, Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana, Vodhu, Panchashikha, Asuri, Saubhari,  Vishvamitra, Valmiki, Vamadeva, Kashyapa,  Samvarta, Kacha, Bruhaspti, Bhrugu, Shukra,  Chyavana, Nara-narayana, Shakti, Parashara, Vyasa, Sukadeva, Jaimini, Markandeya, Lomasa, Kanva, Katyayana, Astika, Jaratkaru, Rishyasrunga, Vibhandaka, Paulastya, Agastya, Saradvan, Giri, Shamka, Arishtanemi, Mandavya, Paila, Panini, Kanada, Shakalya, Shakatayana, Ashtavakra, Bhaguri, Sumantu, Vatsa, Jabala, Yajnavalkya, Vaishampayana, Yati, Hansi, Pippalada, Maitreya, Karusha, Upamanyu, Gauramukha, Aruni, Aurva, Bharadvaja, Vedashira, Shankukarna or Shaunaka  represent your glory alone. О lord, I am not competent enough to enter into discussion with you still I would request you kindly you suggest to me the name of the boy. 

Only the male or female servants can put questions to the lord. The one who serves the lord daily, whom shall he ask for the removal of his doubt. 

I am quite youthful and indebted to you. My life has met with success with the very touch of the dust of your lotus-like feet. The sins of crores of birth have disappeared. Because with the touch of the water from your feet even the earth gets purified and with your arrival here my abode has been purified and has been turned into a holy place. 

О Brahman, such of the people who have been described as the best in the Vedas, you happen to be one of them and I could have an audience with you because of the merit earned by me in the earlier births. 

Your glorious pupils are emitting lustre like the mid-day sun of the summer season. You have surely purified Gokula and my abode with the dust of your feet. 

The great ascetics like you would be competent to bless my child. Indeed, the blessing of a Brahmana bestows welfare completely and immediately. 

Thus, speaking Yashoda the wife of Nanda stood with a devoted mind before be ascetic and she sent a messenger to call for Nanda also at the spot. On hearing the words of Yashoda, the ascetic smiled and all the pupils also started laughing illumining all the directions. 

Thereafter the sage of the pure wisdom delightfully spoke words to Yashoda, which bestowed welfare, were truthful, quite appropriate as well as meritorious. 

Garga said- Your nectar like words are quite befitting to your race and the people. The race in which one is born, he gains the temperament of the same. 

For the lotus-like race of the cowherds Giribhanu happened to be like the sun, his wife known as chaste Padmavati equated Lakshmi you happen to be their daughter and you have been given the name of Yashoda for the increase in their glory. You have accepted Nanda who is the best of the Vallabha race as your husband. 

O noble lady, I know your true identity as well as that of Nanda and also the reason for which this child has arrived but I shall speak this out to Nanda in seclusion. I am the family priest of the people of Yadus race for a long time and am known by the name of Garga. I have been deputed by Vasudeva for an important task which cannot be established by anyone else. In the meantime, on hearing the arrival of the sage, Nanda also arrived there and prostrated before the sage. 

He also bowed in reverence to his pupils. All of them blessed Nanda variously; thereafter Nanda and Yashoda got up from their seats and also took the sage Garga with them in the inner apartment. In that room only Garga, Nanda, Yashoda and their sons were present. At that point of time Garga revealed to them and important secret. 

Garga said-I shall speak to you some pleasant words. The purpose for which Vasudeva has sent me here, you kindly listen to me. Afraid of the terror of Kamsa, Vasudeva had brought this child here and placed him in the labour room and carrying your daughter form here, he went to Mathura. Therefore, Vasudeva happens to be the father of this child and the one who is elder to this child also is his son. He has sent me secretly to perform the Annaprasana and names giving ceremonies of the children secretly. Therefore, you kindly make arrangements for the same. 

Your child is the form of eternal Brahman and has incarnated on earth for removing her burden.  Brahma had adored him and happens to be the lord of Goloka. He is the husband of Radha. He also happens to be Narayana the dweller of Vaikuntha and the lord of Kamala. Vishnu who happens to be the dweller of the Sveta-dvipa is also his form alone. All the sages like Kapila, Nara-narayana and others are not separate from him. Evidently, he has arrived here possessing the lustre of all. The same Krishna had appeared in his true from before Vasudeva and then turned himself into the form of a child. 

Currently he has arrived here in labour room of your abode. This child has been born without any human contact over the earth. Before birth with his illusion, he had filled the womb of his mother with the wind. After appearing before Vasudeva, he displayed his true form and then became a child again. 

О Vallabha, the boy appeared with the different names and the different forms, combining him the complexion of whiteness, yellowness and redness. He has appeared as Krishna in the Satyayuga. Having been surrounded by the dazzling lustre he appeared with fair-complexion. In the Tretayuga he appeared with red-complexion and Dvapara he appeared with yellow-complexion in the Kaliyuga he appeared in dark-complexion in the Tretayuga he combined in him all the lustre as a complete Brahma; that is why he has been given of Krishna.  

in the word Krishna appears form the form of Brahma, stand for unlimited, stand for Shiva and stands for dharma. 

Even otherwise stands for Vishnu, the dweller of Sveta-dvipa and the voiceless aspiration (visarga) stands for Nara-narayana.

This happens to be the lustre of all the gods, the form of all the gods, the base of all and the seed of all. That is why he is called Krishna.

The other interpretation is that stands for the destruction of all the deeds and stands for the devotion for the one who bestows the devotion or his slavehood. is used for the one who is the bestower. Therefore, he has been given the name of Krishna. According to other interpretation stands for lifeless and stands for his devotion while stands for the getting of the same. Therefore, he has been called Krishna. 

In an other interpretation. stands for redemption and stands for moksha while stands for the giver, earning him the name of Krishna. 

The merit one gets by reciting the name of the crores of the gods, one get the same merit by simply reciting the name of Krishna. 

The merit one gets with the reciting of the name of Krishna, the same merit is achieved by collective recitation and listening to the same. With the reciting of the name of Krishna the sins of crores of births disappear. 

Of all the name of Vishnu, the name Krishna happens to be more purposeful and the eternal tattva. The name Krishna is quite beautiful, bestower of welfare and the devotion. 

With the reciting of the letter one achieves salvation devoid of birth and death. With one gets eternal slavehood, which one gets the devotion and with the recitation of one is combined with the lord and voiceless (visarga) stands for Sarupya salvation. There is no doubt about it. 

With the reciting of the letter the messengers of Yama they can never be stable and with the delighting of their condition become precarious and with the reciting of all the ailments disappear, with the reciting of all the ailment disappear and with the reciting of death disappear. Because with the reciting of the name of the lord, the messengers of Yama run away getting frightened. 

О lord of Vraja, with the reciting of the name of Krishna his messengers rush from Goloka mounted on the chariot; the intelligent people can perhaps count the particles of dust on earth but the glory and influence of the name of the lord us beyond counting. 

In the earlier times, I had heard the glory of this name, from the mouth of lord Shiva, my teacher who is aware of the influence of this name to some extent. Brahma, Sesha, Dharma, gods, the sages, Manush, humans, the Vedas and noble people are not aware of even one-sixteenth of the glory of that name. 

O Nanda, I have recited the glory of your son according to my intelligence whatever was heard by me from the mouth of any teacher. 

Lord Krishna is also known with the names of Krishna, pitambara, Kamsadhvamsi, Vistarasravah, Devakinandana, Srisa, Yashoda nandana, Hari, Sanatana, Achyuta, Ananta, Sarvesha, the one who takes to any form, the base of everyone, omnipresence, the cause of all, the cause, the beloved of Radha, the soul of Radha, the life of Radha, the one who enjoys company of Radha, the companion of Radha, the one who fulfils the desires of Radha , the treasure of Radha , limb of Radha the one whose mind is attracted towards Radha, the one who steals away the mind of Radha, one who protects the life of Radha, the great lord, the complete Brahman, Govinda, Garuda-dhvaja and Krishna which you have listened from my mouth. You keep them in mind. О virtues Nanda, these names steal away the life and death from a person. 

Thus I have narrated to you the names of your younger son; now I shall speak about the names of your elder son Haladhara from my mouth. Because of the extraction of the foetus from the womb he is known as Samkarshana, he is endless and that is why he is called Ananta in the Vedas. Because of his possessing great prowess, he is also known as Baladeva. Since he carries the plough, he is known as Haladhara. Because he is clad in blue garment, he is known as Nilambara, Because of his holding Musala he is called Musali. Because of his association with Revati, he is known as Revati-Ramana. He is called Rauhineya because of his remaining in the womb of Rohini. Thus I have given the name of your elder son also according to what I had heard from my teacher. О Nanda, I shall now proceed on to my abode, you remain comfortably in your abode. 

On hearing the words of the Brahmana, Nanda felt totally surprised and his wife Yas'hoda also was taken aback. Nanda then humbly spoke holding his both the hands with devotion. 

Nanda said- In case you go away, who would be the great person to perform the ceremony; Therefore, you yourself get the ceremony performed. 

You have just spoken about the life of Radha and other ten such names. Out of these names who happen to be Radha and whose daughter is she. On hearing the words of Nanda, Garga the best of the sages smiled and said, I am going to speak about a great secret. 

Garga said- О Nanda, listen I am going to speak out the ancient history in this connecting in earlier times I had heard the story of Goloka from the mouth of Shiva. There was a great quarrel between Sridama and Radha because of that Radha was born in the Gokula as a result of the curse of Sridama she happens to be the daughter of Vrushabhanu and Kalavatl is the name of her mother. 

He happens the wife of lord Krishna and is like him, with the command of lord Krishna she has incarnated in Gokula having been born without a human contact. She is the great goddess known as Mulaprakruti, the chaste lady had complete the pregnancy of her mother indeed in the form of wind and with the passage of the wind, at the advice of lord Krishna, she appeared by creating child with her illusion. 

The same Radha is growing up in Vraja. As the ray of the sun go on increasing during the bright fortnight. She has incarnated from half the tejas of lord Krishna. 

The same image has appeared in two forms and the secret is known in the Vedas. She is a female while Krishna is a male or otherwise she is also male and female. 

Both the forms have equal lustre and qualities. Both of them have the same prowess, same intelligence, same learnings and same type of riches. 

Since he arrived earlier, she is elder to Krishna who always adores her while she adores Krishna. 

Radha has been created out of the life of Krishna and while Krishna appears from the life of Radha, he has been born in Gokula in order to follow Radha. 

In the earlier times whatever had been promised in the Goloka had to be fulfilled and on the pretext of the fear from Kamsa, the lord was shifted to Gokula. 

In earlier times Brahma is said to have appeared from the lotus emerging from the navel of Vishnu and Brahma advised Shiva in the Brahmaloka accordingly. 

In the earlier times this has been told to me by lord Shiva himself. О Nanda, I am going to tell you the story about their births which is beyond the reach of the gods even. You listen to it. The formation of the word Radha has been variously defined by the gods. The demons and the sages which provides salvation to all, the latter of Radha relieves one of the sins accumulated during crores of his births. 

relieves one of the pain of remaining in the womb the death and the ailment. prevents from the death and relieves one of the fetters of the universe. 

With the reciting of the name of Radha or listening to her name all the blemish disappear. There is no doubt about it. of Radha bestows the devotion of lotus-like feet of lord Krishna and his slavehood. 

fulfils all the desires and bestows bliss, success and helps in achieving the lord, чт stands for long association of lord Hair and bestows all the richest besides the knowledge of tattvas and Sarupya salvation, stands for the glory of the lord besides the power of giving chariot, increase in yogi sakti and makes one to devote himself to lord Hari. With the reciting of the name of Radha or listening to it, by narrating and reciting it, one is relieved of the net of illusion, the ailments, grief, death and even Yama gets terrified from him. There is no doubt about it. 

Whatever the glory of the reciting of the name of Radha-Madhava as know to me has been narrated by me. It is not possible for me to narrate the whole of it. 

O Nanda, at Vrundavana which is located closed by, both of them will be married. Brahma the creator of the universe would served as the family priest making the fire as the witness and perform the marriage happily. 

 (These things will fonn part of Krishnallla) Yamalarjuna, the son of Kubera would be redeemed. Krishna will eat the butter, by stealing it. He will kill Dhenukasura in the forest, eating the fruits of tala trees, shattering the pride of Indra and protecting Gokula from the anger of Indra. The stealing of the robes of cowherdesses, completing their vrata returning their robes to them, lord Krishna shall steal away their hearts and would attract them towards himself. Thereafter, he would engage himself in the divine dance with the ladies, in the spring season. On the full moon night, he will have the conjugal pleasure with the cowherdesses and fulfilling their desires he will enjoy the water-sport with them. 

Thereafter with the pronouncing of the curse by cowhered Sridama the cowherdesses and Radhika would be separated from him for a hundred years. 

He would then proceed on to Mathura increasing the grief of the cowherdesses. He would come again to convince the cowherdesses and impart divine knowledge to them. He would protect Akrura and his chariot. Thereafter mounted on the chariot and accompanied by the brother and the father besides the people of Vraja, he would cross the Yamuna and reach Mathura. In the water of the Yamuna he would display his divine from to Akrura bestowing him the divine knowledge.

Reaching Mathura in the evening he would playfully about in the city. He would relieve the gardener, the tailor and the hunch-backed lady, from the worldly bondages. Meeting Kamsa at the same time, he would kill Kamsa instantaneously and free his parents from the bondages of Kamsa. Thereafter convincing both of you he would re-establish Ugrasena as the king of Mathura. 

He would relieve the woman of the grief by imparting the divine knowledge to them. The thread ceremony of both the brothers would them be performed by the family priest and they will also start the studies. 

Thereafter, he would restore the dead son back to his teacher. Thereafter, cheating the royal guards he would kill the Yavana king and also provide salvation to Muchukunda playfully. He would to Dvaraka together with Yadavas and then enjoy love-sports with the ladies increasing their fortune and the son of grandsons. 

He would earn a false blemish of stealing a diamond and then help the Pandavas. Relieving the earth of her burden he would attend the Rajasuya-yajna of Yudhisthira. Then he would steal away the Parijata tree from the heaven of Indra shattering his pride.

For the honouring of the resolve of Satyabhama he shall tear out the arms of Banasura, killing the soldiers of Shiva. He would free Aniruddha from the fetters of Banasura, kidnapping his daughter. He would bum the city of Varanasi. Remove the poverty of a Brahmana, restore the dead child of a Brahmana, subjugating the wicked people and shall proceed on the pilgrimage and shall meet you also.

Thereafter, he would visit Vraja with Radha again. He would then send to Dvaraka his prime Goloka. Thereafter, accomplishing all the tasks, he would return to Goloka together with Radha. Narayana too would proceed to Vaikuntha accompanied with you. Both Narayana and Dharma would go to the abode of lord Vishnu in the ocean of milk. О Nanda, I have thus narrated to you all the happenings of the future as foretold in the Vedas. Now you listen to me, the purpose of my arrival here. On the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magha, the required ceremony should be performed for both the boys. It is Thursday with the Revati constellation. Besides the moon and the stars would be quite with quite favourable. 

Thereafter, the moon is placed in mxna-lagna with the full vision. The karana named vanija is also available on that day and the time Therefore, is quite auspicious. Such a muhurta is difficult to get. All the best and the useful, yoga are combined at that time. Therefore, in consultation with the learned people you complete this ceremony delightfully. 

Thus speaking the sage got up and moved outside. Thereafter both Nanda and Yashoda started making arrangements for the performing of the ceremony delightfully. 

In the meantime, all the cowherds, cowherdesses, boy and girls arrived in the abode of Nanda in order to meet the sage Garga. They found Garga to be emitting lustre like the mid day of the summer season, surrounded with his pupils and the divine lustre emerging from his face. He was removing the doubts of the siddhas who questioned him variously. With his yogic powers he could visualise the happenings of the past, present and future. The divine from of the lord for achieving whom the ascetics meditate upon for long the same lord was looked by him occupying the lap of Yashoda. The form of the lord which he could see with the dhyanam, provided to him by Shiva, the same lord who fulfilled the desires of all, was blissful, was seen by him delightfully with his mind filled with emotions and the hair standing on their ends. He was engrossed in the devotion of the lord. He was adoring the lord offering pfija to him mentally. 

The people offered their salutation to such a great ascetic who blessed them variously. The sage Garga then left his seat and the people went back to their respective abodes delightfully. 

The delightfully Nanda sent messages to his relatives inviting them for the ceremony. 

Thereafter, he arranged for curd, milk, ghee, guda, oil, honey, butter, butter-milk, sugar and the water from all available in streams. Thereafter, the best quality of rice brought in heaps like the mountains, besides the fried rice, seven mountains of salt, seven mountains of sugar, seven mountains of sweet balls. Made of the flour of wheat and barley, pindas, modakas and the mountains of svastika and other eatables.

О Narada, there were seven mountains of small conches. The betels were arranged with camphor and lodged in a house having no doors. There was a store of fragrant water, in which sandal-paste, aguru, kasturi and saffron were mixed. Various types of diamonds pearls, sapphire, beautiful clothes and ornaments were arranged by Nanda for the Annaprasana ceremony of his sons. 

The court-yard was cleared and beautifully decorated. The water mixed with sandal-paste was sprinkled there. The trunks of banana trees were arranged and the strings knitting the tender leaves of mango trees were made to decorate the place besides the banners of fine clothes were made to decorate the court-yard. The kalasas of welfare filled with water were consecrated at suitable spots, the fruits and tender leaves were placed over the necks of the kalasas beautifully decorating them with sandal-paste, aguru, kasturi and garlands of flowers. Several types of garlands and costumes were arranged in the court-yard. The cows, madhuparka, asana, fruits and pitchers of waters were also placed there. Various types of charming musical instrument including small drums, big drums, double-drums and others besides the flutes, were made to play.

The Vidyadharis started dancing in various postures and the Gandharvas played in musical instruments seated on golden lion-thrones and the chariots. The abode of Nanda was looking quite graceful. At that point of time Nanda spoke to the messenger delightfully. 

All your relatives and the cowherds have arrived. Some of them arrived mounted over the horses, elephants and the chariots, many of the princes arrived adorned with the gem-studded ornaments. 

Giribhanu had also arrived with his wife and the servants, with the four lakhs of chariots, four lakhs of elephants, a crore of horses, a crores of palanquins had arrived together with a large number of ascetics, sages, men of learnings Brahmanas, bards and the beggars. Who could be competent enough to spell out the number of cowherds and cowherdesses. You come out of the court-yard and have a look for yourself. The messenger spoke all this standing in the court yard. 

On hearing this Nanda, the lord of the Vraja himself went to the place to welcome them and offered them suitable seats adoring them at the same time. 

He prostrated before the ascetics offering them the customary padya and arghya. 

At that point of time the city of Gokula of Nanda was very much over-crowded with the people and the stuffs that nobody could hear the words of others. Kubera, on the other hand showered the rain of gold in honour of the birth of lord Krishna with which the entire Gokula was filled. 

It was all surprising looking at the riches of Nanda. All his relatives were feeling complacent and they concealed their anxiety by indulging in various types of sports. 

Nanda on his part purified himself after performing the daily routine and was clad in two washed garment. The sandal-paste, aguru, kasturi and saffron we applied on his body. He then took his seat on the golden pedestal washing his feet with the permission of the sages.

He sipped the water, reciting the name of the lord and after performing svastivachana and other Vedic rites, he fed the boy with food, according to the advice of Garga. The boy was given the name of Krishna in an auspicious time, after the names giving ceremony of the lord, he was served with food containing ghee. The musical instruments were sounded besides performing other welfare ceremonies. 

Various types of charities were distributed by Nanda to the Brahmanas including gold, eatables and the costumes. 

The prisoners and the beggars were supplied with gold in abundance and they were unable to carry the weight for themselves. 

The complete and the best of food including the sweets was served to Brahmanas, relatives and the beggars. 

At that point of time only words heard in Gokula were "give me" and "eat more". Therefore, there was a huge noise.

Nanda then delightfully gave away in charity large number of gems, costumes, ornaments, diamonds, gold, the best of the gems and the gold vases made by Vishvakarma. 

He also gave in abundance the gold to the pupils of the sages and the Brahmanas. 

Narayana said- Garga then took Srihari in a secluded place and with his mind filled with devotion, he started offering prayers to him with the tears flowing from his eyes and hair on his body standing and ends. His mind was filled with devotion and adoring at the feet of Krishna he stood therewith folded hands. 

Garga said- О Krishna, О lord of the universe, О remover of the fear of the devotees, О lord, you kindly bestow the slavehood of your feet to me. 

You bestow protection to your devotees. In case your father has offered some riches to me but the same is of no consequence to me, you kindly bestow your unfading devotion. 

O lord, the siddhis like anima, yogic practices, the salvation, the learnings and or becoming immortal are not at all desired by me. 

Without serving at your feet I consider the position of Indra, Manu or the heaven hardly to attract me. 

О Brahman, without serving at your feet, I consider Salokya, Sarshti, Sarupya, Samipya and Ekatva type of salvation to be of no consequence. 

I have desired to dwell in the Goloka or in the nether world. My only desire is that I should always remain devoted at your feet. 

As a result of the tapas performed by me during many earlier births and as a result of the merit of the some, I achieved your mantra from Shiva, as a result of which I have become all knowledgeable and can look at everything. Besides 1 can move any where I like. An ocean of mercy, О lord of the down-trodden, be merciful on me. Providing me all protection, give me a place under your feet. Because in that case I shall not be afraid of the death.

By serving at your feet Shiva became the lord of all over coming death and the destroyer of Yama besides being the teacher of the yogis.

O Brahman, by serving at your feet Brahma became the creator of the universe whose one day equates with the life of fourteen Indras.

By serving at your feet Dharma became the witness of all the deeds of the people besides being bestower of the results of all the deeds of the people. 

Because of his serving at your feet the thousand headed Sesha carried the earth like the seed of sesamum and Shiva carries the poison in his throat. 

Lakshmi who happens to be the best of the goddesses and creates all the riches, rinses, your feet with her hair. 

The one who is the form of seed of all, reflects the prowess, the same Prakruti always remains devoted at your feet. 

Parvati representing the intelligence of all the form of the universe achieved Shiva as her husband by serving at your feet. 

The goddess of learning and knowledge known as Sarasvati is being adored by the universe by the grace of your lotus-like feet. 

Savitri, the mother of the Vedas and creator of Brahma and the Brahmanas was adored in the three worlds and became the most auspicious because of your grace. 

The goddess Vasundhara, having the jewels and diamonds in her womb, was able to serve at your lotus-like feet besides being able to produce various types of cereals. 

Radha who is born of your own ams'ha possessing the same lustre dwells, in your heart by serving at your feet, what to speak of others.

О lord, at you have graced the gods like Shiva and others and goddess like Lakshmi and others, similarly you shower your grace on me because, the kindness of the lord spreads to everyone, equally. 

О lord, I shall neither go to my house nor shall I accept the riches offered to me. You kindly allow me to serve at your lotus-like feet always while protecting me. 

Thus offering prayers with tears in his eyes, the sage Garga fell at the feet of the lord and wept for a long time. At that point of time his body was filled with emotions and his hair stood and ends. 

On hearing the words of the sage Garga, the lord who is compassionate on his devotees smiled. Then lord Krishna said, "You be devoted to me always". 

Whosoever recites this stotra thrice a day, he achieves the deep devotion of Hari besides the slavehood of the lord. 

Even a person who serves at the devotees of lord Krishna, he is freed from birth, death, old age, ailments, grief and illusion. He enjoys all the pleasures with lord Krishna till the lord remains of earth. He is never separated from the lord. 

Narayana said- The sage Garga after adoring Krishna handed him over to Nanda and said, "O cowherd, you permit me now to enable to proceed to my abode. Alas, how astonishing is this universe getting entangled in worldly attraction. In the universe, the meeting and separation of people is like the river and its water."

On hearing the words of Garga Nanda started crying because for noble people the separation from the sages is as painful as the death itself. 

Finding that the sage Garga was about to return with all his pupil, the cowherd Nanda besides other cowherdesses and cowherds, bowed in reverence to him. The sage after pronouncing his blessing on them delightfully, left the place and proceeded on to Mathura. 

All other sages, ascetics, relatives and Vallabhas, retreated to their respective abodes delightfully carrying enormous riches with them. 

Getting fully satisfied with the sweets, beverages, clothes, the base of horses, ornaments of gold, all the bards went back to their respective abodes. 

The beggars had taken food to their full and carrying gold, ornaments with them they were unable to move because of the weight carried by them. 

Some of the beggars delightfully moved on slowly, some of them started sleeping on the ground and some of them covering the distance of their journey by sitting or were standing occasionally. 

Some of them continued to stay there delightfully. Some of them were laughing, some of them were carrying the left-over of the foods. Some of them were displaying the riches carried by them, while some of them were dancing and singing. 

Some of them narrated to others, different types of ancient story relating to the king Marut, Sveta, Sagara, Mandhata, Uttanapada, Nahusa and Nala besides other kings. They also narrated the story about the Ashvamedha sacrifice of lord Rama and also about the activities of Rantideva. 

Some of the people were narrating the story which they had heard from the old people and some of them were listening to the same. Some of them were travelling while taking rest occasionally, while others continued the journey by sleeping at intervals. Thus all the people were filled with joy and proceeded on to their respective abode from Vraja. 

Thereafter Nanda and Yashoda delightfully carried the child in the lap and entered their abode which was as beautiful as the abode of Kubera. 

Thus both the children continued to grow like the moon of the bright fort-night. They started standing up holding tails of the cows or holding the walls. 

Daily they could recite half a word or one fourth of it, О sage, by moving in the court-yard they delighted the mind of their parents then Balarama was able to walk on foot but Krishna continued to move of his knees covering the entire house. 

 Samkarshana was elder by one year from Krishna and both of them started growing increasing the delight of their parents. 

Turning as children with illusion they started roaming about in Gokula and they could now speak the words early as well. 

О sage, reaching Mathura, the sage Garga went to the Vasudeva who enquired about the welfare of his sons, bowing in reverence to him. 

 When the sage narrated the news about the two children and also of the function at Gokula, the eyes of Vasudeva were filled with the tears of joy. Infested with love Devaki started enquiring from him again and again, with her eyes filled with tears, she was weeping again and again.

Thereafter, Garga blessed then delightfully and proceed on to his abode and both the children remained in the palace which looked like the palace of Kubera. 

Narayana said- During the kalpa to which the story relates you were known as Upabarhana having fifty damsels as your spouses being the king of Gandharvas. 

At that point of time these spouses loved you more then their lives and you were quite attractive, youthful and passionate. Thereafter you became the son of the maid-servant of a Brahmana as a result of curse from Brahma. At the same time consuming the food of Vaishnavas you become the son of Brahma, always remaining devoted to the lord having the divine vision, all knowledgeable and pride of your race. 

I have narrated to you the part of story of lord Krishna relating to his Annaprasana and giving the name to him. This story relieves one of the birth, death and old age, now I recite to you the story further.