Damodar Lila: Why Krishna Let Mother Yashoda Bind Him

Why Is Krishna Called Damodar?

Each name of Lord Krishna is named after a particular pastime (lila) or His quality. Lord Krishna is named Damodar because He performed the rope-binding pastime with Mother Yashoda, also called damodar lila.

The word Damodar is derived from two Sanskrit words, “dāma” and “udara”. Dāma (दाम) means rope, and Udar (उदर) means belly or abdomen. When child Krishna broke the butter pots, His foster mother, Yashoda, tied him with a rope around His belly. This Lila made Lord Krishna famous as Lord Damodar. Devotees worship this Damodar form of the Lord and pray for His divine mercy and deliverance.

The Story of Damodar Lila

Lord Krishna is the supreme controller, and under His direction, the cosmic manifestation undergoes repeated creation and dissolution (Bhagavad Gita 9.10). Through Damodar Lila, Lord Krishna shows us how pure and unalloyed devotional service to Him conquers the unquenchable.

Mother Yashoda Chases Little Krishna

Mother Yashoda used to personally churn the yoghurt into butter daily and sing about Krishna’s childhood pastimes. Once, little Krishna approached her and stopped her work because He wanted to be fed. Mother Yashoda lovingly took Him onto her lap and fed Him with her milk.

She noticed that the milk on the stove was boiling over. She stopped feeding and immediately put Krishna down to save the milk from flowing down. Upset, Krishna broke the yoghurt pot with a stone and went elsewhere to eat butter.

When mother Yashoda returned, she understood that Krishna had broken the pots. After searching for Him for a long time, she found Him sitting on a wooden mortar, sharing butter with monkeys. As she came near to Krishna, He jumped down and ran away.

After chasing Krishna for a long time, she eventually caught Him. Krishna started crying loudly and rubbed His eyes, smearing the kajal across His face. Holding His hand, she gently scolded Him. Seeing Krishna very frightened of Her, she threw the stick away and decided to bind Him with a rope.

Krishna Allows His Mother to Bind Him

Mother Yashoda brought a rope to tie Krishna to the wooden mortar. When she tried to knot the ends of the rope, it was two fingers short. She joined another rope, but still the gap was the same. She brought all the ropes available in the house, but nothing could help.

Her repeated efforts made her perspiring, and the flowers began falling from her loosened hair. Seeing His mother’s efforts, Krishna became merciful and allowed her to bind Him. Lord Krishna was bound by the ropes of mother Yashoda’s love.

Krishna Delivers Nalakuvara and Manigriva

After binding Krishna, mother Yashoda returned to her household activities. Krishna noticed two Arjuna trees nearby, who were Nalakuvara and Manigriva. As the supreme personality of godhead, Krishna knew that they were the sons of Kuvera, who had become trees through the curse of Narada Muni.

In their previous birth, Nalakuvara and Manigriva had become proud of their wealth. Intoxicated, they remained unclothed and showed no respect to sage Narada. To free them from their arrogance, he cursed them to become trees. Yet his curse also carried a blessing: he promised that they would one day meet Lord Krishna.

To prove His devotee’s promise, Lord Krishna delivered them by dragging the mortar behind Him and uprooting both trees. The brothers emerged in effulgent forms and bowed before Him. They recognised Narada’s mercy and prayed that their words, hearing, minds, and senses might always serve the Lord.

Conclusion

Thus, Lord Krishna’s Damodar Lila teaches us to render unalloyed devotional service unto Him, just as Mother Yashoda did. The Supreme Lord, whom no material power can bind, willingly allows Himself to be bound by His devotees’ pure love. By hearing His pastimes and serving Him sincerely, we can deepen our devotion and get closer to Him.