SB 10.9.15 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

तद् दाम बध्यमानस्य स्वार्भकस्य कृतागस: । द्‌व्यङ्गुलोनमभूत्तेन सन्दधेऽन्यच्च गोपिका ॥ १५ ॥

Verse text

tad dāma badhyamānasya svārbhakasya kṛtāgasaḥ dvy-aṅgulonam abhūt tena sandadhe ’nyac ca gopikā

Synonyms

tat dāma — that binding rope ; badhyamānasya — who was being bound by mother Yaśodā ; sva — arbhakasya — of her own son ; kṛta — āgasaḥ — who was an offender ; dvi — aṅgula — by a measurement of two fingers ; ūnam — short ; abhūt — became ; tena — with that rope ; sandadhe — joined ; anyat ca — another rope ; gopikā — mother Yaśodā .

Translation

When mother Yaśodā was trying to bind the offending child, she saw that the binding rope was short by a distance the width of two fingers. Thus she brought another rope to join to it.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

When mother Yaśodā was trying to bind the offending child, she saw that the binding rope was short by a distance the width of two fingers. Thus she brought another rope to join to it. KB 10.9.15 But when she tried to bind Him, she found that the rope she was using was too short—by two inches. So she gathered more ropes from the house and added to it,

Purport

Here is the first chapter in Kṛṣṇa’s exhibition of unlimited potency to mother Yaśodā when she tried to bind Him: the rope was too short. The Lord had already shown His unlimited potency by killing Pūtanā, Śakaṭāsura and Tṛṇāvarta. Now Kṛṣṇa exhibited another vibhūti, or display of potency, to mother Yaśodā. “Unless I agree,” Kṛṣṇa desired to show, “you cannot bind Me.” Thus although mother Yaśodā, in her attempt to bind Kṛṣṇa, added one rope after another, ultimately she was a failure. When Kṛṣṇa agreed, however, she was successful. In other words, one must be in transcendental love with Kṛṣṇa, but that does not mean that one can control Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa is satisfied with one’s devotional service, He does everything Himself. Sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ. He reveals more and more to the devotee as the devotee advances in service. Jihvādau: this service begins with the tongue, with chanting and with taking the prasāda of Kṛṣṇa. ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ ( Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.234)

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Though by love Yasoda could bind her child, and though the span of her lap was small, the small form of the boy was still all powerful. That is shown in three verses. The boy was thinking, "I cannot be bound up because I must do my daily duties of stealing yogurt and playing with my friends." His vibhuta sakti (power of showing his opulence) inspired by the satya sankalpa sakti ( the lord’s every desires should be fulfilled) , suddenly entered into his body at that time. Thus, the rope became two fingers short. She got more rope and tied it together with the other rope. But it was still two fingers short.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

She wanted to tie him up because he was her son (sva) since she should not ignore teaching him a lesson, as she could with other boys. The first rope was two fingers too short by chance. All the later ropes tied together were also two fingers too short through his vibhūtā-śakti, because of his stubborn nature as a small child. He could not be brought under control if two elements --special intense prema of his devotee and his special mercy arising because of that prema--were lacking. Later it is said, “Seeing her fatigue he agreed to be tied up.” (SB 10.9.18) She got other ropes. Hearing the mother scold the child while he cried, neighboring gopīs arrived and laughed as they gave her more rope.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

She wanted to tie him up because he was her son (sva) since she should not ignore teaching him a lesson, as she could with other boys. The rope was short by a small amount (two fingers). Or he cannot be attained by jñāna and karma among the three: jñāna, karma and bhakti. She joined another piece of rope since she feared he would run away. She tied him three times. Or holding him with one hand, by her other hand she held the rope. Or some servants handed her some more rope.