The Maidens' Clothes

Stealing the maidens' clothes is by far the most popular childhood tale of Krishna. This incident was an innocent childhood prank. Mr. Munshi has narrated it with masterly simplicity. Most Indians know Mr. Munshi as a member of India's constituent assembly and an educationist, but few know him for the prolific writer he was. The following is a summary of his version from his book "The Magic Flute".

By the time Krishna was seven years old, he was both a darling of and a terror to the maidens of Vrindavan. The women loved his cute appearance and radiant face, but hated it (or pretended to) when he stole butter and curds from their homes and shattered their earthen water pots with his sling. They would complain to his mother, Yashoda, who would be compelled to scold or even punish him in front of the maidens. This irked Krishna and he thirsted for revenge.

One afternoon he saw the maidens bathing in a secluded spot in the river, Yamuna. Their garments were lying on the riverbank. Krishna collected all the clothes and scuttled up a tree and ensconced himself in the branches. The ladies came out of the water, laughing at the latest village gossip. Water droplets were trickling down their bodies and their long, black tresses were plastered to their backs like serpents. When they realized that their garments were missing there was a horrific shriek. The damsels covered their nakedness with their arms as best as they could and looked around for their clothes.

They found them hanging on the branches of a tree well out of reach. Then they saw Krishna and realised what had happened. But Krishna refused to acknowledge them and began playing his flute. They begged and begged but Krishna would not relent. After they had pleaded some more, Krishna told them to ask for forgiveness for complaining every now and then to his mother. The maidens readily complied. But Krishna was not through. He dropped one garment. The maidens leapt upon it and Krishna enjoyed the ensuing scuffle till the owner retrieved her garment and put it on. This continued till all the garments were delivered. Then Krishna jumped down from the tree and departed nonchalantly playing his flute. He heard one of the women remarking. "Thank God! He is only seven." And Krishna could not figure out what difference it made whether he was seven or seventeen.

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