When Vasudev was taking the jewel-like Krishna from Kamsa’s prison in Mathura to Nanda’s house in Vraja, māyā spread an illusory covering everywhere. Even mother Yasoda saw the child who had been brought as her own.
dadṛśe ca prabhudhā sā yaśodā jātam ātmajam nīlotpala-dala-śyāmam tato ‘tyartham mudam yayau
Upon awakening, Yasoda saw the new-born child who was dark like a blue lotus and became joyful.” (Vişnu Purāņa 5:5:22)The body of the child was more resplendent than a shining sapphire. The moon of his face conquered the moon in the sky. His eyes were like the most astonishing lotuses. His hands were more splendorous than the new leaves on the branches of a heavenly desire tree. Moving His hands and feet slightly, He cried out sweetly, bewildering the whole universe. When she saw this beautiful child, Yasodā became stunned like a painted picture.He was a kingdom of shining darkness, an expansive ocean of beauty.
He was the good fortune for all perception of beauty. He was the Bharata Muni of all attractive pastimes. When Yasoda thought of her child in this way, He agreed by His crying, which seemed to say, “Yes Yes.”Though Yasoda saw her newly born son, she was unable to call out for her friends, what to speak of moving anywhere?! Her eyes and throat were covered in tears and her body was stunned. Her heart was agitated because of her desire to care for the newborn. With strong desire to see her child, she constantly gazed at Him, but could not be fully satisfied. Streams of nectar fell from her breasts and from her eyes.When the Supreme Lord appeared in Nanda’s house in Vraja, Yogamāyā left Vraja for Mathurā, thus freeing Vraja from illusion.As the moon, though situated far away, makes lotuses blossom, this child made the minds of people far away blossom with joy. Not only did the child appear on the bed of his mother, but He also appeared in another form in the pure hearts of persons having transcendental affection.When the child appeared in the hearts of women situated at a distance, they quickly came like cātākī birds attracted to a cloud appearing in the sky. As cakora birds look at the moon from all around it, Rohini and other women gathered around to look at the child from all sides. Seeing the stunned Yasodă gazing at her child with smiling eyes, the women considered her to be the most deserving mother of this divine child.Recognising him as male by His characteristics, they cherished each limb. “Ah, I will hold His head. I will touch His eyes. I will offer myself to His heart and will reside there.” Each of the various women had their own desires which made them look at the child.Looking at the dark child with eyes and heart, they began to wonder about Him. Is that a fresh garland of blue lotuses? Is it a huge sapphire? Is it a vaidūrya gem, which can never be known? When we look at this child all the senses stop functioning and the eyes see only that object.
Adapted from Chapter-3, Gopala-campu; Sri Jiva Goswami