Hare Krsna,
Reading the daily play pastimes of Krsna, Balarama and the cowherd boys gave me goosebumps.
“Then all the boys began to sport in the forest in a greatly playful spirit” particularly caught my attention. The description of their childhood play in verse 7-11 is extremely pleasing to read and hear repeatedly. Their pastimes are teaching us that recreation and play are an important part of our life – something that we have forgotten.
Krsna, Balarama and the cowherd boys were so attuned with Mother Nature. They did not need any artificial toys to seek pleasure. They used flutes, bugles in their daily play. The imitated the buzzing of the bumblebees and the voice of the cuckoo. Some boys imitated flying birds by running after the birds’ shadows on the ground, some imitated the beautiful movements and attractive postures of the swans, some sat down with the ducks, sitting silently, and others imitated the dancing of the peacocks. Some boys attracted young monkeys in the trees, some jumped into the trees, imitating the monkeys, some made faces as the monkeys were accustomed to do, and others jumped from one branch to another. Some boys went to the waterfalls and crossed over the river, jumping with the frogs, and when they saw their own reflections on the water they would laugh. They would also condemn the sounds of their own echoes.
What is pleasing to read about this pastime is the innocence and complete care-free life of the boys (including Krsna and Balarama). For us in the material world, life is all about work. In Vraja lila, life is all about play and fun. No wonder, the Vravavasis are considered more fortunate than the jnanis.
Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakura says, “The Vrajaväsés joyfully sported with Kåñëa, who is perceived as an ordinary human (naradärakeëa) by the materialistic sense enjoyers covered by the illusory potency (mayaçrétänäà) of the Lord. The jïänés have realization of Kåñëa but they cannot play with Him. The däsya bhaktas, the Lord’s surrendered servants, worship Kåñëa in reverence, but they are not qualified to play with Kåñëa. The karmés have no respect for Kåñëa so they neither realize nor worship Him, what to speak of playing with Him.”
The cowherd boys, having accumulated the results of pious activities for many lives, were able to associate in this way with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (SB 10.12.1-7)
Somehow or other in today’s life, children are not being taught how to play and have fun. It is common narrative that Gen Z lacks the ability to have fun and play due to their heavy reliance on social media. In today’s digital age, many young people find themselves engrossed in their smartphones, scrolling through endless feeds and engaging in virtual interactions rather than participating in traditional forms of play. The constant stimulation from social media platforms can indeed consume much of their time, leaving little room for offline activities.
To add to this, modern parenting methods also often place less emphasis on traditional forms of play, partly due to the influence of technology and changing societal norms. With the rise of digital devices and screens, many parents find it convenient to entertain their children with apps, videos, and games, inadvertently steering them away from more traditional play experiences. Additionally, the growing emphasis on structured activities and academic achievement has led some parents to prioritize educational pursuits over unstructured playtime. While these approaches may offer benefits in terms of skill development and academic success, they can sometimes neglect the importance of free play in fostering creativity, social skills, and emotional resilience. Encouraging a balance between digital and offline play, as well as providing opportunities for imaginative and unstructured play, remains crucial for holistic child development in the modern age.
I have also seen numerous devotee parents who push their children like non-devotee parents. The kids are burdened with school-work and homework. After school, the kids are enrolled in various extra-curricular activities like sports, music, art, etc. Devotee kids have additional pressure to learn mrdanga, kartal, harmoniums, attend scriptural classes, learn Sanskrit, etc. We are not allowing the kids to grow up normally and let them enjoy their childhood.
Krsna, Balarama and the cowherd boys are teaching us how childhood should be treasured and enjoyed. They played when they had to play. Later when Krsna and Balarama are enrolled in Sandipani Muni’s school, they focused on their studies. They are teaching us how there should be a fine balance between play, studies, recreation and everything else – something that most of us have completely forgotten or are not even aware of.
I miss my childhood days. ☹
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 