Text 34
kasmān mṛdam adāntātman
bhavān bhakṣitavān rahaḥ
vadanti tāvakā hy ete
kumārās te ’grajo ’py ayam
kasmāt — why; mṛdam — dirt; adānta-ātman — You restless boy; bhavān — You; bhakṣitavān — have eaten; rahaḥ — in a solitary place; vadanti — are lodging this complaint; tāvakāḥ — Your friends and playmates; hi — indeed; ete — all of them; kumārāḥ — boys; te — Your; agrajaḥ — older brother; api — also (confirms); ayam — this.
Dear Kṛṣṇa, why are You so restless that You have eaten dirt in a solitary place? This complaint has been lodged against You by all Your playmates, including Your elder brother, Balarāma. How is this?
Mother Yaśodā was agitated by Kṛṣṇa’s restless misbehavior. Her house was full of sweetmeats. Why then should the restless boy eat dirt in a solitary place? Kṛṣṇa replied, “My dear mother, they have plotted together and lodged a complaint against Me so that you will punish Me. My elder brother, Balarāma, has joined them. Actually, I have not done this. Take My words as true. Do not be angry and chastise Me.”