Periazvar kanda Kannan- Yasodha regrets sendign Krishna to forest

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Yasodha resents her decision to send Krishna to tend the calves

 

Yasodha sent Krishna to tend the calves as it was the practice to train the young cowherds to look after he calves as a prelude to tending the cattle later. But she regrets her decision in these ten verses in which Azvar in the role of Yasodha laments about sending Krishna to the forest after the calves.

 

Krshnais referred to as ` aayar kulakkozundhu,' the sprout of the tree called the clan of cowherds. The implication here is that the sprout will wither if the root is affected. Like that Krishna used to feel the pain if anything happens to any one in the whole cowherd clan. Yasodha regrets having sent him to the forest instead of having him at home roaming around the houses because she is afraid that his feet will be hurt walking in the forest. Azvar as Yasodha refers to his feet as those which have kicked Kamsa, meaning that they must have been already hurt by kicking the rock like body of Kamsa. The chronological factor does not matter here because it was Azvar a devotee speaking thus and not Yasodha.

 

Yasodha says that it was indeed her sin to have sent her son to the forest, instead of allowing him to play with the damsels teasing them by destroying their mud castles etc. His sapphire blue hued body would be covered with dust when he runs after the calves calling them and hearing their replying sound which would be like the sound of a bell due to the echo from the hills.

 

The one who charms the women by his pranks and sports has gone to the forest inhabited by fierce hunters, says Yasodha . He is tender and handsome who should have stayed back swallowing butter but now gone to the forest where wild elephants roam about.

 

The one who should be surrounded by the creeper-like damsels is wandering in the forest which is hot now. Azvar refers to Krishna as puLLin thalaivan, meaning that he , the Lord of Garuda and used to travel on the bird, puLL, who now walks on foot.

 

Yasodha laments that she has sent the son whom she was carrying in her womb for twelve months and whom she nurtured with love so long to the forest strewn with hard stones without foot wear and umbrella. It is to be noted that even Kousalya wa said to have borne Rama for twelve months and not the usual ten.

 

These ten verses are full of motherly love, vathsalya, exhibited by the Azvar in the role of Yasodha towards the Lord.