Curious about the role of the goddess Yogamaya? You can read about her divine plan in the last chapter. To understand the whole divine escape of Krishna, start at the beginning.
For a moment that seemed to last eternity, Vasudeva and Devaki simply stared at their child, understanding with perfect clarity that they were in the presence of the Supreme Being himself. All their suffering, all their pain, all their loss suddenly made cosmic sense. Their baby – this was the answer to every prayer ever uttered by the oppressed, the fulfilment of every promise made by the divine to protect the innocent.
Vasudeva and Devaki were overwhelmed. Here was their son, but also their Lord—the Supreme Divine they had worshipped all their lives.
Vasudeva, overcome with reverence and joy, began offering prayers:
“O my Lord, I can understand who You are. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul of all living entities and the Absolute Truth. You have appeared to diminish the burden of the world by killing the demons who are posing as royal dynasties.”
Krishna spoke to them in a voice both childlike and ancient: “Father, take me from this place to the village of Gokula. Go to the house of Nanda and Yashoda. They have just given birth to a baby girl. Exchange me with her and return quickly. No one will notice, for I am protected by Yogamaya’s illusion.”
The Bhagavata Purana beautifully captures this moment: “Jananī janma-saukhyāya” – “A mother exists for the joy of giving birth to the divine.”
The four-armed Vishnu gradually transformed into a beautiful human baby—dark-complexioned like a fresh rain cloud, with lotus-like eyes and a face that radiated pure innocence and joy.
Krishna smiled – and oh, what a smile it was! It contained all the mischief He would later display as the butter thief of Vrindavan, all the wisdom He would share as the teacher of the Bhagavad Gita, and all the love He would shower upon His devotees throughout the ages.
The Great Escape: When the Impossible Becomes Possible
Now comes the part of the story that even Hollywood would struggle to make believable. Vasudeva knew he had to act fast. Every second that passed increased the risk of the guards discovering what had happened. But how do you escape from a prison that has been specifically designed to be escape-proof?
This is where divine intervention moves from subtle to spectacular.
Vasudeva put the baby in a basket and prepared to escape. The heavy iron shackles around his feet – shackles that had held him captive for years – simply opened and fell to the ground with soft clinks, as if they were made of flower petals rather than iron.
The massive prison doors, which required multiple guards and heavy keys to open, swung open silently on their hinges. And here’s the most incredible part: all the guards who had been vigilantly watching the cell fell into the deepest sleep, as if Yogamaya herself had whispered lullabies in their ears.
Vasudeva stepped out of his prison cell for the first time in years, his baby son wrapped in his arms, and found himself in corridors where guards slept standing up, their weapons still in their hands.
But the real challenge lay ahead: he had to cross the Yamuna River to reach Gokula, where his friend Nanda Maharaja lived, and where the child would be safe.
The River That Bowed to Divinity
It was monsoon season, and the Yamuna was in full flood. The raging waters looked impossible to cross, especially while carrying a newborn baby. But Vasudeva had faith. Step by step, he walked into the dark, swirling water.
As the water level rose to Vasudeva’s chest, then his neck, and threatened to drown them both, baby Krishna playfully stretched out his tiny foot. The moment that happened, the Yamuna completely parted, creating a dry path all the way to the other side.
Krishna had spent eternity as the creator and sustainer of all rivers. Did anyone really think the Yamuna wouldn’t recognise her master?
This miracle is why many devotees today still believe that touching the Yamuna water with devotion can wash away sins. The river is considered sacred specifically because she had the privilege of being touched by infant Krishna’s feet.
Even more incredibly, the great serpent Shesha Naga (Adi Shesha), who serves as Vishnu’s eternal resting place in the cosmic ocean, appeared above them, spreading his thousand hoods like a divine umbrella to protect the child from the torrential rain.
The adventure continues! Don’t miss the next twist in Krishna’s birth epic by reading here.
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