"O, after a long time, our two sons, as if meeting their real mother, are bathed in an ocean of bliss. They do not look at us at all though we are present before them. And she also, as if meeting her own son after a long time, is blind with love. She has millions of time more motherly affection than I have. Submerged in an ocean of affection, staring at us, her friends, for a long time, she now does not recognize us. Now I will reveal to her a secret topic through seemingly affectionate words." Thinking in this way, Devaki then spoke in a somewhat loud voice.

"Having not seen their real parents these two boys received great affection from you two as parents. I placed them safely with you and they lived there without fear, as eyes are protected by eyelids, because great devotees do not distinguish between their own children or other children (nas satam parah svah)." Then not hearing any reply even after a long time, Rohini said, "O friend Devaki, this does not rouse her from her blissful trance. So much for crying in the forest (this has been a waste of time). The two sons also remain bound by ropes of affection for her. We two will go and meet with Kunti, Draupadi and other friends who are very eager to see us outside. Because of having to meet with some many people on this pilgrimage, it is not good for the two of us to stay together with them here." After Rohini said this, Devaki when with her outside.

Devakī speaks this verse. The two boys had not seen their real parents, what to speak of the experience of being cared for by them. The parents only gave birth to them. It is well known (sma) that you became their parents since you satisfied them by giving things that greatly pleased them (samprīṇana), created auspiciousness for them by doing saṁskāras or by making them grow (abhyudaya), nourished them with milk from your breast (poṣaṇa) and protected them by having them rest. Sometimes lālana is seen instead of poṣana. You were able to do these actions for them in the most excellent way (pra—āpya). “This is fine, since she thought that Kṛṣṇa was her own child, but what about Balarāma, whom she knew as Rohiṇī’s child?” Elevated people do not think of “mine” and “others.” This was Devakī’s meaning of the words. She thought, “Yaśodā knows very well that Kṛṣṇa is my son. Therefore such consolation is proper”. But Yaśodā was unaware of anything else because of relishing strong impressions of Kṛṣṇa as her son. She only remembered Kṛṣṇa with great intensity with his promise, “I will come to see my relatives after giving happiness to friends in Mathurā.” (SB 10.45.23) Thus to her, there was another meaning to Devakī’s words. The two boys were offered by you two parents to us Yadus. You experienced their birth which gives happiness to all beings and protected and cared for them, like the eyelid protects the eye, and then, after having attained you, they accepted to live with us without seeing their parents. But there should be no difference. Why would she say this? Still, for the elevated, there is no difference between what is one’s own and belongs to others. , Or, for the elevated, there is no difference between those who are not parents (paraḥ) those who are parents (svaḥ). Since even Balarāma was born in her house the birth of both is referred to in the discussion.

Even though the boys had not seen their parents, what to speak of being cared for by them, from their very birth, you cared for them. You became their parents. Sma indicates that it is well known or indicates surprise. They explain how they are parents. You satisfied them with favorite items (sam-prīṇana) performed the jāta-karma or made them grow (abhyudaya). You made them princes of Vraja and had the demons killed. You nourished them with butter and milk (poṣana) and cared for them, putting them to sleep etc. You did this in an excellent manner (prāpya). Or taking care of the two boys you two, who became creators of their remarkable childhood pastimes (adṛṣṭa-pitarau), lived there. O respected woman (bhavati)! They say this in respect or in joy. Or it means “This is clear (bhavati). They are our children, not yours.” Or how could the two boys be happy in separation from their parents? That is true, good people treat their own and other’s children as their own. O O queen of Vraja! The two boys will definitely suffer without similar pampering. But you do not need to worry. The two boy, not seeing you two parents, being pampered by us just as by you, have lived here somehow without fear. As eyelids are near the eye, they are within our sight. At all times we gaze at them with affection. We cannot leave seeing them for a moment for there is no sense of mine or yours in us, who are your great friends. Your sons are our sons.