As to their qualities, the sage goes on, both are gods.  It is impossible to understand their state, but having killed Kansa, they will remove the burdens of the world.  He then goes silently away.  This is the first time that Nanda and Yasoda are told the true facts of Krishna’s birth.  They do not, however, make any comment and for the time being it is as if they are still quite ignorant of Krishna’s destiny.  They continue to treat him as their son and no hint escapes them of his true identity.

Meanwhile Krishna, along with Rohini’s son, Balarama, is growing up as a baby.  He crawls about the courtyard, lisps his words, plays with toys and pulls the calves’ tails, Yasoda and Rohini all the time showering upon him their doting love.  When he can walk, Krishna starts to go about with other children and there then ensues a series of naughty pranks.  His favourite pastime is to raid the houses of the cowgirls, pilfer their cream and curds, steal butter and upset milk pails.  When, as sometimes happens, the butter is hung from the roof, they pile up some of the household furniture.  One of the boys then mounts upon it, another climbs on his shoulders, and in this way gets the butter down.[16] As the pilfering increases, the married cowgirls learn that Krishna is the ringleader and contrive one day to catch him in the act.  ‘You little thief,’ they say, ’At last we’ve caught you.  So it’s you who took our butter and curds.  You won’t escape us now.’  And taking him by the hand they march him to Yasoda.  Krishna, however, is not to be outwitted.  Employing his supernatural powers, he substitutes the cowgirls’ own sons for himself and while they go to Yasoda, himself slips off and joins his playmates in the fields.  When the cowgirls reach Yasoda, they complain of Krishna’s thefts and tell her that at last they have caught him and here he is.  Yasoda answers, ’But this is not Krishna.  These are your own sons.’  The cowgirls look at the children, discover the trick, are covered in confusion and burst out laughing.  Yasoda then sends for Krishna and forbids him to steal from other people’s houses.  Krishna pretends to be highly indignant.  He calls the cowgirls liars and accuses them of always making him do their work.  If he is not having to hold a milk pail or a calf, he says, he is doing a household chore or even keeping watch for them while they neglect their work and gossip.  The cowgirls listen in astonishment and go away.

Another day Krishna is playing in a courtyard and takes it into his head to eat some dirt.  Yasoda is told of it and in a fit of anger runs towards him with a stick.  ‘Why are you eating mud?’ she cries.  ‘What mud?’ says Krishna.  ’The mud one of your friends has just told me you have eaten.  If you haven’t eaten it, open your mouth.’  Krishna opens it and looking inside, Yasoda sees the three worlds.  In a moment of perception, she realizes that Krishna is God.  ’What am I doing in looking upon the Lord of the three worlds as my son?’ she cries.  Then the vision fades and she picks up Krishna and kisses him.