पीठोलूखलसोपानः क्षीरभाण्डविभेदनः ।शिक्यभाण्डसमाकर्षी ध्वान्तागारप्रवेशकृत्॥
pīṭholūkhalasopānaḥ kṣīrabhāṇḍavibhedanaḥ ·śikyabhāṇḍasamākarṣī dhvāntāgārapraveśakṛt
who made a stool or the mortar his stepping-stair
to reach the hanging pots
To reach the suspended butter-pots, Kṛṣṇa piles stools and mortars as climbing steps; the image of the tiny Lord building a step-pyramid for butter is charming.
who broke open the milk-pots
When Kṛṣṇa cannot reach the suspended pots, he breaks the lower ones with a stone; the sound of cracking pottery alerts the gopīs but he is gone before they arrive.
who pulled down pots from the hanging slings
The butter and curd are suspended in net-baskets from the ceiling; Kṛṣṇa pulls on the ropes with all his little-body might to bring them within reach.
who slipped into the dark store-room
The Bhāgavata describes Kṛṣṇa entering the dark inner rooms of houses where butter is stored; the Lord who is light itself enters into darkness to steal.
