Once upon a time, in a beautiful kingdom called Mathura, there lived a king named Vasudev and his wife Devaki. They were very kind and loving people. People loved them a lot.
One night, a divine voice told King Vasudev that his eighth son would be really powerful and would bring happiness to the world. But there was a wicked king named Kansa who was Devaki's brother. He was very cruel and he wanted to harm the baby. So, the voice told Vasudev to take the baby to a safe place as soon as he was born.
On the day the baby was born, the palace was filled with joy. But King Vasudev knew they had to save him. As soon as the baby was born, he took the baby from Devaki's hands and carried him in a basket.
The guards outside the palace were fast asleep, and there were dark clouds covering the sky. As Vasudev stepped out of the palace, a miracle happened! The heavy gates opened by themselves, and the guards were still asleep. It was as if the whole world was asleep so that the baby could be safely carried away.
Vasudev walked through the dark night towards a small village called Gokul. On his way, he had to cross a river named Yamuna. The river was flowing very fast, but as soon as Vasudev stepped into the water, the river made way for him. It became calm, and the water level dropped!
Finally, Vasudev reached the house of his friend Nand in Gokul. Nand and his wife Yashoda were waiting for the baby. They had just had a baby girl. Vasudev exchanged his baby with Nand's daughter and brought her back to Mathura.
King Kansa didn't know about the baby exchange. He thought Devaki's eighth son was dead. But the truth was that the little baby grew up with love and happiness in Gokul.
The baby was named Krishna. He had beautiful dark blue skin, a peacock feather on his head, and a charming smile. He grew up to be a deity loved by everyone. Krishna performed many miracles and taught people to spread love and goodness. He always protected the innocent and fought against evil.
Krishna's birth is celebrated even today as a festival called Janmashtami. People decorate their homes, sing and dance, and offer prayers to Krishna. It reminds us that goodness and love will always triumph over evil.
The end.
Reflection Questions