Greek Mythology: Baby Hermes – The Sneaky Cattle Thief
Once upon a time, in a secret cave on Mount Cyllene in Greece, a very unusual baby was born. His name was Hermes, son of Zeus, king of the gods.
But Hermes wasn’t like other babies. While most newborns just cry and nap, Hermes had plans. On his very first day, he wriggled out of his blankets, tiptoed past the nymphs, and crawled out of the cave with a mischievous grin.
On his very first day, he undid his swaddling clothes and leaped from his mother's arms when she wasn't looking. He crept right past his nursemaids and slipped out of the cave under the cover of darkness, his eyes twinkling with mischief
Outside, Hermes spotted his big brother Apollo’s shining herd of cows. Their golden horns gleamed in the sun. Hermes’ eyes sparkled.
“Perfect! These cows would be much happier with me!”
So, tiny Hermes stole all fifty cows! To trick Apollo, he tied branches to their hooves to hide their footprints and even made them walk backward to confuse the trail. Clever baby!
After hiding the cows, Hermes invented something new. He stretched strings across a turtle shell and made the very first lyre, filling the cave with sweet music.
Using his powers of prophecy, Apollo discovers the thief and confronts Hermes in his cave. The infant Hermes pretends to be a helpless newborn, but Apollo is not fooled and tries to bind him with withes.
The failed attempt: As Apollo twists the withes, they fall off Hermes and immediately take root in the soil, foiling Apollo's attempt to tie him down.
When Apollo found out his cows were gone, he stormed to Zeus in anger. But Zeus laughed at the tiny trickster. “Return the cows, my son,” he said gently.
Hermes agreed—but when Apollo heard the magical lyre, he loved it so much that he traded the cows for the instrument. From that day, Hermes and Apollo became friends, and Hermes grew into the messenger of the gods—always clever, always mischievous.
Hindu mythology : Baby Krishna – The Butter Bandit
Far away in India, another magical baby was born. His name was Krishna, the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva. But his wicked uncle, King Kamsa, was afraid of him—because a prophecy said Krishna would end his rule.
On the night Krishna was born, a miracle happened. Guards fell asleep, the prison doors opened, and Vasudeva carried the baby across the raging Yamuna River. A great serpent rose to shield them from the storm until they reached safety. Baby Krishna was left in the village of Gokul, to grow up among cowherds and butter-makers.
And oh, what a naughty baby he was!
The Damodara Leela – when his mother Yashoda tied little Krishna to a mortar for stealing butter, but the rope was always “too short,” no matter how much she added.
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The Vishvarupa moment – when Krishna opened his mouth, and Yashoda saw the entire universe inside.
Krishna loved butter more than anything. He would crawl into neighbors’ houses, climb up to the pots hanging from the ceiling, and steal big lumps of butter. Sometimes he shared with his friends, sometimes even with monkeys!
When caught, Krishna would smile so sweetly that no one could stay angry. “Oh, this little butter thief!” the villagers laughed.
But Krishna’s tricks weren’t just for fun. When demons sent by Kamsa came to harm him, baby Krishna defeated them with ease. He kicked over a demon disguised as a cart, and he defeated a wicked woman who tried to poison him.
One day, when his mother Yashoda tried to scold him, Krishna opened his mouth—and inside, she saw the entire universe, stars and all! Yashoda gasped. She realized her naughty butter thief was also the protector of the world.
Moral of the story :
Hermes couldnt be tied with withes and Krishna couldnt be tied with ropes to a mortar.
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