The Deliverance of the Yamala-Arjuna Trees

Having tied Krishna to a grinding mortar, Mother Yasoda went about her household affairs. Meanwhile, Krishna observed two twin trees known as yamala-arjuna. These trees were formerly two demigods, Nalakuvara and Manigriva, who, because of their pride, had been cursed by Narada Muni to become trees. However Narada's curse included the benediction that they would remember their past sinful activities and after one hundred years of living as trees, they would be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, face to face. Krishna, the knower of everything, to fulfill the truthfulness of the words of His devotee Narada, went between the two trees with the big mortar behind him. By dragging the wooden mortar behind Him with great force, He uprooted the trees and they crashed to the ground. The two personalities, Nalakuvara and Manigriva, were freed, and they offered their obeisances and prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna.Painted in 1977.