It was a beautiful night of Sharad (Season). Numerous aromatic flowers had blossomed making the Vrindavan forest divine. Shri Krishna anted to start his Raas Leela (Illusionary Play of Love) with his power of intoxication of love. As soon as this desire came to his mind, a luminous and cool moonlight started spreading slowly over every tree and living being of Vrindavan. It felt as if a lover has come to make love to his beloved after a long time. It was a night of full moon. The entire forest of Vrindavan was immersed in love. Every corner of the forest was drowned in the elixir of divine love and beauty.
Shri Krishna started to play his love tunes on his divine flute. The Gopis, whose hearts were already filled with love of Krishna, lost all fear, shame, patience and they ran towards the place where the lord was playing. The gopis, who were busy in milking the cows, left them and ran, their ear-rings swinging as a result of their speed. Those who were making food, feeding their children or serving their husbands, left everything and ran towards their beloved Krishna. Some did not even have time to put proper clothes on their body in their hurry to meet their lover Krishna. Some Gopis were stopped by their husbands, brothers and friends, but nobody could stop them. Those who were trapped in their homes, just closed their eyes and instantly their souls met with Krishna’s as soon as they meditated on his wonderful forms, divine gentleness and illusions (leela). The fire of detachment from krishna burned every desire and attachment that were present in their innocent hearts.
When all the Gopis had encircled Krishna it looked like a sapphire encircled by yellow pearls in as beautiful necklace.
Shri Krishna welcomed all of them and Said :
‘Tell me O divine lovers of mine, what can I do to please you? Is everything alright in Vraj (the village) ? Tell me, what was the need to come to me at this hour of night ? The night time is extremely frightening with dangerous animals roaming around in the woods. Therefore, I request all of you to return to your homes and tend to your family,cows and other things you have left behind to meet me. The time of the night is not good for ladies to walk around in the forest. See, O beloveds, the soft moon-light is enhancing the beauty of Vrindavan which is the now full of colourful flowers and the emotion of love is in full bloom in the hearts of all animals. See O see, the tender breeze touches the cool waters of Yamuna like a painter a drawn a night scene using the moon light as colour. Look at the tender breeze touching the young green leaves of the trees as if a mother is caressing her child. But dear Gopis, Now you have seen all this. So don’t delay and please return to your homes and tend to your family and cows who are eagerly waiting for you to retury to them. Those women, who want to achieve the hight place in the spiritual realm must not leave their husbands for any other man, even if he (husband) is poor, angry, old, stupid or devoid of luck! For ladies of good families, serving a man who is not her husband is condemnable from all aspects; she loses her place in heaven and falls in all her spiritual endeavours. One gets ill repute in this world and never gets release from the cycle of birth and deaths. Therefore I request you to return to your homes immedately.’
Upon hearing these harsh words of Lord Krishna, the Gopis became sad and angry at him. Their dreams were shattered. Their overflowing eyes moistened their cheeks. Their tear drops flowed down to their breasts and moistened them too Their hearts were broken to such extent that they found it difficult to speak. They had left everything behind, broken all ties and sacrificed every inch of their souls to Shri Krishna. They pacified themselves somehow and said to Krishna :
‘Our greatest lord! You know everything that dwells in the heart of every living body. You should not speak such hurtful words to us. We have left everything behind to surrender our souls to your lotus feet. We have no doubt that you are not dependant on anybody and you work according to your moods and what power do our little souls have on you! But still, like a merciful god loves his detached devotee, please accept us as yours. Dear ShyamSunder, you are the knower of all religious. Your saying of ‘serving your husband, your children is your true duty’ is right and we have no doubt in it. But merciful Lord! you are the only lovable being of every living thing that dwells this universe. What use is of temporary husbands and brothers! Therefore supreme Lord Krishna! Have mercy on us! Dont break the innocent hearts of ourselves who have born in our hearts, a desire to be caressed by your hands from time immemorial. Till now our hearts were attached with bonds of this material world. But now in a few moments, you have taken everything that was left in us! And you did this with no difficualty because lord! You are nothing but embodiment of Love and Joy! You speak of returning to Vraj, but O lord we are unable to go one step away from you. Our feet are refusing to lift and we do not have control on our bodies anymore. If you refuse yo accept us, we swear we shall commit suicide by drowning in the river yamuna and ultimately our souls shall meet with yours. Your beutiful face, adorned by vibrant ornaments, your lust-filled lips filled with elixir and arms, which protect the helpless who has come to your shelter and your breasts which even the most divine godess lusts to behold, you stand in front of us in the divine beauty playing the tunes of immortal joy. Our chests are burning with the desire to be one with you. Have mercy on us and keep your lotus-hands on our busts and free us from this ever growing desire for your divine touch!’ …To be Continued
Krishna Dham 