Yashoda asked Uddhava to stay back for the night so that she could inquire about her Krishna and his family life. Krishna once told Uddhava to tell Maa Yashoda whenever she wanted to know anything about him to make her feel happy. Uddhava couldn't deny this request. Yashoda sent a servant to Radha's house to inform them about her staying back at Nand's place. Radha's house was like a hermitage. Her husband would often invite many sages to have discussions on myriad spiritual aspects.
Uddhava sat in the front yard on the elevated platform under the Bakula tree talking with Radha and Yashoda till dawn. In the serenade of the night, the stars were like a million lights singing sweet melodies in infinite rhythmic patterns. Sometimes, the senses crave for a musical symphony and darker the night, sweeter the celestial song!
When Yashoda expressed her displeasure on not meeting any of her bahus and not blessing any of her grandchildren, Uddhava replied to her. "You have had the privilege of watching God growing from your blessed lap. One day, when Devaki expressed the same dissatisfaction to Krishna for not having an opportunity to pamper him as a child, then Krishna had said, Mata, when you were in Kans's prison, Maa Yashoda had taken care of me, now you are witnessing the growth of her child as a husband and a father of your grandchildren. At Brindavan, she is longing to have a glimpse of my family life now. My life was divided between the two of you. I always shared my every moment with many lives, but surprisingly I am always dependent on the tender care of women who are there for me as mothers, friends, lovers, and queens. I am fortunate enough for all these associations, sharing my life with all of you. I am a follower of fate, with no right to choose or lose according to my wish. This love is a saving shield as well as an unbreakable bond for me. These manacles are always like tender garlands Mata, which allured me, tied me and kept me under its control with a lovely bonding."
While answering Yashoda's questions, Uddhava was observing Radha. He felt like she was trying to ask him something. He looked at her, ready to respond.
"Uddhava, why is society always eager to insult women? My thoughts are with Draupadi, why she had to bear such an insult from sinful royals' lust or for ambitious princes' claim for the crown? Why they made a maiden's honor as their bid in that game of a crown?"
" Radha, do not worry for Draupadi, Krishna will save her in all situations," assured Uddhava.
For that, with a pale smile, Radha said, "Now what is there to save? Only the final sacrifice is left!"
Yashoda was listening to their conversation silently. Suddenly, she said, "I am concerned for my Krishna. As long as he was here, he was the most blissful kid, played and danced with frolicking fun, and at the end of the day, he used to come back to my lap to sleep peacefully. Tell him to come once to have a few moments of rest on the lap of his Maa, to relax for a while."
Radha with a reassuring voice said, " Bhabhi, your son is a God, you are the fortunate mother who loved and is loved by Him. Everyone calls him Yashodanandan, every mother is singing your songs to make her child to sleep and it will be the same for ages to come. No God has ever got such pampering from a mother, but our Krishna is fortunate enough to get such pure love from you. " Radha's words calmed her down for a while. Still, she was disturbed for the current phase of his life.
" My child is a mischievous God, a naughty kid who kept His mother on her toes! Once to grab my attention, he pretended to eat mud, for which I scolded him. When I asked him to open his mouth, he mesmerized me by showing the entire universe in his tiny gaping mouth. When I was confused, he was afraid and started crying like a normal kid to get a hug from me. When I questioned him for eating butter from others' houses, his answer was, 'how do I know the meaning of mine and your Maa, hence I feel no difference in eating or taking things from others, for me Makhan is Makhan, it will melt within no time! How can it be yours or mine if there is nothing to see after a few moments?"
With a smile, Radha and Uddhava were trying to understand little Krishna's words.
"My Krishna is the tiniest kid to his mothers and the most romantic youth to his lovely maidens! Mischievous and mysterious Krishna accommodated himself as a spec in his mother's womb, held the entire universe as a tiny particle in his stomach," Radha laughed musically, that laugh came from within, while tears of elation were flowing from her eyes.
Again Yashoda said, "I want to see him once before I die, Uddhava. Tell him to come to me whenever he feels hungry, I am here with an open door, waiting for him." With tears flowing from her eyes, she pleaded with him.
Radha hugged Yashoda to console her. "Don't be in despair bhabhi, you are the mother of God himself, like a kid he played with you, and later when he wanted to leave, you dedicated him to his kingdom, like any selfless mother! Your son is a universal ruler now! He has no time to respond to our supplications. You were left with your recollections and I was left with my memories and passion for him." Her sigh was resigned and weary.
To divert the topic, Uddhava shared an interesting incident with them which happened when Draupadi had visited Krishna as the queen of Indraprastha. He recollected the conversation between them, which Krishna narrated to him later.
"On that day, when Draupadi was talking to Krishna sitting in his chambers, Rukmini entered with refreshments for them. The conversation turned towards women's rights and her duties defined by the sages and rishis at that time. Draupadi had mockingly teased Rukmini for sending a pandit as a messenger to Krishna to convey her love! For that, Rukmini with a tight lip smile asked her, ' What to do Yajnaseni? Your Sakha is such a charmer who made young girls run after him with devotion!' For that, Draupadi with a suppressed smile questioned her, 'Rukmini, tell me again? With devotion or with a delusion of desire?'
"With a coyish admission, Rukmini continued...' Before he was owned by anyone, I wanted to tie Him in my love in a hurry! But, now see me, here I am to invite his brides one after the other standing with an Aarti at the threshold!' They had a hearty laugh. All of a sudden Satyabhama and others entered with a grin on their faces inquiring what is going on in between Sakha and his Sakhis?
"Their conversation led to many other topics regarding women and their freedom in selecting their spouses. Suddenly a portrait of a beautiful girl with a divine aura caught Yajnaseni's eyes. She questioned Krishna, 'Who is this exquisitely beautiful woman?' To that, all the Ashta Bharyas answered in one voice, 'It is me! You can see some of my traits in that portrait!' Draupadi was surprised and looked at Krishna, he was watching that portrait with adoration. As if talking in a trance, he said,' How beautiful are those eyes! The entire love of this world is flowing from those eyes as moonlight ...so soothing to my soul!' His well-tuned voice sounded like a gently flowing river's musical whisper. I can't express my feelings at that moment in mere words, Radha. With a divine glow, you were standing there in that portrait painted by Krishna. I was surprised... that delicate, fragile woman looking from that frame had once shaped and strengthened Krishna's thoughts with her love! Draupadi recognized it's you, Radha! Later, when Draupadi met me, she said with a hearty laugh, Uddhava, what a cunning person our Krishna is! Instead of naming his Radha, he saved himself from the wrath of his wives by simply nodding his head and keeping silent!' In a way, he is correct Radha, he searched for your special traits in those beautiful women and married them to have a strand of you nearer to him in that Raj Mahal! I heard about you first time from Rukmini, she said, you gifted him to the universe to do his duty! I have seen pure love in her eyes, so selfless and dedicated! She loves him unconditionally just like you Radha! I can imagine your self-pride and courage when you wanted to protect your Krishna from all dangers, the warrior queen Satyabhama possesses this special trait of yours! I saw the adoration in the eyes of Jambavathi, now seeing it in your eyes! I have seen immense dedication for Krishna in Mitravinda's smiles, that same smile I am witnessing now when you are thinking about him. Your peace-loving nature is owned by Bhadra there! " Uddhava narrated that incident to Radha to convey the message that her Krishna has never forgotten her. She smiled blissfully and with that realization, serenity came back to her face.
The sun started opening up as an orange flower on the horizon to paint a beautiful hue on the cheeks of the earth! Uddhava left for Dwaraka with a heavy heart.
Dawn came with a musical silence, souls could hear the melodies that ears could not. A new day had come with new possibilities. A fresh page in time's classic epic was yet to be written. A new beginning was possible and possibility means hope!!
But the wait to meet her Krishna was unbearable for Radha. She lost interest in all earthly chores. Always sitting at one place, she was lost in deep thoughts. Her family started worrying about her. Sometimes Radha would aimlessly go to Nand's house, ask Yashoda about Krishna and both would hug each other with flowing tears. For hours, they would talk about Krishna and his playful ways of teasing the Gopikas with his pranks to trouble them. She laughed at an illusory image of her Krishna and suddenly started talking to herself,
"Why were you born Radha? If your Krishna is not here, why you are still alive? Go to your Krishna and live with him. Oh, how insane you are, he is not yours, he is a prince now, because of your good karma in your previous birth, you got a chance to be with him for a while. Now you are left with his image to live with."--[ 1808 words.]
Viswasruti2019-03-15 23:32:17
A widow, Gauri met her long lost friend Omkara in a family function, who still ...
Life Journey of two people poles apart in career, status and style. One is the ...
Drabbles for Shrimad Ramayana Contest
Comments (0)
View all