Sri Radhakrsna's Leela - Part IV (Updated Chapter 42 on Page 30) - Page 6

Chapter 13: Krsna's messenger

Radha sat on her bed, holding Krsna's flute. She had just finished her daily chores, having the habit of getting up much earlier than sunrise. She admired the intricacy with which the piece of bamboo had been carved, the workmanship of the flute-maker impressing her. Since she was pretty much free for a few muhurtas at least, she decided to try playing her beloved's flute. As if on cue, her two sakhis Lalita and Vishakha burst inside her room, to the background music of Jatila Devi telling them to not barge in like that. Radha looked at her two sakhis, their faces etched with some crazy excitement, their bodies heaving with eminent tiredness - as if they had come running all the way from their houses.

"What is it?"

"Krsna's messenger has arrived."

***

Radha, the flute tucked in her sari, sprinted towards Nanda Maharaja's house, followed by Jatila Devi and Vrika, both of them excited as well. For though they had no particular love towards Krsna, they missed him sorely. Abhimanyu had already left for Nanda's house at dawn, for some other work, and thus had already met and spoken with Uddhava. As the group of five (Radha, Lalita, Vishakha, Jatila and Vrika) reached Nanda's house, they saw the whole of Vraja crowded around the courtyard, eagerly discussing amongst themselves. Radha took leave of her parents-in-law and rushed to her brother Shridama and sister Manjari, who seemed to have animatedly discussed a whole meeting with Uddhava by themselves.

"Who is the messenger, Shridama?! Where is he? When will he talk to us all?"

"Patience, my dear sister, is the key to success."

Radha punched her brother. "Patience can remain patient. First answer my questions!"

"Well. The messenger is a Yadava named Uddhava. He is currently addressing the elders of Vrindavana - I see that Abhimanyu's parents were late - then he shall address us all."

Radha sighed with impatience. She beckoned all her hundreds of sakhis to her, and since they had only waiting to do, they rushed to her side.

"Radhe! You should see our Kanha's messenger! We can't believe our eyes! Just look at him!"

And so Radha peeped above the many gopas and gopis crowded around Uddhava and gasped.

A dusky complexion, long arms, lotus eyes, a lotus face, bedecked in yellow silk and a lotus garland, with polished ornaments on his body. Achyuta Vesha Bhushanah. A replica of Krsna in form and apparel.

"Why, he is just like our Kanha!" she exclaimed. And then, mentally spoke, Are you deceiving us, Krsna, or is your cousin really like this?

I have no intention of deceiving you, Radhe. He has been blessed with Sarupya, that is all. And one more thing.

What is it?

He has come all the way from Mathura to learn Bhakti Yoga from you. So please guide my cousin in the sublime knowledge of devotion.

I already have a plan Kanha, don't you worry.

***

As soon as Uddhava finished talking to the elders, the gopikas ambushed him.

"Hey!" was all Uddhava managed. The gopikas dragged him, six of them pulling his limbs and escorting him to their private Nikunja, where they could talk in leisure without being interrupted.

As the gopikas surrounded him, Radha alone drifted off and sat down on a nearby rock. The gopikas began their speech to him. "We know that you are a messenger of our beloved Kanha, the love of Vrindavana, and the benefactor of his dear ones. He has sent you here to console us all, hasn't he? For that, no one else but him will succeed, for we see only him everywhere. He may have lost interest in us commonfolk after witnessing the grandeur of Mathura, but we can only think of him, and no one else."

Uddhava was taken aback. He had expected them to beg him to relay Krsna's message, to ask whether he could escort them to Mathura, whether they could stay there with Krsna, or anything of the sort. But they didn't utter a word on the subject. their object of devotion was Krsna himself, not Krsna's opulences. They didn't mind whether Krsna gifted them riches or left them in poverty. All they wanted was his presence, his comfort, and Bhakti towards his feet. He looked at the gopika sitting on the rock, who had a divine aura about her, although she looked just like the others. He looked at another gopika, the one who had just spoken to him, and asked her, "Pray, tell me Devi, who is she?"

"She is your Krsna's most beloved one, the very cause of his happiness."

Uddhava had no time to delve into her riddled answer, because the gopika had just begun to speak.

"Do not come near me!" she said in an angry tone, her hands in a gesture of forbiddance. Instinctively, Uddhava took three or four steps back. It was then he realized that he was not being addressed. The gopika was talking to a bee.

Chapter 14: Radharani's song

Krsna embraced Uddhava. "So many months you have been gone from Mathura, I was thinking you would have forgotten us all!"

Uddhava smiled. Although he did think of Krsna during his several months in Vrndavana, the peaceful and divine atmosphere was unparalleled throughout all the lokas he had visited. He had learnt a lot from the gopikas, Srimati Radharani, Nanda and Yashoda Devi, Krsna's intimate sakhas and all of the gopas and Gopanganas of Vrndavana.

"So -" Krsna interrupted his flashback, "What did you learn from my dear family in Vrndavana?"

And Uddhava sat down and related the most serene and beautiful song of Radharani sung on the day he had arrived in Vrndavana.

***

"Madhupa Kitava Bandho! Ma Sprisha Anghrim! Sapatnyah Kucha Vilulita Mala Kumkuma Smashrubhih Nah! Vahatu Madhupatih Tat Manineenam Prasadam! Yadu Sadasi Vidambyam Yasya Dutam Tvam Idrk!"

Uddhava was startled at the sheer poetry that flowed out of Radharani's lotus mouth! And considering that she had not been formally educated with the nuances of language, being a cowherd, he could only marvel her eloquence!

"Oh bee, friend of that cheater, Krsna, do not dare touch my feet with you whiskers, smeared as they are with kunkuma that has migrated from the bosom of a lover to the garland of Krsna, who has in turn rubbed it on you! Let him enjoy his small delights with his own womenfolk, being the scion of the Madhu Dynasty! For sending you as a messenger to pacify me, he has proved that he is worthy of being ridiculed in the assembly of Yadavas!"

Prajalpa, thought Uddhava, when a lover talks to her lover with sheer disrespect, highlighting the latter's various faults!

The gopikas too stared at their sakhi, who seemed to consider the bee as some messenger of Krsna, ignoring the actual messenger present in front of her. Oblivious of their gaze, Radharani vented her feelings.

"Just like you fly from flower to flower, never returning, he made us drink the nectar of his lips just once and flew away! How does that Goddess Padma ever reside with him, worshipping his lotus feet? Surely she must have been deceived by his nectar like words, who always receives high praise from her!"

Parijalpa, exposing the Lord's deceit through one's own cleverness.

"We gopikas are simple destitutes, unfit to hear the praises of that Lord of Yadus (not us), which, o six footed bee, you keep humming to us! Better go back to Mathura, and sing these songs to his new girlfriends, victorious and popular as he may be! At least they will give you something, having been pleased by that Yadava!"

Vijalpa, expressing one's jealousy and contempt for Krsna, with use of sarcarsm-coated anger!

The bee, astonishingly continued to buzz around that furious human's face, even after that human had released lot of sounds and made such gestures at it. Radharani looked at this messenger, which refused to go!

"Whether in heaven, on earth, or even in Patala Loka, all he has to do is look at a woman and lift his eyebrows - the next second he will find that woman and many more behind her rushing towards him. Obviously he is not going to have any difficulty in finding girlfriends in Mathura. Even Lakshmi is still doing tapasya nearby to attain him. Then where are we - we who can only sing his name (which he doesn't deserve)?"

Ujjalpa, talking about the deceiving nature of Krsna and his qualities.

When Radharani was busy waving her hands and delivering her beautiful message, the bee was not in the least bothered. It moved near her feet and touched them. Radha jumped.

"I told you to keep your head off my feet! You have learnt well from that cheater Mukunda. He too tried that trick with me, saying things like, I am burning with love, please place your foot on my head,' and so on. But I am not falling for it again! Go back to him! Why all of us had to tell so many lies to our families just to meet him, and this is how he repays us?"

Uddhava was stunned at this sudden rise in Radharani's anger. He noted that the tone of her voice too was becoming more icy. Sanjalpa, he noted, she is talking about how ungrateful Krsna is, and how he acted in front of her...

"And don't think that I don't know all his secrets. I know what he has been doing since creation! He cheated the noble Bali Maharaja into giving him three steps of land - and then bound him up in ropes! Then when Surpanakha wanted to marry him, he made his brother cut off her nose! And later he killed Vali, the King of monkeys, like a cruel hunter would kill his prey. What dharma can one expect from him? Let us give up all our relationship with that black boy."

Black boy? Came a reply in Radha's mind. She rolled her eyes. Shut up. I am still very angry with you.

Uddhava was, meanwhile, mesmerized at Radha's speech and knowledge about Krsna's avataras, something which Devaguru Brhaspati had called a divine secret. Avajalpa, giving up one's relationship with Krsna due to his harshness.

While the bee, surprisingly unlike any other of its species, continued to hover around Radha's feet, Radha looked around in apparent frustration and back at the bee.

"This is our problem! However much we try to forget him, he keeps reappearing in our mind! And we just lose ourselves listening to his stories! Why the great Lady Paurnamasi, the disciple of Devarshi Narada gave up all her attachments, left her son Sandipani Muni in Avanti and came here to enjoy Krsna's pastimes, even if it meant that she has to beg for a living!"

Abhijalpa. Remorse that one has to give up relationship with Krsna, even though cursing it at the same time.

"We are all just like does in a forest, scared of the hunter, but mesmerized by his song. What pains us is when he shoots arrows of love at us, and while we suffer, goes away, happy with a good hunt! I wish I could talk of something else!"

Aajalpa - Thinking about one's sorrow, when Krsna can give happiness to others.

When Radharani had uttered this statement, the bee suddenly flew away. Radha opened her mouth to continue, but then noticed that the bee was gone. Her heart leapt into her mouth. "O Bee! Have you gone to report all my foolish laments to Kanha? Come back!"

And as Uddhava watched with increasing surprise and alarm, Radharani got up from her rock, and ran in the direction of the bee!

Two other gopis ran behind Radharani and caught her hand. "Radha! Why are you chasing the bee?"

"But- But then Krsna - he is going to listen to my complaints and - and then he will be so anguished! What was I thinking?!"

What she was thinking no one could tell, for the bee buzzed back to Radha.

Radha jumped with delight. "You came back!" she cried, looking at the bee. "Did you go to Mathura? Has Krsna listened to my message? Did he send you back again? Come! I shall gift you with your beloved nectar! But then, how will we go to Mathura? After all, Lakshmi is always with him! Won't she get offended with our presence?"

Uddhava could only watch with fervor the pure love of Radharani. As he noted that she was now more mellow, Pratijalpa, telling Krsna of her real longings for him, he also noticed that she continued to politely stick to her point. Meanwhile, Radha was now interrogating the bee.

"Does he remember Nanda Maharaja and Mata Yashoda? Does he remember his friends, his girlfriends, his neighbours and all his elders? Does he remember these beautiful pastures? What did he tell you o gentle bee? Did he say that he is coming to place his fragrant hand on our heads and comfort us once more?"

Uddhava noticed Radha's tears. Sujalpa, questioning Krsna about his welfare with full humility and devotion.

The bee once more hovered around Radha, touched her feet, and buzzed away to a nearby flower. Radha watched it go wistfully and turned to Uddhava. Uddhava looked as still as a statue. Regaining his speech, he simply said, "My humble prayers to you," and fell at Radharani's feet.

Radha smiled and said, "So, oh messenger of Krsna, relate my dear one's message to us all."

Uddhava heaved a sigh, and unfolded the scroll which Krsna had given him.

[quote]

"My dear Gopis,

I am not separate from you all in the same way that the five elements are separate from the world. I am the Soul of the Universe, and am situated in all your hearts. I create, preserve and destroy according to my will, and take pleasure in my creation. The soul is different from one's material body, and experiences creation through his daily activities while awake, his dreams while asleep, and touches consciousness in deep sleep. Thus, the world one sees is just an extension of one's dream. This is how the soul can experience this universe. Thus conclude the Vedas and Shastras, and those who know them. Even then, all that is fine, but do you know the real reason for my journey away from this land of Vrndavana?"

[/quote]

The gopis looked at each other. After so much talk, he wants to give us the actual reason? Typical.

[quote]

"The real reason I distanced myself was to increase your Bhakti towards me. Your love for me will only multiply exponentially due to our prolonged separation. Thus, forever thinking about me, you shall be free from the material fetters of this world. You shall then experience bliss when we reunite once more. Even the gopikas who could not participate in my Rasa Pastimes have experienced bliss and shall be freed from the clutches of this world by remembrance of my adventures in Vrndavana."

[/quote]

The gopis wiped their tears and told Uddhava, "Truly, Krsna is the source of joy to all. He must be giving joy to those women in Mathura now! They are so lucky. We wish that he returns soon, to save us all from this ever-increasing sorrow."

And Uddhava, struck by a stroke of inspiration, looked at the gopikas and in a small voice said, "With your permission, may I reside in Vrndavana for a few months?"

Beautiful update. You are really talented 👏

Originally posted by: Radhikerani

RES!
I'll comment after 22nd, okay?

Originally posted by: KURT15

Beautiful update. You are really talented 👏

Chapter 15: Blooming Emotions

Four year old Rukmini sat on her father's lap, ardently staring at the bards who had arrived from Mathura, and were describing the glories of their two princes, Krsna and Balarama. King Bheeshmaka, a lover of art, was equally engrossed in the songs of the two bards. He admired their singing and admired even more the heroes of their song, the two Yadava princes. It was just over a year since the end of Kamsa's tyrannic rule, which had gladdened Bheeshmaka's heart - he had been a vassal of Mathura during Ugrasena's time, but the past decade or so had been rough during Kamsa's reign.

"And then the two boys just strode up to Lord Shiva's bow, and while Balarama and his friends playfully tackled the guards, Krsna rushed to the sacred weapon and flung it in the air -"

"Flung it in the air?!" cried Rukmini, clearly amazed. "But father," she turned to Bheeshmaka, "you told me that Shiva's bow cannot be held by humans!"

Bheeshmaka stroked his daughter's head affectionately. "You can never understand the ways of Shiva my child. It must have been his wish for these two boys to perform such heroic deeds!"

"I wish I could see them in person!" Rukmini looked at the two bards smiling indulgently at her. "Oh do continue! I want more!"

The bards laughed. "As you wish, princess of Vidarbha. And Krsna caught the bow with a jump and in a second, broke the bow into two, causing a noise like thunder!"

"Broke the bow?" Rukmini was even more astonished now.

"With a noise like a fierce thunderstorm."

"How brave and strong they must be..." said the princess with a dreamy smile.

"And when they had broken the bow -"

But what the bard was about to say, no one got to know, because just then, Rukmi, the eldest son of Bheeshmaka stormed into the room followed by his four brothers, Rukmaratha, Rukmabahu, Rukmakeshi and Rukmamali. All of them looked like well-seasoned warriors already, although they were barely twenty five years of age.

"Father!" bellowed Rukmi, "Maharaja Jarasandha has summoned us to his kingdom to plan a battle."

"Against whom, my son?" asked Bheeshmaka, his voice strained, as if he had undergone the same conversation many times. "Against Mathura." replied Rukmi, his face filled with a cold stare.

"Mathura? What has Mathura done to us?" Bheeshmaka asked shocked, with a wary glance at the bards, whose faces were struck with dismay.

"Why, isn't the assassination of King Kamsa reason enough for you? Do you want them to siege our kingdom before planning anything of the sort?"

Bheeshmaka heaved a sigh, noticing that except for Rukmi, all his sons had heavy looks on their faces. "Go if you must. But try to avoid battle as much as possible."

"That's likely," said Rukmi, before storming out the way he had come in, his brothers filing out behind him.

Bheeshmaka looked apologetically at the bards. "I am extremely aggrieved by the conduct of my son, dear sirs. I think the best thing for you would be to leave at once for your kingdom and inform those two heroes, Krsna and Balarama of the approaching calamity." The bards, shocked as they were, bowed to the king and left. Bheeshmaka looked at his daughter, a small girl, yet wise for her age. She had understood perfectly the politics of the situation. She gave Bheeshmaka a reassuring look and said, "Don't worry father. I have confidence that Lord Shiva will prevent all harm. Also, I think that Krsna and Balarama are brave enough to face any army of any king."

And with a twinkle in her eyes, she got up and went to her chambers, to begin her Veena classes for the day.

Amazing update. Loved Rukmini's portrayal. I could visualize the entite sequence of events as they happened. A big thumbs up to you! 👏