Host:
Greetings, friends. On this late afternoon, offering my respects to Ma Bhabatarini, I am starting today's episode. Those who are new to the Gupta Sadhu Shama-khapa YouTube channel, I welcome you, and I thank our old friends. We want you to stay by our side always. My respects to you, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Blessings to you.
Host:
Gurudev, we have seen many love stories of Lord Krishna and Radhika. We have seen many of their pastimes (leelas), their separation (biraha), and their yearning. But today, I want to hear an incident from your mouth that we might not have known before. Tell us, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Well, the thing is, He has many leelas. Radhika has many leelas too. I heard about one such leela in Vrindavan. You know, there are various kunjas (shrine-gardens) there. There is one for Radhika, one for Lalita, one for Vishakha—they are all friends. They used to decorate their kunjas, hoping Krishna would come. They would keep Tulsi, sandalwood, and flower garlands ready for worship. Whichever kunja Krishna visited, he would be worshipped there, and they wouldn't want to let him leave. This happened in Radha's kunja, Lalita's, or Vishakha's; there are various such small kunjas. Besides that, as everyone knows and as has been proven, there is the vast Nidhivan where Krishna and Radhika come at night.
Gurudev:
So, one night, it was a full moon. A bright, full moon. Everyone was wondering whose kunja Krishna would visit. He would surely come to Vrindavan, but to whom? Lalita, Vishakha, or Radha? There was a sort of competition among them. Each of them decorated their kunja beautifully so that when Krishna arrived, they could offer him sandalwood, flower garlands, Tulsi leaves, and food.
Gurudev:
Radhika did the same. She was certain Krishna would come to her kunja. She prepared the sandalwood paste, Tulsi leaves, flower garlands, and food, and sat waiting for him. But as the night progressed, the full moon began to set in the western sky. The sandalwood paste dried up, and the flowers lost their fragrance.
Gurudev:
Radhika started thinking, "Has Krishna gone to Lalita's kunja then?" Meanwhile, Lalita was wondering where Krishna had gone and whose kunja he was in. There was a state of confusion among them.
Gurudev:
When morning came, the three of them met and asked each other where Krishna had been. They all said that Krishna hadn't come at all the previous night. Radha said, "He didn't come to my kunja either." Everyone was puzzled—where did Krishna go? Usually, he comes on a full moon day. Where did he go this time?
Gurudev:
Radhika became extremely restless for Krishna. She told her friends, Lalita and Vishakha, "It is better to die than to live like this. These ornaments are of no use to me. Prepare me for my deathbed, as one is prepared after death."
Gurudev:
Lalita and Vishakha were shocked to hear Radhika talk like this. Radha insisted, "Yes, I am saying this; death is better for me. Death in the pain of separation from Krishna is better." She lamented, "To whom shall I leave a virtuous treasure like Kanu?" "Kanu" here refers to Krishna. That was her lamentation. She wanted to die, yet she couldn't die because of her concern for Krishna.
Gurudev:
As she lamented, her friends comforted her and asked, "Friend, if you die, what shall we do with your body?" Radha replied, "Do not burn Radha's body, nor cast it into the water. When I die, hang it from the branch of a Tamal tree."
Gurudev:
Her friends agreed to hang her body on a Tamal tree but asked, "Why the Tamal tree? There are mango trees, jamun trees, and jackfruit trees. Why specifically the Tamal tree?" She replied, "I love the Tamal tree. Krishna is dark, and the Tamal tree is dark too; that is why I love it."
Gurudev:
They agreed, but then they pointed out, "But the crows and vultures will eat your body." Radhika replied, "I will tell the crows: 'O crows, eat every limb of my body, leave nothing behind. But leave my two eyes so I may keep looking for Krishna's arrival.'"
Gurudev:
This was Radhika's lamentation while sitting with her friends. In the end, Krishna did "kill" Radha—a terrifying death. It's better not to discuss it in detail, but Krishna killed her with his Sudarshan Chakra.
Gurudev:
After that, if you go to Nidhivan, you will see many trees and plants. Those trees are not just trees; they are all Krishna's sakhis (female companions). Every night they come alive and perform leelas with Krishna. During the day, they remain as trees. It is said that no one is allowed to stay there after evening. Whoever stays there goes mad or becomes fearful and loses their senses. This is the specialty of that place. There are many kunjas there. If people go there, they can get food; they just have to play the khanjani (a musical instrument) and chant "Hare Krishna." They provide food and shelter, but one has to do some service in the kunja. By doing so, they get food and even some pocket money.
Host:
You are talking about Vrindavan, right?
Gurudev:
Yes, I am talking about Vrindavan. Those who have gone there are doing well. I know many who have gone there, come back homes, and then gone back again because they couldn't stay away. The joy of that place cannot be found at home. The food is good, and everything is fine. There is no shortage of food or anything else. You just have to play the khanjani in the morning and evening, and you will get everything from the kunja. There are many kunjas, big and small.
Host:
Different kunjas have been created in the names of different sakhis.
Gurudev:
Yes, exactly. You will find them as soon as you go there. You will like it. I know people who have been there or lived there; they have told me these stories. They are very happy. They feel out of place here and want to go back. Even those who have daughters and sons come back for a few days to see them and then return to Vrindavan. Their lifestyle is different. That's what I've observed.
Host:
Of course, you would observe that, as many of your disciples go there. The story you told today was beautiful—something we didn't know before.
Gurudev:
Very few people know this. It is actually a Padavali Kirtan (devotional song), which I told in the form of a story. It's called "Radhikar Bilap" (Radha's Lamentation). It is very beautiful. You can understand Radhika's love through this. She loved, worshipped, and respected Krishna immensely. Krishna used to visit her kunja almost every day. He visited Lalita and Vishakha too, but most of the time, he was in Radha's kunja. Radha would worship him, give him garlands, food, and sandalwood.
Host:
So friends, you were listening to Gurudev talk about the incident of Radhika's lamentation. He presented the deep attraction, obsession, and love between a man and a woman. My respects, Gurudev. It was wonderful.
Gurudev:
Blessings to you.