Vrindavan: When destiny took a sharp turn and Kansa’s summons reached Gokul through Akrur Ji, a wave of mourning swept across the entire Braj region. But the soul most distressed was the one whose very life breath resided in Krishna—Shri Radha. As Krishna prepared to depart from Vrindavan for Mathura, he chose the very ghat of the Yamuna for their final goodbye, where their most cherished memories were woven.
Radha Ji waited in silence, her feet soaked in the gentle waves of the Yamuna. Her mind was restless, and her heart was shattering into pieces. Krishna arrived and sat beside her. For hours, a profound silence prevailed. Eventually, Krishna sought the help of consoling words. He gave countless reasons for going to Mathura and made numerous promises of a swift return. But could any promise ever heal the wound of separation?
The moment of departure was near. Both were caught in a conflict of the soul—what to say? How to say it? Amidst this deep agony, Radha Ji took many vows from Krishna, and Krishna, in turn, made many promises to Radha. But on that day, Krishna made a demand from Radha that no one could have ever imagined.
Krishna said:
"Radhe, I want you to give me one promise. After I leave for Mathura, not a single tear should fall from your eyes. Because your tears might distract me from my path of duty."
Radha Ji was stunned. She thought—"O Krishna! What have You asked of me? Had You asked for my life once, I would have given it with a smile, but what kind of vow is this?"
Yet, love is but another name for surrender. Radha gave her word. Krishna departed, leaving behind a wordless, haunting silence. Radha continued to burn in the fire of separation; her mind remained disturbed and the agony of longing was infinite. However, she turned her eyes into stone. The world saw that Radha did not cry, for she was concerned about the 'duty' of her beloved. While leaving, Krishna had snatched away even the right to cry from Radha.
Krishna might have taken away Radha’s tears, but he could not take away the love that was boundless, eternal, and metaphysical. Radha’s silent weeping and her stone-like eyes became the very pinnacle of her love. Even Krishna himself did not possess the power to diminish the magnitude of Radha’s devotion.
|| Jai Shri Shyam || Jai Shri Radhe ||