Pili Pokhara Pastime
By Sivarama Swami
From Nava Vraja Mahima, Vol 2
One day the great sage Durvasa Muni visited King Vrsabhanu’s house, where the sage was nicely cared for by Sri Radha. In return for her pure service, the sage blessed Radha that whatever She cooked would taste like nectar and whoever ate it immune to disease and danger. Mother Yasoda hearing this, naturally desired that her son benefit from the special potency of Radha’s cooking. And so it came to pass that even as an unmarried girl, Vrsabhanu-Nandini would come daily to cook Govinda’s meal.
Everyday Mother Yasoda would remind Radha that Krishna would make a most suitable husband. She thinks, “Whose beauty other than Radharani’s matches my Krsna’s beauty? Who else besides Sri Radha possesses qualities that compliment every one of my son’s countless virtues? If there is a more perfect match for my son, I have not seen her in Vrndavana. May the Gods fulfill the desire of this unfortunate soul—let Radha’s and Krsna’s marriage ornament my family tree.”
One morning Mother Yasoda resolved to propose the match of Radha and Krsna to the queen of Varsana. While Radhika was preparing to go home, Yasoda held her hand and said, “Radha! You are now of marriageable age. I know no one more suited for You than my son.” Taking Radha’s small hand in hers, Mother Yasoda gazed at the auspicious signs on Radha’s palms. With tears in her eyes, Yasoda reached for a tray of turmeric and gently wiped Sri Radhika’s pinkish palms until they were colored yellow. “Radha! Do you know what this means?”
Puzzled, Radhika shook Her head, Her golden earrings jingling. “No, Mother! Why did you put haldi on my hands?” “Priya! When a young girl’s palms are painted with haldi, it means she is engaged. What do you think about that?”
Radha didn’t know what her mother would think and besides she liked to wander here and there at will, therefore she thought, I will lose my freedom. Yasoda therefore explained, “You are blossoming in the sunlight of youth, therefore you must accept the responsibilities that accompany womanhood. You cannot play in the dust forever. Radha submissively said, “Mother, your every word is My order.” Yasoda said, “Go to your home now and let me know what your mother decides.”
Radha descends down the winding staircase in front of Nanda Maharaj’s palace as her ankle bells jingle rejoining her friends. They run through the forest from Nandagram back to Varsana contemplating their new predicament. Vishaka interjects, “We are too young to be married! Should we marry, our freedom will be finished!! Lalita! Quick! Find a solution.
Lalita smiled, “ Radha, have your hands been painted with indelible dye? Merely, wash off the haldi.”
Vishaka said, “Friend, Look at that nice lake. Quickly, wash your hands!”
Resembling the princess of swans, Sri Radha strolled to the shore. Raising her skirt, she stepped ankle deep into the lake. As she rubbed her hands together, the haldi dissolved into the water and spread out in golden circular waves. Absorbed in the thoughts of Hari, She continued to rub her hands mechanically, like a washer woman cleaning cloth.
Finally Citra giggled, “Radha! Look what You’ve done! The whole lake is now yellow. I think You have washed Your heart along with Your hands. Quick! Let go, before someone comes.” Placing Radhika in front, the young gopi’s hurried on towards Varsana.
Not long after the Gopi’s had left, Sri Krishna appeared at that very spot, searching intently for a stray calf. Startled, He whispered, “that pool has turned yellow! What happened here!? I must investigate this.”
Krsna walked apprehensively down the steps to the water. “What is this mystical yellow substance?” As Govinda touched the water, His whole body quivered with ecstasy as if a bolt of lightning had struck Him. Intense feelings of love surged through Krsna, as His mind filled with extraordinary feeling of love. “I find that when I touch this lake, I feel love for Myself!”
Looking left and right, Krsna entered the water up to His calves, then His knees, then His waist, and finally up to His neck, all the while the animals looking upon Him. Soon, the peacock feather above His turban alone visible, Krsna moved here and there underwater, His course plotted by the movements of the feather. The flowers, birds, trees and bees, held their breath in suspense while all this was going on.
Finally, Krsna reappeared out of the yellow waters—but in quite an unusual state. Still dressed as a cowherd, Sri Krsna’s sapphire luster had disappeared –His complexion was now completely golden. But the change in Krsna was not merely external. Coming out onto dry land, He constantly called out, “Krsna! Krsna! Krsna!” Looking left and right, golden colored Krsna was absorbed in the mood, happiness, and ecstasy of Sri Radha—in a form known as Gauranga. Filled with anxiety, he said, “Where is Sri Krsna? Where is the sweet song of the flute? Where is the dancing, singing, and laughing of the rasa dance?” Sometimes He would look into the forest grove, sometimes He would search behind a tree, sometimes He would inquire from the forest creatures. Within His heart, Gaura Krishna had forgotten His identity, His mind restless and agitated from unable to meet Krsna. His mood was identical to that of Sri Radha in separation from Him. Even the animals of Vraja cried upon seeing His pitiful condition.
As a mystical potion gradually loses its influence, slowly Gaura Krishna remembered who He was, resumed His blackish form as Shyamasundar and again took up the search for His stray calf. Even today this lake is called Pili-pokhara—the yellow pond.
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