A Story of Dvapar Yuga in Prose ( part-29)
By Lokanath Mishra:
The Dust of Devotion
Once, Devarshi Narada arrived in Dwarka during his celestial wanderings. Desiring the darshan of Lord Krishna, he proceeded toward the Lord’s private chamber. There he was informed that Vasudeva Krishna was suffering from an intense fever. Despite hundreds of attempts by the royal physicians, the fever showed no sign of subsiding.
Narada’s heart trembled in compassion. Yet, unable to return without seeing the Lord, he insisted on entering. He was taken near Keshava’s resting place. Krishna slowly opened His eyes, accepted Narada’s obeisance, and a faint, gentle smile flickered upon His lotus face.
Narada asked anxiously,
“O Lord, what kind of fever is this that refuses to leave You? Shall I bring the divine physicians, the Ashwini Kumaras, or fetch medicines after describing Your symptoms?”
Krishna replied calmly,
“O Narada, there is only one remedy for this fever. If the dust from the feet of My devotees is applied to My body, I shall be instantly cured.”
Narada exclaimed,
“Is there any shortage of devotees in Dwarka? Wait, Lord. I shall bring foot-dust from Your queens—Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Lakshmana, and the other exalted consorts—who love You the most.”
Narada went from queen to queen, requesting foot-dust. Some bit their tongues in shock, others folded their hands in alarm.
They said,
“Alas! O Devarshi, how can you ask us to commit such a terrible sin? A wife places her husband’s foot-dust upon her head—not the other way around. How can we allow our dust to touch the Lord’s body?”
Not a single queen agreed.
Narada pondered. He remembered the gopis of Vraja, whose love for Krishna was beyond all conventions. At once, he set out for Vrindavan.
The Supreme Sacrifice of Love
Seeing Narada, the gopis surrounded him in delight, forgetting even to bow. They eagerly asked,
“O sage! You roam everywhere—have you been to Dwarka? How is our Gopinath? Does He remember us? Is He well?”
Narada replied solemnly,
“O gopis, He is not well. The Lord suffers from fever. The only cure is the dust of His devotees’ feet applied to His body. Hearing of your boundless love, I have come with great hope.”
Instantly, the gopis began shaking dust from their feet. A divine competition arose—one pushing another aside, all eager to give their foot-dust. Among the sixteen thousand gopis, devotion overflowed like a flood.
Narada cautioned them,
“Do you realize this dust will be applied to Krishna’s body? You will incur sin. After death, you may have to suffer in hell. Do you not fear sin or merit?”
The gopis laughed joyfully and replied,
“O Devarshi! He is our very life, our beloved Vanamali. If relieving His pain means we must suffer in hell for eternity, we gladly accept it. Please do not delay—take this dust and heal our dark-hued Lord.”
The Meaning of True Bhakti
When Narada returned to Dwarka, he found Krishna already seated—completely healed. Smiling sweetly, the Moon of Vrindavan asked,
“Well, Narada, did you bring the medicine?”
Narada bowed deeply and said,
“O Lord, today You taught me a new definition of devotion. Victory to You! Victory to those supreme gopis! They expect no reward, no future vision of You—yet they have enthroned You forever in the innermost sanctum of their hearts.”
Overcome with emotion, Narada added,
“By Your permission, I wish to apply a little of that sacred dust upon my own head.”
Krishna smiled and said,
“Are you not also My devotee?”
Narada replied humbly,
“My devotion is but a half-dried pond, O Lord. In Vrindavan, I witnessed the boundless ocean of Krishna-prema.”
The Blind Brahmin’s Divine Vision
On another day, Shamba, the son of Krishna and Queen Jambavati, was playing outside the city with other children. Among them was a Brahmin’s son. A quarrel broke out, and the Brahmin boy accidentally injured Shamba.
The injury itself was minor—but Shamba felt insulted. He complained to his mother. Jambavati dismissed it lightly, asking him to tell his father. Still crying, Shamba was taken by Krishna to the Brahmin’s house.
Krishna said,
“O Brahmin, your son has hurt my child. Why do you not restrain him?”
The Brahmin, folding his hands, replied,
“O Lord, how could my son dare strike a prince? I cannot believe this.”
Krishna said,
“Am I lying? Look for yourself.”
But the Brahmin was blind from birth, and dusk had fallen. Unable to see, he smiled.
Annoyed, Krishna drew Shamba forward. At that moment, the Brahmin’s eyes opened for the first time in his life.
What did he behold?
Before him stood the divine, resplendent form of Sri Krishna—blue like a rain-laden cloud, eyes like blooming lotuses, adorned with jewels, garlands, anklets, and celestial radiance—the Savior of the universe.
Overwhelmed, the Brahmin’s body trembled with ecstasy. He fell at Krishna’s feet, washing them with tears.
He cried,
“I have seen You, O Lord! That vision which yogis fail to attain through countless lifetimes—I have received today! What merit from how many births has ripened for me? You Yourself came to my door to redeem this fallen soul. Truly, You are the Savior of the fallen, the Destroyer of sorrow, the Ocean of compassion!”
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(To be continued…)
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