(some time after the Mahabharat war at Gokul)

On an evening of summer, the wrath of Sun had painted everything in red. The swirling dark waters of swollen Kalindi, soft breeze passing through leaves  and horizon too, participated in this festival of colours. May flower trees, laden with fiery red flowers appeared as if they had saved some part of the setting Sun.

On such a lovely evening, The chariots of queens of Lord Krishn reached the banks of Kalindi.  A halt was announced and charioteers released their horses and started laying tents for the queens. The queens were tired and bored of a long hot day and miles of travelling, found this a welcome break and strolled over the banks of the river enjoying cold breeze and beauty. At that moment, an old charioteer approached them and spoke with reverence, “Your highness, this is the birthplace of our Master Lord Krishn, This is Gokul Gam. This is the place where he spent his childhood. The river, trees, this sandy bank, and the entire land bear a testimony of the childhood of our Master. If time and winds did not erase footprints, you could see the small footprints of Lord Krishn on this sand. 

The queens were thoroughly amazed and excited. The feelings numbed by long monotonous journey reawakened. They were not only happy to hear the name of their lord but were excited and curious about knowing the past of their husband, Which wife is not curious to know about the past of her husband? it is human nature. They knew quite a bit about the present affairs of him, his activities but had never heard him talking about his past and there was never that much of togetherness either.  His whole day passed in looking after his kingdom, diplomatic discussions, wars, affairs of Hastinapur, and after all these, he used to come to their bedrooms totally fatigued. There was some formal talk, equally formal love, that’s all and even if there was a time, which man talks about his past with his wife?

They asked that charioteer, ‘Then in that case there must be many people around who would be knowing him? The charioteer smiled and said, “Knowing him, my queens? that is too small a word, they are his fans, his worshippers” Do you wish to meet them? The queens really agreed and they entered the village.

Village folk were returning from their field, heards men were back with their cows. Women were milking the cows or were busy with preparing supper. The entry of Royal Ladies was something new for them and they curiously watched. The queens introducing themselves to the first Gopi standing in her doorway said, ‘We are travellers on the way home, and wish to know about Krishn, do you know him?’ The tired, old, Sun burnt face of Gopi shined like the first ray of Morning Sun, “Know  Krishn? Our Kanji? Our Kanaiya? Who does not know him? He is our Soul, he is Soul of the entire village, Soul of these cows, this river, of everything around here. She jumped out of her home and welcomed the guests. Then in great detail, she narrated the stories of Krishn, stealing butter, grazing cows, his adventures, his flute, his Ras Lila etc etc. the second third and many Gopis, untiringly talked of the same things. The queens were awestruck, amazed, they could not believe their princely husband playing flute, dancing, dancing with Gopis. They had never imagined him to be so musical, so charming, so lively and youthful. The Krishn that they had seen and experienced was a dull diplomat, a king, Scholar of the highest level, a great warrior, one who does not talk a word unnecessarily, hardly smiles, always busy with governing the kingdom, defeating enemies, helping Pandavs and deeply worried about them. Music, dance were as if unknown things for him. One Gopi can bluff but not each one of them, and in all the talks, invariably there was a mention of Radha as if she was a part of Krishn or he was a part of her.

Strolling through the village, they reached Radha,s home. They knocked on her door. A sweet call of welcome was followed by Radha Rani, an extremely attractive, fair skinned lady with the most charming smile, appeared in the doorway. The wrinkles on her face and grey hair, the signs of ageing could not reduce her beauty.  Every particle in her was vibrant with energy and cheer. Against her radiant face, like Full Moon, liveliness and grace, the queens looked so dull. Although dressed in very ordinary clothes she looked more majestic than any of the queen. Queens looked dull and lifeless in front of the throbbing vitality of Radha.Her entire body lighted up like a lightening as she heard the name of Krishn and her face radiated with joy. For a moment she was drifted away in the powerful flood of Nostalgia. She recovered quickly, affectionately  kissed the hands of queens and said “a warm welcome to Queens of My Kanuda.’ It is my great fortune to serve his queens. Please tell me how is my beloved Kana? Her eyes became moist for a moment, but queens could not make out whether this was due to grief or excessive joy. But certainly they were annoyed, their possession was suddenly threatened. A woman addressing their husband as my beloved Kana and that too in their presence was not tolerable for them. One of them said ‘What do you mean by ‘my Kanudo’, He is ours, he is our husband.’ “ Who denies it my Lady” asked Radha with a smile. “He may be your husband But he is and will forever remain My Kana” The same queen asked her, “He has gone away from you for so many years, never came back, never met you and still you feel he is yours?’ Radha smiled again and said, “He has never gone away, he is very much here, in front of me around me all over me. We talk for hours, he plays flute for me, we dance together. do you see his Flute?” she said pointing to a flute carefully kept on a rack. “ But leave it, I won’t address him that way if you do not like it, but please tell me how is he and what is he doing at Dwarika? 

Queens felt that this woman is crazy and ignored her eloquence. They talked about their husband, his daily routine, about  Pandv and Kouravs, the war of Mahabharat, and about his preaching Geeta to Arjun. They talked about Geeta Gnan. Hearing about Geeta Gnan, Radha said ‘Oh is this Geeta Gnan? He had talked this to me long back, long back while playing flute on Kadamb Tree, while trying to catch each other on the sands of Yamuna and dancing in Vrindavan, he talked of Love, Love without any intention, without any expectation, Nishkam, Niswarth Prem as he called it. He taught me to Love just for the pleasure of loving, Love without expecting any result or endpoint. He told me that such Love is a form of tremendous energy, it liberates you. Just as described in Geeta, like Karm and Gnan, This kind of love leads you to Salvation, Nirvan, and that too with much greater ease and happiness.’

One of the queens asked her, “Radha, my friend, just tell me, do not you feel jealous of us? You have totally lost Krishn, He could not give you anything, no kingdom, no palace no ornaments, no expensive clothes, and worst of all the not the right of a wife and still you love him so ardently instead of despising him. Since we heard of his love with you, of Ras lila with you, of his playing flute for you, we are burning with Jealousy.” Hearing this Radha said,’Why should I feel Jealous? Whatever was mine, is still with me. He may be your Krishn but still he is very much my Kanudo. He may have  thousands of queens but what he was for me remains as it was, I have loved his Soul, my friend, and there are no divisions of Soul. all these ornaments, clothes and palaces are nothing as compared to the love he has given me. And finally about the right of a wife, there is nothing like right in Love, for me. it is enough to be his lover.”

When they parted, the queen asked, “Friend will you please give this flute to us? We want to keep it as a memory of meeting you” and to their great surprise Radha handed over the flute to them. Finishing their long journey the queens reached Dwarika. On the way they made a firm determination to ask Dwarikadhish to play flute and have Ras Lila with them.

At night, when Krisn came to greet them at their palace, the queens cornered him, showered him with the questions about his adventures at Vrindavan, showed the flute and asked him to play it. Hearing these talks, seeing Radha’s flute Krishn,s face darkened, there was an intense agony in his heart, an old wound suddenly opened up with all its pain. The queens now were truly excited looking at his withered face. They continued pestering him. 

Dwarikadhish told queens, ‘Look here, I will do anything else that you tell me to do but won’t play this flute, This was my parting gift to Radha, I had promised her that this flute will not play again, Krishn would do anything, go anywhere, may belong to any one but this flute and this flute player will only belong to Radha. The queens did not budge, they declared that unless he plays this flute they won’t talk with him. 

Shri Krishn had to bow down to the extreme pestering, he took the flute in his hand and put it on his lips. He was lost in a revery, The same Kadamb Tree, Lovely Radha and Gopies, sound of Cows calling their calves, sound of fast flowing Kalindi, laughter of children of Vrij  celestial tunes of Flute and love flowing out. Only love, untouched by greed, possession, expectations, motives, purest form of love flowing out of the flute feeling the entire universe. 
The queens shouted what are you thinking? Why don't you play? 
Finally shri krishn opened his eyes and put his soul in the flute, But alas, instead of sweet melodies, very sad tunes of bitter crying emanated from the flute.  

Who was crying through the Flute?

The Flute? kana? or that passionate Radha?

- Pulin Vasa