Part 3: The Wisdom of Separation

13 days ago

Anushkaa

@nushhkiee

The nights in Vrindavan were growing longer as the days of Krishna’s departure drew closer. The gentle sway of the trees in the wind, the soft ripples of the Yamuna, and the quiet chirping of the birds were all reminders of the peaceful world Radha had once shared with Krishna. But now, every moment felt heavy with the weight of his absence.

Radha wandered through the fields of Vrindavan as the soft light of dawn touched the earth. The flowers that had once bloomed joyfully under Krishna’s gaze now stood with their petals drooping, their fragrance subdued as though in mourning. Even the earth seemed to sigh beneath her feet.

She stopped by the small temple where she and Krishna had often sat, their hearts speaking silently in the quiet presence of the divine. Radha’s hand gently brushed the stone idol of Krishna, her fingers tracing the familiar contours of his face. But it was not Krishna’s physical form she sought; it was the warmth of his love that she longed for.

Radha (softly, with longing): “Krishna, my love, you have left this world, but you remain within me. Why do you leave me with only your memory, when I long for you so?”

As she sat before the idol, her mind wandered back to the first time Krishna had touched her heart, the first time he had made her realize that love was not a mere emotion, but a divine experience, a connection between the soul and the Supreme. The memory of those days was vivid - when Krishna would play his flute, and every note seemed to resonate within her, as though it was a direct whisper to her soul.

But now, those melodies had stopped. The silence in Vrindavan felt like an empty void, an absence that weighed down on her heart. The night was no longer filled with the sweet strains of his flute, and his divine presence felt like a distant dream.

Radha (with a sigh): “Why must this love, this bond, be so painful? Why must my heart bleed with the absence of the one who is my everything?”

As she sat lost in sorrow, a familiar voice broke the silence, like a sweet balm soothing her pain. It was Lalita, her ever-loyal friend, who had been with her through every moment of her journey with Krishna. Her voice was gentle, but it carried the wisdom that Radha needed to hear.

Lalita: “Radha, your pain is the reflection of your deep love. Krishna’s absence is not a sign of your separation, but a deepening of your bond with him. The love you share is not of the world, but of the eternal soul. In his physical absence, Krishna is closer to you than ever before.”

Radha turned to look at Lalita, her eyes filled with confusion and sorrow.

Radha: “I do not understand, Lalita. If Krishna is truly closer to me, why does my heart feel this emptiness? Why do I long for him as though my life cannot go on without him?”

Lalita smiled, her eyes filled with compassion and understanding.

Lalita: “Radha, Krishna is the Supreme Being. He is not bound by time, space, or form. When he departs, it is not an abandonment, but a divine calling for you to discover the infinite depths of your own heart. You must learn to see him within yourself, to hear his flute in the silence of your soul, to feel his love in the stillness of your mind.”

Radha was silent for a moment, contemplating Lalita’s words. It was true that Krishna had always been more than a physical presence in her life. His love had always been something deeper, something transcendent. But in his absence, the ache in her heart felt so real, so tangible.

Radha (softly, as if speaking to herself): “I have always felt Krishna in my heart. But now, without his form before me, the silence is unbearable. How do I bridge the gap between what is and what I feel in my soul?”

Lalita (gently): “You do not need to bridge any gap, Radha. The gap is only an illusion of the mind. In truth, Krishna is never separate from you. He is in every breath you take, in every beat of your heart, in every step you walk. Your love for him is not tied to this world; it is eternal. And that is why the pain is so great - it is the reflection of a love that cannot be bound by time or space.”

Radha looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling as she held the stone idol of Krishna. She could feel the coolness of the stone, but in her heart, she felt the warmth of Krishna’s love radiating through her. It was not the stone idol that she sought; it was the divine presence that had always been there, in every moment, in every heartbeat.

Radha (with a tearful smile): “I understand now, Lalita. Krishna has always been with me, and he always will be. My love for him is not bound by his physical form. It is a flame that cannot be extinguished, no matter how far apart we are. His love is within me, and that is enough.”

As Radha spoke those words, a profound sense of peace began to settle over her. The pain of separation had not disappeared, but it no longer consumed her. Instead, it had transformed into something deeper - a longing that now felt sacred, a longing that connected her to Krishna in ways beyond the material world.

Lalita (smiling softly): “Radha, you are the embodiment of Krishna’s love. He has shown you that love is not something you can hold in your hands, but something you carry within your soul. This love will never fade, no matter the distance.”

The wind shifted, and once again, Radha felt the faintest flutter in her heart - the echo of Krishna’s presence. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, she could hear the soft, divine melody of his flute in the distance. It was as though Krishna himself was calling to her from the depths of her soul.

Krishna (whispering in her heart): “Radha, my beloved, I am always with you. Our love is beyond time, beyond space, beyond all that you see. In every breath you take, in every beat of your heart, I am there. I will never leave you, for you are my own soul, my own heart.”

Radha’s heart swelled with a deep, unconditional love. She no longer saw Krishna as someone separate from her, but as the very essence of her being. She was no longer a girl who longed for her lover; she was the eternal lover herself, the embodiment of the divine, forever intertwined with Krishna’s soul.

Radha (softly): “I am you, Krishna. And you are me. We are one, now and forever.”

As the first rays of the sun broke through the horizon, Radha stood up, her spirit lifted by the realization of her divine connection to Krishna. She no longer needed to search for him outside herself, for he was within her - always had been, always would be. And in that realization, she found peace.

With a final glance at the stone idol, Radha turned to walk toward the fields of Vrindavan, her heart full of Krishna’s love. Though their physical separation remained, she knew now that they were never apart. Krishna was not just in the world around her; he was the very essence of her existence, the eternal soul that bound them together.