Lament of the cowherdesses - part 7

The dip at Kurukshetra

What is today known as Kurukshetra, was also known as Shamantapanchaka during the time of Krishna. At this place were five lakes said to be formed by Parashuraama with the blood of the Kshatriyas he had killed. People travelled from far and wide to take a dip in the five lakes during eclipses.

One such solar eclipse witnessed Krishna with his entourage, his queens, and the entire Vrishni clan arriving at Shamantapanchaka for a holy dip. The Kauravas, all the elders of the Kuru clan, the Pandavas and their mother Kunti and wife Droupadi, arrived there, too.

Nanda, Yashoda, all the gopas and gopis also undertook the arduous journey of about 300 km for a holy dip during the eclipse.

The last meeting

Krishna was delighted to meet his beloved foster parents, his dear childhood friends and playmates, and erstwhile companions. Devaki and Rohini met Yashoda for the first time ever and expressed their gratitude for having reared their (Devaki’s and Rohini’s) sons as her (Yashoda’s) own. Vasudeva expressed his indebtedness and sense of brotherhood to Nanda.

As the gopis feasted their eyes on Krishna after years and years of yearning for him, they lamented (as they had in the past) the interruptions caused by the pesky eyelids which made them lose precious seconds of the sight of Krishna. Finally when Krishna found them alone, he spoke to them as lovingly as he used to, earlier. The conflicted gopis asked Krishna why he had never visited Vrindavan, and why he had abandoned them for so long. In an answer laden with spiritual meaning, Krishna told them that he had never left Vrindavan, he had been with them all those years, in their hearts, minds and on their lips.

He then revealed the way of the world… Krishna said, like clouds blown together and then apart by the wind, like logs of wood brought together and then made to drift apart by the water, so also, people meet and remain together for a while, only to be eventually separated. This was and is the absolute truth of life, visible in plain sight, but the least acceptable or palatable to everyone.

“Yet”, Krishna said, “The two unchanging aspects of our relationship are, my love for you (gopis) and your devotion to me!” gladdening the hearts of the gopis.

Vasudeva and Krishna cajoled Nanda and the gopas to delay their return. Thus the people from Vrindavan spent about three months with the Vrishnis. Finally it was time to leave and the gopis had to undergo the pain of (physical) separation yet again!