Radha Katha – Chapter 2: Childhood in Gokul

Childhood in Gokul

In the previous chapter, we witnessed the divine appearance of Shri Radha, as if love and compassion themselves had descended upon the earth. Now was the time for that love to bless Gokul through its divine pastimes. A short distance from Nandgaon, in the village of Rawal, Rani Radha began her sweet childhood pastimes, where her first meeting was to take place with that Supreme Being for whom she had yearned for ages.

First Glimpse, First Feeling

The lanes of Rawal village echoed with the laughter and playful shouts of young Gopis. Radha, along with her companions Lalita and Vishakha, was heading towards the banks of the Yamuna. Her tiny feet were dusted with soil, but her face radiated a divine glow. The air was filled with the subtle fragrance of jasmine and tuberose, and birds sang melodious songs, as if nature itself was signaling that divine union. Radha's heart was inexplicably beating with an unknown feeling. She felt as if some mysterious force was drawing her towards it.

"O Radha, why are you so quiet today?" Lalita teased. Radha replied with a gentle smile, "I don't know, friend, I just feel like something is about to happen." Just then, her gaze fell upon a dark-complexioned boy standing under a banyan tree. His eyes held boundless love and mischief.

Butter Theft and Loving Scolding

Radha and her companions were famous for butter theft in Gokul. They would stealthily enter Yashoda Maa's house and take butter from the pots, sharing it amongst themselves. One day, when they went to steal butter, Krishna caught them red-handed. Krishna smiled and said, "O Gopis, have you come to steal butter again? Aren't you afraid?" Radha fearlessly replied, "Why should we be afraid? This is our right! Yashoda Maa feeds all the butter to you, we should also get some."

Krishna was enchanted by Radha's fearlessness and loving mischief. He allowed the Gopis to eat the butter and in return, took a promise of friendship from them. From that very moment, the foundation of an unbreakable friendship and love between Krishna and Radha was laid, which would later become a unique example of divine love. It was Radha's grace that transformed even that ordinary butter theft into a divine pastime. Her mere presence infused every action with love and joy.

Affection of Yashoda and Kirti

Radha's mother, Kirti, was a dear friend of Yashoda Maa. There was deep affection between the two friends, and they often visited each other's homes. Yashoda Maa loved Radha as her own daughter, and Kirti considered Krishna as her son. Their love was so profound that they were delighted to see their children together.

One day, Yashoda Maa said to Kirti, "Kirti, I feel that Radha and Krishna are made for each other. The love between them is not ordinary." Kirti smiled and said, "Yes Yashoda, I feel the same. This is destiny's decree, which no one can change." This was not just the love of two mothers, but the union of two souls, who were destined to witness a divine love story in the times to come. And on the strength of this friendship and affection, the love of Radha and Shyam would reach new heights.