One day, Rukmini approaches Krishna and says, “Let’s take a break from our roles, Krishna. We deserve one..” Krishna arches His eyebrow questioningly and says, “Can we ever break away from our roles, Rukmini?” Rukmini looks at Krishna with exasperation and says, “Spare me your riddling questions Krishna! You are always so full of questions. And when I ask you for the answer to your questions, you confuse me all the more by asking me another question.”
Krishna laughs aloud and says, “Ah..Rukmini, do you think I have the answers to your questions? Hmmm….Is it necessary to have only one answer for a question? We do love the interesting discussions that usually follow my questions, don’t we, dear?”
Rukmini sighs wearily at Krishna and says, “Not today, Krishna. Please. For once just fulfil my wish.”
Krishna smiles mischievously at Rukmini and says, “Why do I get the feeling that we might end up doing the exact opposite of what you want. But I’ll fulfil your wish. The monsoons have just ended. The Yamuna is overflowing. Let’s camp there for a few days.” Rukmini grins widely and says, “I’m sure all the queens will be delighted.”
Krishna, Rukmini and His queens engage in water sports, feast on a sumptuous dinner and sigh blissfully when they get to sleep under the stars in the open. What a relief it was to wear comfortable clothes without any jewellery or crowns.
Krishna and Rukmini wake up early, as usual the next day. Rukmini cherishes these precious moments that she shares with Krishna every morning. She feels content in Krishna’s company and was grateful to have Him as her husband.
A messenger breaks their companionable silence. With great hesitation. Krishna smiles wickedly at Rukmini and says, “We took a break from our roles by leaving the palace, dear. But we can shed our roles only when we shed our bodies…” The messenger quickly says, “O lord, rishi Durvasa is camping on the other side of the Yamuna…..”
Rukmini looks at Krishna saucily and says, “You knew this would happen, didn’t you Krishna? Yet you kept quiet. Why is it that I always understand what you say only when things happen exactly as you predict? I’ll reserve my arguments with you for later. Because right now, I have work to do. Rishi Durvasa must be tired and hungry. Let me prepare some food for him first.”
Krishna looks at Rukmini’s retreating form and knows Rukmini would come back to Him shortly. With a different problem. And expect Him to solve it. He strokes the calf sitting next to Him lovingly and plays the flute. How He missed Her. Still….
A couple of hours later, Rukmini and Krishna’s queens rustle up a veritable feast for rishi Durvasa. After packing everything, realization dawns on her. The Yamuna was overflowing. No boatman would or could ferry her across the Yamuna. How would she feed the rishi? And fulfil her duty as Krishna’s wife?
Krishna rubs her shoulders gently, flicks the tears from her eyes and says, “Just say, “O Yamunaji, Krishna, the Naishtika Brahmachari requests you to make way for us.” Rukmini spontaneously hugs Krishna and says, “I love you Krishna. Do you know that? Now let me do what I have to first…”
Rukmini realizes the import of Krishna’s words only when she reaches the bank of Yamuna. Krishna – the Naishtika Brahmachari? He wasn’t an eternal Brahmachari. For sure. But she was too far away now to question Krishna. Why did Krishna tease her so much with his endless riddles? She brushes away her disturbing thoughts for the time being because she had no other option.
She worships river Yamuna reverentially and says, “O Yamunaji, Krishna, the Naishtika Brahmachari requests you to make way for us…” To Rukmini’s utter surprise Yamunaji makes way for them. Immediately. Rukmini and her co sisters hurriedly cross over to the other bank and busy themselves in serving rishi Durvasa a sumptuous feast. They all sigh with relief when the rishi relishes the feast and blesses them all.”
Rukmini and her co sisters then make their way to the Yamuna. Rukmini suddenly claps her forehead, does some quick thinking and says, “I didn’t ask Krishna how we can return to our camp after serving rishi Durvasa! Let me ask rishi Durvasa…..”
Rukmini rushes back to rishi Durvasa’s hermitage hoping he wasn’t napping, sighs with sheer relief to find him awake and says, “O sire, can you please tell us how we can cross Yamunaji and return to our camp?”
Rishi Durvasa smiles at her with twinkling eyes and says, “Just tell Yamuna Maiyya that the Nitya Upavasi rishi Durvasa has requested you to make way for us.”
Rukmini nods her head in assent but keeps a firm check on her tongue. Her mind is racing with tumultuous thoughts however. Here was a rishi who relished good food and had feasted on all the food they had brought him till he could not eat anymore. Yet, he called himself “Nitya Upavasi.” And Krishna claimed He was a Naishtika Brahmachari – when he had 1,600 queens!”
Rukmini intuitively senses that something was eluding her and knows that Yamunaji would part her waters for again on hearing rishi Durvasa’s words.
She makes her way back to her tent slowly. Krishna does not disturb Rukmini for a long time. He was used to Lakshmi Devi’s long spells of silence. It is late in the night. Yet He too does not return to His tent.
Krishna sits by Himself under a banyan tree and gently caresses His flute…how He missed her…still…bittersweet memories resurface in his heart. As an avatar, He too experienced sorrow, grief and pain. Yet, He smiled through it all because He knew everything was and would always be as it had been destined….”
Krishna hugs Rukmini warmly when she snuggles close to Him and says, “Both of us were stating the truth, Rukmini. As manavas, we inherently tend to relate only to our bodies. We are playing the roles of husband and wife in this life with this body. But our souls are eternal. Our souls do not marry. Neither do our souls need food for sustenance. That is why I reiterate to myself, lest I forget, as I often do – that I am a Naistika Brahmachari. And the rishi too is right, for his soul is truly a Nitya Upavasi.”
Yamunaji too is a realized soul. That is why she parted her waters for you. Look at how she symbolically conveys her message to us and asks us to remain unaffected by the ups and downs of our earthly lives.
Let us understand and reaffirm this simple truth to ourselves today. Let’s not get so affected by our thoughts, words, deeds and emotions. Let’s learn to shrug off all our experiences, transcend everything with awareness and remain blissful at all times.”
Krishna lifts Rukmini’s downcast face and says, “Yes Rukmini. I too know it is not so easy to do so. On our own. But together, we can do so. With elan…”
For a few moments, Time comes to a standstill on that mystic night. Krishna and Rukmini witness in absolute silence – a pair of blue lotuses bobbing up and down, ever so gently, along the serene waters of Yamuna….hold each other’s hands firmly and smile serenely…
***Only Krishna who practices all the vows of Brahmacharya ( the toughest one probably being – having intercourse only on certain prescribed days) is able to breathe life into Parikshit. No rishi even attempts to do so.