14.10: Radha perplexed by the charge against Krishna

152. Radha came to Rukmini and whispered to her, ‘I am feeling exceedingly strange in my lotus-heart.

153. What fault has the Friend of the bhaktas committed today, that He had to take penance and purify Himself?

154. I have this doubt in my mind. Therefore I ask you. How can the Unmanifested One commit a fault as to what is duty and not duty?

155. The unusual has happened today, such as would be the confining of the sun in darkness, or of sinking the ocean in a pool of water, or of imprisoning the Ganges in a well,

156. or like the moon growing warm, or like the confining of the wind in a cage. How could Agasti tremble with fear seeing the ocean?

157. How could the sun be hidden by the light of the stars? How can nectar die with disease?

158. If all space could be confined in a jar, or a mountain make adamant tremble, then only could the Lord of the heart be in any bondage to duties, so I think.

159. If seed that had been roasted and then sown can grow luxuriously, then only could the Lord of our life be entangled in the bondage of duties.

160. Tell me everything. Who has been troubling the dark-complexioned One? You are all knowing and my elder. Tell me, because I am ignorant.’

161. Rukmini replied, ‘O noble One, the eagle-bannered One has put away all shame of lowering His greatness and has accepted the performance of penance for Nama’s sake.

162. Listen, you intelligent One but ignorant of facts! This Krishna, Helper of the helpless, has been attracted through the bhakti rendered to Him and He cannot bear separation from Nama.

163. This Sachchidananda (Krishna) has become confused through His love for Nama, and so has accepted duties that are auspicious and non-auspicious.

164. Notice the power of affection. What will one not do through it? This is the universal experience. 0 mother, I will describe it to you.

165. A child might be blind, lame, dumb and of lisping speech, but its mother because of her love always has sympathy with it.

166. Crazy for her child through her love, she plays only with it. A child of another might be more beautiful, but she pays no attention to it.

167. She pays no attention to any malformation in her child, so she says to herself, ‘Perhaps an evil eye will fall upon it.’ So she takes that away (by waving her hands over it, and cracking her knuckles) and kisses it on the face.

168. Just so with love in his heart, the Holder of the disk (Krishna) cares for his bhaktas. He pays no respect to their caste or family. He loves them more than He does His own life.

169. This debt of love, through His love of body, mind and speech, has come down from the infinite rebirths of the past.

170. God loves him deeply. He has never been separated from Him. Keshav (God) has always held this love for His dearest Nama.’

171. Hearing Rukmini say this, Radha was quite satisfied. In silence she bowed to her, and then went to her home.