Vishnupriya

Meri Sakhi keheti hai

It was late evening in the glorious kingdom of the Kurus. The kuru princes had just returned after years, after receiving education from Guru Dron. After the kalapradarshan that took place earlier, a bhoj was organized to celebrate the arrival of their princes.

"Kunti ma!" the only daughter of the Kuruvanshi called the widowed wife of Maharaj pandu, Rajmata Kunti. "I have somebody to introduce you to. This is my friend from kanyakul, Dwarkadeesh Shree Krishna's younger sister- Subhadra." Dushala said.

"Subhadra? Krishna's sister?" Kunti said as Subhadra made her way. "Before coming to Hastinapur, bhratashree Krishna said that Maharani is our bua from relations. As long as I serve near her feet I will be sukhi. Pranipat bua Kunti." Subhadra bent down to touch Kunti's feet.

"Ayushman bhava, putri." Kunti blessed clearly joyed to have Subhadra joining them. "Pranipat Rajkumaro." Subhadra greeted Kunti's five might sons who were just a step behind their mother.

"Pranipat Yadav kumari." they greeted back. "Come take a seat, putri." Kunti pulled her aside to take their seats. "How is my brother Vasudev and Ugrasen putri Devaki doing?" kunti was quick to ask about her brother whom she hasn't met or heard of in years.

"They are all well, bua. Pitashree Vasudev told me to send you and your sons his goodwill and blessings." Subhadra said. "We are very pleased to hear that from mamashree. Send him our goodwill as well." Yudhistir replied.

"And what about your brothers? Balram and Krishna? I haven't met them but have heard alot about them. Your brother Krishna is really divine, I have heard alot about his leelas and have a strong urge to meet him." Kunti said.

"Bhrata Krishna kehete he ki jab taap bhout badhjata he to samudra ko parvat ki choti ke pass ake milna hi par ta he. Yadi stiti aise prakar rahi to shrigrah his milne ka prasang rahega." Subhadra said.

"Meaning?" Dushala asked. "Nobody can understand what bhrata Krishna means. The only one who can see through him is my sakhi Vishnupriya but she too can't figure him out at times." Subhadra answered.

"Vishnupriya?" Arjun asked. "The youngest daughter of the Mukhiya of Barsana, Vrishabhanu kakashree and Kritika kakishree. She is one of bhrata Krishna's gopika sakhis and my childhood friend." Subhadra said. "You mean the child begotten from the lotus of Yamuna?" Kunti asked to confirm.

"Yes, bua. The blessing of Devi Yamuna. I had many friends back in Gokul, Barsana and Vrindavan but the dearest to mine and bhrata Krishna's heart is sakhi Vishnupriya." Subhadra said.

"I heard that she had left Barsana and is in Vrindavan for quite a while now." Kunti said. "Yes, since her sister Radha jiji is now in-charge of Barsana and married to bhrata Aayan. Sakhi felt no need to stay in Barsana since she knew it was in capable hands so she decided to stay in Vrindavan. And I wouldn't blame her, Vrindavan is a beautiful place where we all used to play together as children." Subhadra said.

"Subhadra! See na! The musicians have come. Let's go and see!" Dushala said and with that Subhadra and Dushala went to see the musicians.

"Do you know who kumari Subhadra's sakhi was mata?" Nakul asked. "I have only heard about her. Krishna's leela is no secret from anybody in Aryavrat. It is said that Krishna had many gopis but his favorite were the daughters of Yadav Shresth Vrishabhanu, the one Subhadra talked about is the younger daughter of the mukhiya." Kunti said. 

"Bhrata Arjun!" Dushala suddenly returned. "Bhrata Arjun, you can play the veena right? Could you please play it tonight? Pitashree hasn't arrived yet!" Dushala requested. After much persuasion Arjun agreed on playing it.

The music that came out of the veena that Arjun played caught everybody's attention and enjoy it. "How was it Dushala? I did as you said, are you happy now?" Arjun said after finishing playing it.

"Indeed I am very happy. Subhadra! Did you enjoy my bhrata Arjun's Veena?" Dushala asked turning to her friend. "It was an incredible show. But nothing can replace my sakhi Vishnupriya's skills." Subhadra said. "Huh? Meaning your sakhi is better than this?? I'm jealous of you Subhadra, even I want to meet Shrimati Vishnupriya now!" Dushala said.

"You mention this sakhi of yours alot, yadavkumari. What is so special about her?" Arjun asked.  "What is so special about her? What is not so special about her, rajkumar Arjun?! My bhratashree is famous to make everybody dance to his tune but the only one who can make him dance to their tune is my sakhi Vishnupriya. Your Veena was indeed sweet, as sweet as nectar but my sakhi is very special, everything she does or plays is comparable to the amrit of the Gods." Subhadra said.

"Though my sakhi's skills is unmatchable, you too are very skilled in playing the veena." she added. "Now that you have praised your sakhi so much I feel like you are just saying this to make me feel better and nothing else." Arjun said light-heartedly.

"My sakhi says, one shouldn't compare anybody. Everybody is unique in their own way, each person varies in skills. We humans were created to praise the lord with these skills we acquired not to bring others down and establish superiority or inferiority among ourselves. Every individual has God inside them in their core, disrespecting oneself or others is disrespecting the God within them which is why we should respect each other and make sure that our words don't hurt each other. Because physical wounds heal up but the wound you have given to the soul is very hard to heal. Shastra can be taken back but words can never be taken back." Subhadra said.

"Uccha vichar. Your sakhi seems to be very learned and wise." Kunti said. "Indeed, Kunti maa. Uccha vichar. One shouldn't deem each other as superior or inferior." Duryodhan said coming to the picture with Karn. "A normal gopika like Vishnupriya understands this but some people still fail to recognize it." Duryodhan said looking at Arjun specifically.

"That was really backhanded if you ask me, 'a normal gopika like Vishnupriya'. He didn't even address her properly." Nakul whispered to his brothers.

"What do you want now Duryodhan?" Bheem asked. "Nothing bhrata Bheem. We heard the Veena so we came here. Mitra karn? Can you play any instruments?" Duryodhan looked at Karn. "If somebody else had asked me this question I would have been offended mitra. For a true warrior, a true archer, the sound that comes from the string of the dhanush itself is a music." Karn said.

And with that Kunti could see the drift and hatred between Karn and Arjun growing further and deeper as the conversation continued.