Krishna! - Part 2

Chapter 10 - The World's First Love Letter!

Harivarma dropped his family to his brother's house which was on the way to Dwaraka and proceeded further. The path was long. It was not easy. Dwaraka seemed to be an illusional city, that seemed to be far when one thought it was near and vice-versa. He too was getting old. His body did not seem to cooperate much. But the very thought of being the reason for reuniting Lakshmi with Narayana, kept him going. He walked and walked for about four days. Through kingdoms, through forests, through mountains, past rivers and villages. And finally, he reached.

His eyes searched, but could not find the city he was looking for. All he saw was the mighty Varuna, with his blue, green and white waves, today, particularly gentle, and yet grand. But he could not see the beautiful island of Dwaraka. As he wondered what to do, he saw a man approaching him.

'Sir, are you lost? Are you going somewhere?', he asked out of courtesy. He looked like a villager. He seemed very kind. He looked familiar too. He flashed a kind smile as he spoke. He wore a simple turban, wore simple clothes, carried a pot which seemed to be filled with water and a stick to aid him in walking across different terrains.

'Yes. I am actually looking for an audience with Lord Krishna. I was told to reach Dwaraka. But I think I have lost sense direction.', he said remorsefully.

'No Sir. You are in the right direction. You just have to pray to Lord Shiva with all your heart and you would be able to see Dwaraka. Don't worry. I am a resident of Dwaraka. I shall take you there.', smiled the villager. He placed his pot and stick down. And prayed.

Much to the astonishment of Harivarma, the mighty Varuna threw up the Golden Bridge that Rukmini and her brothers had seen.

The villager lead Harivarma across the bridge and there he saw the grand city covered entirely in gold and amidst the beauty of Nature. As he walked through the streets, he saw all the Yadavas, celebrating in just immense joy. They all saw Harivarma and were eager to serve him. But the villager refused. They bowed down in respect instead towards him. A few Yadava women also tried to offer food and refreshments, but the villager refused and the Yadava women, this time just bowed to the villager.

Harivarma was bewildered. Why would people bow down to a villager? And then realization dawned upon him.

'Asking Krishna where Krishna is, is a wonderful coincidence, isn't it Brahmana Deva?', he said turning at Harivarma, grinning broadly.

Harivarma couldn't take his eyes off Krishna. His tears blurred his vision, which he kept brushing away, not lose even a moment of being able to see the wonderful form of Narayana.

His dark athletic form, the grand green-blue peacock-bordered Pitambara that ran from his hips to his feet. He had a special piece of cloth of a slightly more mango-yellow and green colour, attached over his Pitambara that ran across his waist with the right end of the piece of the cloth folded into neatly distributed and spread pleats and the left side ending with the knot of the same, with the remaining bit of the cloth left hanging down till about his knees. His dark feet with perfect baby-pink nails were just a sight for others, but for a Bhakta, it was the boat towards salvation. He wore a gentle waistbelt. Upon close examination, it was that of Lakshmi-Narayana in each stud attached to it. It held his dear flute, the same one he always played for Radha. His well-built torso, was gently decorated with a long thick gold chain that reached his waist with a pendant of Lakshmi-Narayana again, with the bright Kaustubha Mani shining right in the middle of his broad chest, attached with a base made of gold, which connected his shoulder . He wore a grand dark-green long Uttariya that had the same border print as his Pitambara. He let one end of the Uttariya loose over his left shoulder, touching his calf muscles. The other end, he held with his right hand. His arms were decorated with simple armlets and his wrists with thicker and smarter armlets that ended in the shape of the peacock as they wrapped themselves around his wrist. His curly hair enhanced his appearance a hundred-fold. They were kept neatly combed, let loose. He wore a golden crown, with around seven peacock feathers studded to the left side of his crown. His ears wore simple god studs that covered his entire ear lobe. His forehead sported the thick white Naamam that went all the way from the tip of his forehead to a quarter of his long and sharp nose. Starting from the base, where his Naamam ended, a red line of Kumkum went all the way up to the top of his forehead. His perfect brown eyebrows guarded his lotus-like eyes that showered nothing but love and compassion on those who were fortunate to see it. His nose lead to his handsome and sweet smile, covering his thirty-two pearl-like teeth. And when he smiled, people lost consciousness in admiration of his beauty.