A Rare Celestial Event
Once, during a rare solar eclipse, the holy site of Kurukṣetra became the gathering place for sages, kings, and seekers from all parts of Bhārata. Such an eclipse was considered extremely auspicious for purifying sins and gaining spiritual merit by bathing in the sacred lakes of Kurukṣetra, especially Brahma-sarovara.
The scriptures proclaimed:
“A bath in Kurukṣetra during an eclipse gives the fruit of thousands of sacrifices.”
The Yādavas Join the Pilgrimage
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, along with the entire Yādava dynasty, including Balarāma, Subhadrā, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, and Sātyaki, arrived at Kurukṣetra, eager to meet the sages, offer charity, and honor the sacred time.
The residents of Vṛndāvana, including Nanda Mahārāja, Yaśodā Mātā, and the gopas and gopīs, also came to Kurukṣetra. For many of them, this was the first time in decades they had seen their beloved Kṛṣṇa again since He had left for Mathurā.
The Vrajavāsīs’ Longing and Reunion
When the gopīs saw Kṛṣṇa, they wept uncontrollably. The Lord of their hearts, who had once stolen butter, danced in the rāsa-līlā, and played His flute beneath the moonlight, now stood before them in royal dress, surrounded by warriors.
But Kṛṣṇa’s heart melted when He saw them. Though He was dressed as a king, within His heart, He was still the cowherd boy of Vṛndāvana.
The gopīs pleaded:
“O beloved, what use is this royal dress and chariot? Take Your flute again and return to the forests of Vraja.”
Kṛṣṇa consoled them and revealed:
“Though I seem far, I am never separated from you. My very life breath resides in Vṛndāvana.”
Charity, Blessings, and Dharma
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma offered cows, gold, and garments to thousands of brāhmaṇas. The sages present—including Nārada, Vyāsa, Vasiṣṭha, and Parāśara—glorified Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord and offered Him blessings for the well-being of the world.
People bathed in Brahma-sarovara, offered oblations to ancestors, and received Kṛṣṇa’s darśana with tears of devotion.
Kurukṣetra – The Battlefield and the Sacred Site
This visit to Kurukṣetra was before the war of Mahābhārata, yet it foreshadowed what was to come. The Lord, who now came in peace, would later speak the Gītā here amidst the thunder of war.
But for now, Kurukṣetra was transformed into a rāsa-sthalī, a place of sacred union, not conflict.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Sacred places like Kurukṣetra are meant for spiritual purification, charity, and reunion with the Lord.
- Though time separates the devotee from the Lord, love transcends time and space.
- The gopīs’ longing and reunion remind us that the Lord never forgets His devotees.
- Public observances like pilgrimage, eclipses, and charity have deep spiritual meaning when done with faith and devotion.
- The same Kurukṣetra that hosts pilgrims today will one day witness the divine teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā.
Origin of the Story: Harivamsa Purana 3 – The Solar Eclipse Pilgrimage and Reunion in Kurukṣetra
