Rādhārāṇī Departs the Rāsa Dance
One moonlit night in Vṛndāvana, while the sweet rāsa-līlā was in full swing, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, in a playful mood of transcendental sulkiness (māna), quietly slipped away from the circle of dancing gopīs and left the rāsa dance. Sensing Her absence, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, whose heart is forever bound to Her, also left the rāsa dance in search of His beloved.
Kṛṣṇa’s Loving Search Through the Forests
Kṛṣṇa wandered alone through the fragrant kuñjas and serene kuṇḍas around sacred Govardhana Hill, calling out with choked voice, “Śrī Rādhe! Śrī Rādhe!” Finally, near the village of Jātipura, He found Her seated in a leafy grove (kuñja) with Lalitā, Viśākhā, and a few other sakhīs.
Rādhā’s Loving Rebuke
When Kṛṣṇa approached Her with hopeful eyes, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī turned Her divine face away and said sharply to Lalitā, “Tell that rascal boy to go away.” With tears welling in His eyes, Kṛṣṇa humbly bowed His head and quietly left the grove, making His way to another solitary kuñja.
The Gopīs Discover the Sleeping Kṛṣṇa
Seeing Kṛṣṇa’s humble retreat, Rādhārāṇī smiled gently and sent some of Her sakhīs to discover where He had gone. They returned and informed Her: “Kṛṣṇa is lying alone in another kuñja, sleeping, His peacock feather crown set aside, and His flute resting under His gentle hand.” Instantly, a playful thought arose in the minds of all the gopīs, especially in Śrī Rādhā’s heart: “This is the perfect chance to steal Kṛṣṇa’s flute!”
Rādhārāṇī Prepares for the Divine Heist
All the gopīs gathered with laughter and glee, whispering and tiptoeing toward the kuñja. But Kṛṣṇa, though appearing asleep, was simply pretending, relishing the rasa of the moment. The gopīs began to debate how to retrieve the flute. Lalitā boldly said, “This flute can only be stolen by someone swift, clever, and silent.” All eyes immediately turned toward Rādhārāṇī, who smiled knowingly.
With divine determination, Śrī Rādhā tied Her sari like pants, muffled the jingling of Her ankle bells and bangles with a soft cloth, and crept slowly toward the flute. Step by careful step, She made Her way to Kṛṣṇa’s resting place, eyes fixed on the prize.
The Glorious Theft of the Flute
Reaching Kṛṣṇa’s side, Rādhārāṇī gently extended Her lotus-like hand and seized the flute. Then, like a breeze through Vṛndāvana’s kadamba trees, She dashed back, flute in hand, while Her sakhīs giggled and rejoiced. Though His eyes remained closed, a faint smile appeared on Kṛṣṇa’s lips—the smile of one who is blissfully defeated by love.
Kṛṣṇa Seeks His Missing Flute
Some time later, Kṛṣṇa returned to the earlier kuñja and asked the gopīs, “Have any of you seen My flute?” They all looked at Him innocently. Lalitā replied with mock indignation, “First You hurt Rādhārāṇī’s feelings, and now You accuse Her friends of theft? You are such a mischievous rascal!”
Undeterred, Kṛṣṇa began to search them one by one. “Don’t touch me!” the gopīs cried. “We’re not hiding anything!” As Kṛṣṇa’s search continued, the flute began passing secretly from one gopī to another—like the current of the Yamunā, swift and unseen.
The Flute Ends Up in Rādhārāṇī’s Hand
Eventually, the flute made its way into Rādhārāṇī’s own hand, right before Kṛṣṇa’s eyes. She stood tall, smiling serenely, holding His flute like a queen. Knowing Her exalted position as the crown jewel of all the gopīs, Kṛṣṇa could not demand the flute from Her as He did from others.
Kṛṣṇa Bows to Rādhārāṇī
Then, to the delight of all the sakhīs and the joy of all Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas—past, present, and future—Śrī Kṛṣṇa knelt before Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, took Her hand with love and humility, and sweetly begged Her to return His flute. Overwhelmed with affectionate victory, She returned it.
Lesson to Be Learned
This divine pastime reveals the supreme power of prema-bhakti, pure devotional love. Although Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He becomes bound by the loving affection of His dearest devotees. Especially in Vraja, the sweetness of love surpasses all majesty and awe. The Lord of all universes joyfully accepts defeat at the hands of His beloved Rādhā. This is the unique mood of Vṛndāvana—where love reigns supreme, and even the all-powerful becomes conquered by prema.
“Ahaituky apratihatā” – such love is causeless and unstoppable.
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6)
