Kṛṣṇa’s Gift to Rādhārāṇī’s Family
One day in Vṛndāvana, the cowherd boys led by Kṛṣṇa were playing near the house of King Vṛṣabhānu. In those days, pearls were a great treasure, and garlands made from them were rare and precious. Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and Her friends had beautiful pearl necklaces, gifts from their parents, and they would sometimes tease Kṛṣṇa about His simple attire.
Rādhārāṇī once said playfully, “O Kṛṣṇa, You always wear peacock feathers and forest flowers, but never pearls like us. Perhaps pearls do not grow in Your home?”
Kṛṣṇa smiled mischievously. “Pearls not grow in my home? I can grow pearls anywhere! I will show You tomorrow.” The gopīs laughed, thinking He was only jesting.
Kṛṣṇa Plants the Pearls
The next morning, Kṛṣṇa came to Nanda-bhavana and took some fine pearls from Mother Yaśodā’s jewelry box. Going to the field, He dug small holes in the soft soil and planted each pearl carefully, watering them with cow’s milk.
The cowherd boys gathered around, laughing. “Kṛṣṇa, pearls don’t grow like seeds! You are so foolish!” But Kṛṣṇa simply smiled and said, “Wait and see. By tomorrow, you will understand.”
When He returned home, Mother Yaśodā asked, “Where are My pearls?” Kṛṣṇa replied innocently, “I have planted them in the field. Soon they will grow into trees, and you will have thousands of pearls!”
Yaśodā laughed in disbelief. “My child, pearls grow in oysters, not in soil!” But Kṛṣṇa only smiled.
The Miracle of the Pearl Trees
The next day, everyone in Vraja was astonished. Overnight, beautiful trees had sprouted in Kṛṣṇa’s field. Their branches shone like silver, their leaves glimmered like emeralds, and from each branch hung clusters of radiant pearls glowing like stars. The fragrance that spread from those trees was otherworldly.
The gopas and gopīs ran to see the wonder, exclaiming, “Kṛṣṇa’s pearls have indeed grown into trees!” Even the elders came to witness this miracle.
Kṛṣṇa gathered the pearl garlands and distributed them among His friends, cows, and family members. Every cow in Nanda’s herd wore a necklace of shining pearls, and the entire village seemed to sparkle like a celestial abode.
Rādhārāṇī’s Curiosity and Jealousy
When Rādhārāṇī and Her sakhīs heard about Kṛṣṇa’s pearl trees, curiosity and playfulness filled their hearts. Lalitā and Viśākhā said to Rādhā, “Let us also plant pearls and see whose grow better—ours or Kṛṣṇa’s.”
They took their own pearls and planted them in a similar manner, watering them with milk as Kṛṣṇa had done. But despite their efforts, no trees appeared. The soil remained bare. Seeing this, the gopīs laughed and teased one another. “It seems Kṛṣṇa’s magic cannot be imitated!”
Kṛṣṇa’s Generosity
Later, when Kṛṣṇa heard that Rādhā and Her friends were disappointed, He felt compassion. He went to their homes with baskets full of pearls and said, “Rādhā, pearls grow only where there is pure love. Take these—They belong to You.”
Rādhārāṇī smiled shyly and accepted the pearls. She then strung them into garlands and adorned Kṛṣṇa and His friends with them. That day, both Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa wore shining pearl necklaces that seemed to reflect the moonlight of Their love.
From that time onward, the place where Kṛṣṇa planted the pearls became known as Mukta-kuṇḍa—“the lake of pearls.” The waters there are said to sparkle even today with a luminous glow, as if holding the reflection of that divine pastime.
Reflection
This playful pastime of the pearl tree teaches that divine love transforms even ordinary acts into miracles. Kṛṣṇa’s simple act of planting pearls was not just mischief—it was an expression of His eternal creativity and love for Rādhā and the Vrajavāsīs.
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when we offer something to Kṛṣṇa with faith and affection, He multiplies it infinitely, returning it enriched with His mercy. The pearls that grew in Kṛṣṇa’s field represent the heart of a devotee—when planted with devotion and watered with love, it blossoms with beauty and light.
Rādhārāṇī’s gentle acceptance of Kṛṣṇa’s pearls shows Her humility and grace. She never demanded or competed but received with pure affection. In spiritual life, we too should cultivate such humility—offering our efforts with love and accepting the Lord’s gifts as His mercy, not our achievement.
Let us pray:
“O Kṛṣṇa, let my heart become like Your field, where the seeds of devotion may grow into pearls of love. O Rādhā, teach me to receive His mercy with gratitude and simplicity, so that my life may shine like the trees of Mukta-kuṇḍa, bearing the fruit of pure bhakti.”
