Sree Krishna, the Lord of Love

by Baba Premananda Bharati

At that glance, Akrura quickly descended and fell at the feet of Krishna and saluted Him in reverence and worship, for the dart of love that came from Krishna revealed to the heart of Akrura that Krishna was more than human and not less than divine.

With that glance his soul was drawn to the soul of Him who stood there to receive him and his message. And he knew that the Author of Life he beheld and that blessed he was beyond all measure to be chosen to look on that wonderful face.

A moment he lay in the dust, at the feet of the youth,—Akrura, the proud, the inmate of palaces, the councilor and companion of the king and emperor.

Then, with kindly grace, Krishna raised him and embraced him and led him forth to the house of Nanda, and with His own hands brought rich drinks and choice viands, with the countenance that had on it the glow of the sun, and the beauty that surpassed all the beauty ever seen.

And having partaken of the meal with His father and brother and guest, Krishna addressed him thus: "O friend, long I knew of this coming of thine and marvelled at its delay. Yet tell them, my kinsman, the errand of the on which thou wert sent!"

Then Akrura related to Nanda and the fear-stricken Yasodā the king's message, his plans and his evil design.

A smile of wisdom flitted over the face of Krishna, as He nestled close to the side of His mother and bade her forget her anxiety for Him, as none there was in all the world that could harm Him. He vowed that even the most dreaded Kangsa was powerless to bring about the evil he planned.

But the mother, Yasodā, she who had reared and nourished the Child at her heart, she who had caressed His lovely baby softness and with fondness saw his first toddling steps, she could not be comforted, nor would her heart cease its beating of pain and terror.

And Akrura related how Kangsa in wrath had thrown Devaki and Vāsudeva into prison, on hearing that Krishna was the eighth son of their union. And Yasodā wept as the thought of the mother who had lost all her sons at the cost of Krishna, and yet had not the blessing of suckling Him.

Yasodā, most blessed of all women art thou, who nursed the Lord of Love as thy son! And fitted wert thou by Him to bestow on His baby life thy caresses and receive the love that flowed from Him!