Shyama-kunda and Radha-kunda

Scene 1 — The Gopis’ Complaint

One evening in Vrindavan, Shrimati Radharani and the gopis refused to speak with Krishna.

Radharani (proudly): We don’t want to talk to You anymore, Krishna!

Lalita (sternly): You’ve committed a great sin! You hurt a bull!

Krishna (surprised): But he attacked us! He was dangerous — we could’ve all been killed!

Lalita (coldly): If You want our friendship again, You must purify Yourself!

Radharani (firmly): You must bathe in every holy place in the entire universe!

Krishna (sadly): That would take forever! I’d have to travel across the worlds!

Lalita (haughtily): Then go — or forget about our friendship!

Krishna (defiantly): Ha! I have better things to do!

Scene 2 — The Creation of Shyama-kunda

Krishna struck the ground with His left heel, and suddenly the earth cracked open. A large pond appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Krishna (commanding): Ganga! Kaveri! Godavari! Sarasvati! Narmada! Yamuna! Tamraparni!

Enter this pond at once!

The sacred rivers appeared, bowed to Krishna, and filled the hollow with their pure waters.

Krishna (smiling): Look! Such a beautiful lake — filled with lotus flowers and crystal water that washes away all sins.

Lalita (mocking): Hmm… impressive, but still…

Krishna (seriously): I am now purified! And if you wish to be My friends again, you too must bathe here!

Radharani (puzzled): Why should we bathe there?

Krishna: Oh, simple village girls! You worshiped many demigods — now you are impure. Come, purify yourselves here!

Lalita (proudly): Never! That water is polluted after You washed off Your sin!

Radharani (firmly): We’ll dig our own pond!

Krishna (surprised): Really? And how will you do that?

Scene 3 — The Birth of Radha-kunda

Radharani broke one of Her bracelets and began digging into the soft earth. The gopis joined Her, and together they dug a great hollow.

Radharani (proudly): Look! Our pond is ready!

Lalita (cheerfully): And we did it so fast!

Krishna (smiling): It’s big, yes — but there’s no water! You can take some from My lake if you wish.

Lalita (offended): We don’t need Your favors!

Radharani: Come, girls! Let’s line up and fill it with pure water from Manasi-ganga!

The gopis stood in a row, passing golden pots of water from hand to hand. Then suddenly, the sacred rivers appeared before Radharani in a divine form.

Holy Rivers (bowing): O beautiful Queen! Please fulfill our heartfelt wish!

Radharani (kindly): What is your wish?

Holy Rivers: We will be blessed forever if You allow our waters to fill Your pond!

Radharani (smiling): How could I refuse such a request? Welcome to My kunda!

Overjoyed, the rivers broke the bank of Krishna’s lake and filled Radharani’s pond with their sacred waters.

Krishna (gently): This pond, born of Your love, is most dear to Me.

(He steps into the waters.)

Krishna (softly): Whoever bathes here will become very dear to Me.

Radharani (joyfully): And Your pond, My beloved, will be most dear to Me! Even if You commit a million sins, I will still bathe there. Whoever bathes in it will also be dear to Me!

Then Radharani and the gopis bathed in Shyama-kunda.

Scene 4 — The Divine Exchange

After bathing, Radha and Krishna rested on a forest meadow. The gopis fanned Them gently. Then something wondrous happened — their divine love became so strong that They exchanged forms!

Lalita (astonished): What’s happening? My Queen has become Krishna — and Krishna has become Radha… and vanished!

Gopi 1 (sadly): Look at our Mistress — She’s longing for Him, but He’s nowhere to be found!

Lalita: Come, let’s search for Him!

The gopis searched all through the forest, but Krishna was nowhere. He too longed for Radha, but could not find His way back. Then a voice from the sky resounded.

Heavenly Voice: Krishna! Chant the holy name of Shrimati Radharani — and She will appear before You!

Krishna (with devotion): Radhe! Radhe!

At once, by divine magic, He appeared by the pond — and there sat Radharani, still in His form, her eyes full of tears.

Krishna (tenderly): O My precious one, I caused You pain and made You cry. I too have suffered in separation.

See — Our tears have filled these two lakes!

Radharani (smiling through tears): Then let the lake of Your tears be called Shyama-kunda ,

and the lake of Mine — Radha-kunda!

Lalita (rejoicing): Look! Our Queen smiles again — all of Vrindavan rejoices with Her!

Radha and Krishna bathed in the two kundas, and Their divine forms were restored.

Thus were born the two holiest lakes in all the worlds — Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda — eternal symbols of pure love.