The Dance of Krishna and the Gopis

Scene 1 — Preparing for the Festival

On the fifth day of the month of Madhava, as the moon rose bright and full, the gopis dressed in their finest colorful saris. They adorned their braids with fragrant flowers, wore shining ornaments, and lined their eyes with kohl.

(The gopis enter, singing and laughing softly.)

Lalita (joyfully): Let’s make a flower throne right here — in this quiet grove surrounded by blooming bushes!

Radharani: And here — let’s hang golden flags and garlands of flowers!

Gopi 1: I’ll sprinkle fragrant water all around.

Gopi 2: And I’ll hang sparkling gems so everything glows with light!

(They decorate, laughing and moving gracefully.)

Scene 2 — Krishna Enters the Forest

Meanwhile, Krishna entered the forest to meet His beloved gopis and dance through the night.

Krishna (admiringly): What a beautiful forest! The air is full of spring sweetness, the breeze is soft, and the Yamuna shines in the moonlight.

Monkeys (chattering): Krishna! Krishna is coming! Oo-aa! Oo-aa!

Peacocks: Let’s dance for Him!

Cuckoos: And we’ll sing to welcome our Lord! Coo-coo!

Krishna (smiling): This forest is decorated so beautifully — surely, they are waiting for Me!

Scene 3 — The Gopis Meet Krishna

Radharani (with awe): Look at Krishna! He’s like the moon surrounded by a thousand stars!

Lalita: His yellow garments shine, and His jewels sparkle in the dark!

Gopi 1: The sound of His flute fills my heart with love!

Gopi 2: And His fragrance — it’s beyond compare!

Krishna took Radha’s lotus hand and together they walked toward the Yamuna, admiring Vrindavan. But suddenly, Krishna hid behind the trees.

Radharani (worried): Where is Krishna? Just a moment ago He was here!

Lalita: Let’s look for Him!

Gopi 1: Krishna, where are You?

Radharani (spotting Him): There — behind that tree! I see His peacock feather — got You!

(Radha catches Krishna and runs away laughing.)

Radharani (playfully): Now it’s Your turn to find Me!

Krishna (laughing): Wherever You hide, I’ll find You quickly!

(They play hide and seek as the gopis sing and play instruments.)

Scene 4 — The Water Play

Lalita (mischievously): When They come back, let’s splash Them with water!

(The gopis fill golden pots from the Yamuna.)

As Radha and Krishna returned to the clearing, the gopis began splashing water like sparkling fountains.

Radharani (delighted): How refreshing! That’s exactly what I needed after running!

Krishna (laughing): Your friends are so clever! Now — let’s all go to Govardhan Hill!

Scene 5 — At Govardhan Hill (They gather around the flower throne.)

Lalita (gently): Radha, my dear friend, let me anoint You with sandalwood paste and fragrant oils.

Gopi 1: And let me offer You this honey made from flowers.

Gopi 2: Here — anklets and bracelets as my gift!

Lalita: And from me — this beautiful pearl necklace!

Gopi 1: And these golden earrings and shining rings!

Gopi 2: And this jeweled comb — let me fix Your lovely hair!

Krishna (gazing lovingly): O lotus-eyed one! You were already the most beautiful — but now You shine brighter than the moon! Come, let’s go to Chandra-sarovara!

Scene 6 — The Water Dance (They arrive at the lake, laughing and playing with water sprinklers.)

Lalita: Let’s surround Krishna and splash Him!

(They do — giggling.)

Krishna (spinning around): Ah, so that’s your game! Then take this!

(He spins, sending waves over everyone. Laughter fills the air.)

Krishna (in awe): Look at these two beautiful lotuses — a thousand petals each! Surely, the Moon-god left them for My beloved Radha!

(He brings them to Her.)

Radharani (joyfully): Oh, how fragrant they are! Wait — what’s that shining inside?

Lalita: Maybe dewdrops?

Radharani: No — look! Jewels inside each lotus! How wondrous!

Krishna (smiling): In Bahulavan there are flowers that smell just like these! Let’s go there!

Scene 7 — The Fragrant Forests

As they walked, Krishna saw the gopis tired, their foreheads glistening.

Krishna (gently): My dear friends look tired. Let Me play My flute for you.

(He plays. A cooling rain begins to fall; a fragrant breeze blows.)

Radharani (dancing): Ah, such a sweet rain! I can’t help but dance!

Lalita: And the breeze — it’s so fragrant, it fills my heart with joy!

(They sing a song glorifying Krishna as they enter Talavan forest.)

Scene 8 — The Cooling Stream

Radharani (catching her breath): Oh, I can’t spin anymore! I’m so thirsty!

Krishna (smiling): Don’t worry — I’ll take care of that!

(He touches the ground with His staff — a spring of water gushes forth. The gopis wash and drink joyfully.)

Scene 9 — Adorning Krishna (They move to Kumudavan.)

In the next forest, Radha adorned Krishna with forest flowers. She placed jasmine garlands around His neck and a crown of kadamba blossoms upon His head.

Radharani (in awe): Krishna, You shine like the God of Spring Himself!

Lalita: Just look at how skillfully Radha decorates Him!

(Gopis play instruments and sing. Radha and Krishna dance together.)

Scene 10 — The Separation

As They danced, They wandered into the forest of Kokilavan. But when the gopis arrived, Krishna had disappeared with Radha.

Lalita (sadly): Krishna left us! Where is He now?

(They search, crying “Krishna! Krishna!”)

Lalita: O trees! Have you seen the son of Nanda? O vines! Tell us where He went!

(They find footprints in the dust.)

Lalita (excitedly): Look! The marks of His lotus feet!

Gopi 1: Let’s follow them!

Gopi 2 (noticing): Here’s another set — Radha’s footprints! They’re together!

Lalita: Then He must be with Her! Come quickly!

Scene 11 — The Disappearance (Krishna and Radha together.)

Krishna (anxiously): Radha, the others are coming! Let’s go before they take You away!

Radharani (playfully): I’m too tired to walk! Carry Me, Krishna!

(He smiles, bends down.)

Krishna: Climb on My shoulders — I’ll carry You.

(As She tries — He vanishes. Radha falls to the ground, weeping.)

Radharani (crying): He’s gone! My pride has made Me lose Him!

(The gopis arrive and comfort Her.)

Lalita (angrily): Don’t cry, friend! How could He treat You so?

Gopi 1: Drink this sweet juice — it will calm You.

Gopi 2: Let me fan You — to cool Your heart.

Radharani (softly): Thank you, My dear friends… but without Him, nothing matters.

Lalita: Then let’s sing! Let’s sing His name — and He will return!

(They sing together.)

All Gopis (chanting):

O conqueror of the world!

O light of the universe!

O source of bliss!

O lotus-eyed Lord!

We bow down to You!

(Their tears fall. Krishna, moved with compassion, appears again.)

Scene 12 — The Reunion

Radharani (joyfully): Krishna! Krishna! You’ve returned!

Gopi 1: He looks even more beautiful than before!

Gopi 2: And His fragrance is divine!

(They surround Him in joy.)

Krishna (smiling): Come — let’s dance again!

(He multiplies Himself, dancing with each gopi at once. The music swells.)

Radharani: I am so happy when Krishna dances with Me!

Lalita: How blessed we are to dance with Him!

(They sing and whirl in ecstasy.)

Radharani (softly, after the dance): O Krishna, when You left us, the whole world lost its light.

Gopi 1: Now our hearts are fulfilled — we have found Your lotus feet again.

Lalita (curious): Tell us, Krishna — where were You while we searched for You?

Krishna: I went to the Milk Ocean, to rest on the serpent Shesha at Shvetadvipa.

Gopi 2 (pleading): Please show us that divine form!

Krishna: So be it.

(He reclines like Lord Narayana; Radha becomes Lakshmi, massaging His feet. The gopis bow in reverence.)

Scene 13 — The Playful Ending

(They bathe in the Yamuna, splash each other, laugh, and exchange the lotus and the flute.)

Radharani (laughing): Give back My lotus!

Krishna: Only if You return My flute!

(They exchange, laughing. Then, they play with flowers.)

Krishna: Whoever gets hit with this flower will chase the others! One, two, three — run!

(They play joyfully until the dawn light glows.)

As dawn appeared, the gopis returned home, their hearts glowing with bliss. Krishna went to Nanda Maharaja’s palace, and Radha returned to the palace of King Vrishabhanu — their love filling the whole of Vrindavan with divine joy.