Bonsai of Thoughts: Forty-Seven

(On Mahabharata-Krishna-Rukmini-Radha-Meera)

1. This world remembers only pure love,
That's why beside Krishna stands not Rukmini, but Radha above.

2. O world, you have kept Radha in memory's claim of love,
Shyam-Rukmini remains merely overlooked in the radiant pair of Radha-Krishna's dove!

3. Meera too recognized Radha, kept her in worship with exquisite care!
But who recognized Rukmini in the Mahabharata's wheel of cosmic affair!

4. The destinies of Rukmini and Radha are bound in the same refrain!
Though in Giridhari's life, Rukmini received no worship's gain;
Though beside Murlidhar, the beloved never became Radha's domain!

5. The lawful wife receives only all rights of dharma and sin,
In love or waiting, someone's silent victory rings within,
Radha-Meera are Krishna's beloveds, yet only Rukmini dwells in Dwarka's din!

6. Though Krishna takes only Radha's name in call,
The world still sees that Rukmini alone is his hall!

7. Radha's tears, Rukmini's vermillion,
Even Meera grows melancholy in Krishna's pull's dominion!

8. Why do you weep so? How great is your sorrow's part?
Did Krishna give Radha as much as she wept from her heart?

9. If Kanai is indeed a friend, Rukmini is the friend's wife;
Radha-Meera bind him in love, he on Kurukshetra's knife!

10. Ah, when the heart-churning nectar-letter reaches Dwarka's door,
Rukmini's very life seems to fade, if Krishna should ignore!

11. Whether Radha or Rukmini, both ran hoping to receive,
Sahajiya Meera's Krishna-love in worship-creation, tears to weave!

12. One who truly loves, when does such a one get bound in wedlock's chain!
She whose wife is Rukmini, Radha goes loving her in vain!

13. Just one letter brought her to Krishna's home!
A whole lifetime spent in Krishna's separation's dome!

14. Why all this pondering? Whether in this life I become yours or not,
You may well be Radha, or Meera; what worth has Rukmini got!

15. Krishna's mouth calls "Radha, Radha" by name,
Rukmini wonders, what special thing does it contain?
At Krishna's word, seeing Radha face to face,
She understood later why the strings yield only to Radha's grace!

16. She who brings peace to mind when remembered,
Can one truly live with her, as intended?
Though Rukmini be the life-companion dear,
Without Radha, the heart remains hollow here!

17. She whose very thought makes the composed mind restless,
Belongs to another, hence poison in Meera's voice, breathless!

18. In Krishna's separation Radha brings tears to eyes,
In Krishna's union Rukmini got him only halfway as prize,
In Krishna's love Meera bound only in pride's demise,
To whom Krishna truly belongs, such a great disguise!

19. What selfless love means, if you'd know, see Meera's way,
She whom life never gave, even his beloved she keeps in prayer's sway!

20. In separation lies hidden love's flute-song sweet,
Though far away, Radha-Meera are never distant from his feet!

21. Though Meera never became Radha's peer,
Did love find any obstacle there?
Though Radha is not Rukmini's kind,
Krishna's peace comes when she rises in his mind!

22. If you truly love with heart sincere,
Give strength by being Rukmini here,
Give love remaining Radhika dear,
Stay as Meera through the endless year.

23. Burn as that temple lamp so bright,
That countless storms cannot dim its light;
As Rukmini became inspiration's flame burning,
Even with Radha in Krishna's eyes yearning!

24. One who knows how to love well finds peace in the end.
Radha and Govinda live awaiting their meeting to mend,
Rukmini and Krishna fulfilled in Dwarka's life they tend,
Meera and Murlidhar in desireless love their solace extend!

25. He whose attainment makes the entire world of household blessed,
Is the very one who pines in separation, by Radha's memory possessed!

26. Even without gaining you,
I'm bound to you alone, it's true,
Rukmini was the wife at home,
Love belonged to Radha's tome.

27. Radha's love,
Rukmini's tender care,
Meera's gold above,
Krishna's shadow everywhere.

28. You are Krishna, you are Arjuna, you are Kurukshetra's host,
Whatever Mahabharata is yours, you yourself compose the most.

29. Sometimes the flute, sometimes Sudarshan's wheel,
Sometimes sacrifice, sometimes life's appeal!

30. If you wish to win in battle's test, seek the right guru's grace,
Only he becomes Arjuna whose charioteer is Krishna's face!

31. You'll walk the very path of him you befriend,
If Arjuna's companion Krishna becomes, what worry can extend!

32. Want to win without entering war's domain?
You are not Krishna, that's plain!
Who will bear the burden of your thought's refrain?
First become Arjuna, that's the gain!

33. To win, one must be willing to lose,
See Krishna's game and how he'll choose,
Everyone can win through effort's path,
But losing reveals the real math!

34. If you're not Krishna, don't be the charioteer,
If not Arjuna, don't seek a guide to steer.

35. What must be done, if doing it brings you harm,
Mind full of doubt, heart filled with alarm, then Krishna of the Gita becomes your charm!

36. When the charioteer is Krishna, what need for Arjuna's valor so proud?
Keeping death in hand, if becoming Abhimanyu, why steal honor from the crowd!

37. Most certainly, keeping the guru before you, enter life's battlefield;
Who but Krishna will tell you, "Arjuna, here you must yield!"

38. Is Krishna Radha's tears, or Yamuna's water flowing?
Rukmini's love, or the dust of Meera's feet glowing?

39. Immersed in Krishna-love, does everyone become Rukmini's kind?
If not written in fate's design, she remains Radha, resigned!
Think once, some become Meera and bear all, refined!

40. Radha is the past,
Rukmini the present vast,
Meera eternal, unsurpassed!

41. If you become Radha, I'll be Rukmini's Krishna true.
If you become Meera, I'll remain yours my whole life through!