Shri Krishna Janma Khanda describes the Lila of Krishna, especially the events associated with his eternal consort Radha. This is the only Purana, perhaps the only text.

This article selectively highlights some of the Lila between Krishna and Radha as described in the Shri Krishna Janma Khanda, which is the fourth section of the Brahmavaivarta Purana.

Lila in Vrindavan

Nand and Krishna were once grazing cows near Vrindavan when a heavy storm erupted. Krishna started crying in fear when he saw the strong trees being uprooted by the gale. Nand was unable to take care of the cows as well as of Krishna. Just then Radha came there. Nand asked Radha to take Krishna home while he herded the cows together. But Radha and Krishna did not go home. They went to the Madhuban on banks of the Yamuna River, where through the magic of Krishna there was no storm. There, Krishna and Radha enacted their Lila.

Jayadeva’s famous Gita Govinda begins with this incident from the Shri Krishna Janma Khanda of the Brahmavaivarta Purana.

“Heavy clouds cover the sky and the dense forest is dark.

Young Krishna is frightened. Radha please take him home.”

Nand speaks thus. But Krishna and Radha head to the trees

On the banks of the Yamuna River to enact their Lila.

Shri Krishna Janma Khanda goes on to say that this merriment became a regular affair. Every night Radha would leave her shadow in her home and go to the Madhuban to fulfill her tryst with Krishna.

The Separation

When the time for Krishna’s departure to Mathura approached Radha sensed that something awful was about to happen. She began to get nightmares of the moon falling down from the heavens and the world plunging into eternal darkness. But Krishna reminded her of Sudama’s curse. In Goloka Sudama had put a curse on Radha that she would have to stay apart from Krishna for 100 years, in response to a curse that Radha had put on him.

From Mathura, Krishna sent Uddhava to Vrindavan to enquire after Radha. Pining for Krishna had emaciated Radha. She had stopped adorning herself now that there was no one to praise her looks. Her hair was unkempt and clothes disheveled. Uddhava was so taken aback that he promised that he would send Krishna to Vrindavan. On his return to Mathura Uddhava requested Krishna to honor the pledge that he had made to Radha. Krishna promised to meet Radha in her dreams and did that for every day of their separation from then on.

The Reunion

The Shri Krishna Janma Khanda of the Brahmavaivarta Purana has a different narration of the ascension of Krishna than the one mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana. When the 100 years of separation were over, Parvati appeared before Radha and asked her to go to Prabhasa near Dwarka, where Krishna was then residing. Radha once again adorned herself and looking her very best she went to Prabhasa. When she met Krishna the suffering of the years of separation vanished. Krishna’s celestial chariot took them to Vrindavan where Krishna met with Nand, Yashoda and the gopis. He spent fourteen joyous years again in the environs of his youth. In all, Krishna avatar lasted for 125 years. Eleven years were first spent in Vrindavan; then a hundred years in Mathura and Dwarka separated from Radha and finally fourteen years again in Vrindavan. At the end of this period, Krishna, Radha and everyone in Vrindavan mounted the celestial chariot and went back to Goloka.

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