The day had finally come .Pandavas were all set to start their journey to Khandavaprastha .
They took blessings from all the elders ,including Kunti .Draupadi hugged Kunti like her very own mother .I turned around and saw my beloved lord who was ready as well .Krishna looked into my eyes with full love and compassion .I walked towards him and embraced him tightly .
"Please return soon ...." I said
"I will my dear ...You too will enjoy in Dwarka ....I assure you ." Krishna pulled my cheeks and gave one of his mysterious smiles .I really didn't understand what he exactly meant ..But whatever he told made me more curious..What was so special for me in Dwarka ?
The chariots slowly started to move .Krishna also started his golden chariot. I kept looking at him without even blinking my eyes ,till he crossed the boundaries of the kingdom .
I took Krishna's flute ,which I had kept very safely with me all the way .I too decided to leave for Dwarka and when I kept the flute near my mouth ,I saw Duryodhana and Shakuni who were secretly talking something.
I went near them and heard their conversation....
Duryodhana : "Uncle ,the Pandavas have got Khandavaprastha.......is that really a nice place ?....they even got a strong alliance with Panchal ...."
Shakuni : " My child .....Khandavaprastha is not a nice place like you think ....It's a dense forest where the Nagas reside .The Pandavas will never be able to survive there . But the problem is that Krishna is with them ,so it won't be difficult for them now ...."
Duryodhana : "Having Krishna by their side makes them even stronger ...." He sounded tensed
Shakuni : "No my child .....we still can achieve .Balarama is your teacher ,and you are his favourite pupil ...I heard that he his seeing an alliance for his younger sister Subhadra .Both Krishna and Balarama love her immensely . If you marry her ,we'll form a strong bonding with Dwarka ...one of the powerful kingdoms in Bharatvarsha .The Narayani Sena of Dwarka are indeed invincible and strong .Hence ,even Krishna too can't standup against us ,since you'll gain Balarama's support .All we need is to talk to him regarding this marriage ."
Duryodhana had a slight smile on his face ,because deep inside he really wanted to marry Subhadra .
Both of them left the place after plotting the plans for future .
Poor Subhadra ....her life was really stressful now .
I started to play the flute .A mild ,melodious music covered around me .
"Oh Krishna ,Dwarkanatha .......Allow me to enter your heavenly abode ,Dwarka ...."
(Credits to the creator ð)
I opened my eyes and found myself at the entrance of the palace ,in Dwarka .
I stepped inside the palace .It was afternoon and really very silent .I heard birds chirping outside the palace walls .A mild breeze filled the air . I kept on walking ,when I heard footsteps behind me .Subhadra was coming ,with her head low .Her face was blank ,but somewhat she looked troubled .Balarama had already left for Khandavaprastha .
(Credits to the creator ð)
I never knew ,but suddenly something had struck in Subhadra's mind that she started to run towards the other chamber . I followed her .She ran upstairs ,took many turns ,and atlast reached a chamber ,which was very big and royal .I realised that it was Queen Rukmini's royal chamber .She announced herself to the guard .Then Rukmini came outside and embraced Subhadra .
"Welcome to my place ,dear ....What seems to be the matter ?You are looking very perturbed indeed .....Come inside ." Rukmini held Subhadra's hands in hers ,as if she was her very own daughter .
"Oh Sister ! I don't know why ,but I'm not getting interest in anything .I feel something is missing in my life ....." Subhadra said
"Subhadra ,I know .Your alliance is fixed with Duryodhana ,and because of that you're in stress is it ?" Rukmini replied .
Tears flowed from Subhadra's eyes and she sobbed ...
"I wish to meet him ,the archer ,the precious son of Aunt Kunti about whom everyone are talking about ....and the one who won Panchali Draupadi's hand in her Swayamvara ....."
"I know dear ,because I've seen your face becoming happy ,whenever we talked about Arjuna ..." Rukmini replied .
"But you must have trust .Sri Krishna would never want his only sister sad and depressed . And you must have the trust that Prince Arjuna too will come for you one day ...." She assured Subhadra confidently .A smile appeared on her face after hearing Vaidarbhi's comforting lines .
"Sister ,I always wanted to ask you something ....when you were in Vidharbha ,how did you come to know about my brother ...how did you develop love and devotion for him ?" Subhadra asked enthusiastically. I too wanted to hear what Rukmini was going to tell ....
"Oh Subhadra ...." Rukmini's face was filled with ecstasy and pure love ...
"When I was small girl ,I heard about Sri Krishna and his deeds very vaguely . I desired to hear more about him ...
One fine day ,great sage Narada came to our place .He narrated Sri Krishna's story ,how he was born ,how he used to play with his cowherd friends ,the darling of Vrindavana ,the protector of cows ,how he killed all the demons sent by Kansa ,how he used to enchant the Gopis by playing his melodious flute.."
Rukmini continued "After listening about him ,I got so attached to him that I started to paint his portrait....."
Rukmini went towards her dressing table and brought a golden box from there .When she opened it ,I was surprised .It was a painting made on a sheet which was fully handcrafted .
It was my beloved lord's portrait ,painted by Vaidarbhi herself .
Subhadra was enthralled ....
"Sister ! How did you paint him so exactly ? His features all are same ! How did you know about his appearance ,when you never saw him in your young age !?"
"Subhadra ,I had never witnessed Sri Krishna's divine beauty in my youth ,but the way how Narada Muni had described him .....Lotus petal like eyes ,Compassionate face ,his blue complexion representing the oceans and skies , his aura and radiance so powerful as if thousand of suns had entered into him ,he who is supreme among all yogis ,he who has conquered Maya and all material bondages ,he who controls everything ,he who himself is Lord Narayana ....After hearing this description I painted him ."
(Credits to creator ð)
"I would spend time sitting with this portrait of my beloved lord .My mind refused to think about anything else ,except him .I became so attached to him ,that I surrendered to him completely .But ....."
Rukmini stopped .
"But what sister ?" Asked Subhadra curiously
"But one day ,my brother Rukmi fixed my marriage with that evil king of Chedi , Shishupal ....without even asking me or my parents once .I was heartbroken .I felt that everything was over for me in my life .
Then I came up with a solution .I wrote a letter to Sri Krishna ,requesting him to save me from this .I was determined that if I had to marry ,I shall only marry Sri Krishna .Even if I had to take 100 births to attain him ,I was prepared .I dedicated my mind and my life to Dwarkadhish .
Then Rukmini continued "The day of my marriage arrived ,and I was very anxious.
Even when my maid servants were dressing me up ,I was looking at my beloved Lord's portrait .I was confident that no matter what happens ,Krishna will come and protect me .I waited for him at the temple entrance ,after praying sincerely to the Goddess .There were many Kings present there ,but I paid no attention.
I was only waiting for my Lord to come .There was no sign of him ,so I got extremely disappointed .I thought whether he had rejected my request .As I was going to climb in my own chariot ,from nowhere Sri Krishna came and whisked me into his chariot. He gave me a sidelong glance with his beautiful lotus eyes ,which comforted me a lot ."
Subhadra's face became calm and confident ,after hearing her brother's heroic deeds .
"Always have trust on Sri Krishna ,no matter what .He will surely find a solution for your dilemma ,after all you're his beloved sister ." Rukmini said while caressing Subhadra's head .
"Thank you so much Sister !" Said Subhadra happily .
After both of them left the chamber ,I went and looked at the painting .
If I had never come to Dwarka ,I couldn't have heard this beautiful story of Rukmini and Krishna ,narrated by Vaidarbhi herself .
I felt really fortunate ......