Radha’s Prem -Sivanand 6

Radha’s Prem -Swami Sivananda

Act 1

Scene 1

1. Secret of Rasa Leela

[Place:—Ashram of Swami Jnana Dev. Time—8 o’clock in the evening] (Enter Prem Das and his Party of Sankirtanists) (All Sing in Chorus) Narayanam Bhaje, Narayanam Bhaje, Narayanam Bhaje, Narayanam. Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram; Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram; Ram Ram Ram Rama Krishna Hari, Rama Krishna Hari Krishna Hari Ram Ram Ram Radha Krishna Hari, Radha Krishna Hari, Radha Krishna Hari, Shyam Shyam Shyam. [Sri Jnana Dev gives an absorbing discourse on Skandha X of the Bhagavata describing the sublime Rasa Leela. At the end of the lecture, after the others have left the Ashram, Prem Das approaches Jnana Dev, prostrates before him] Prem Das: May I crave the indulgence of Your Holiness to clear a doubt which afflicts my mind, Swamiji Maharaj? Jnana Dev: Yes, my child. I am always at the service of sincere aspirants. Go ahead. You need not stand on any formality with me. Prem Das: Swamiji, the people nowadays make contemptuous references to Lord Krishna’s Rasa Leela. Though I feel that there must be a sublime truth behind His Leela, I am not able to offer satisfactory explanation to those vile critics, whom I have to face very often during the course of my Sankirtan tours. I shall be eternally grateful to you if you will kindly throw some light on this Mystery. Jnana Dev: What exactly is your difficulty? Prem Das: According to the Code of Dharma, it is adultery to remain in the company of wives of other persons, to entice them and to sport and dance with them secretly. Is Lord Krishna to be condemned for His conduct in this respect during Rasa Leela?