Krishna's Secret

by Devdutt Pattanaik

This is the world of Krishna, a world where what matters more than the deed is the thought behind the deed.

Devaki represents all the qualities one is born with. Yashoda represents all the qualities one acquires in life. Thus Krishna’s divinity, rooted in Devaki’s blood and Yashoda’s milk, acknowledges both nature and nurture. We are all a combination of what we are born with as well as what we are raised to be. Our natural disposition is known as varna while the cultural indoctrination is jati. Krishna is by varna a nobleman but by jati a cowherd. Though nobleman, he can never be king. Though cowherd, he can always lead.

Radha is said to be the wife of Yashoda’s brother and she is older than Krishna. Theirs thus is a relationship that transcends custom and law. In their pure love, unbound by expectations, unanchored by conventions, there is music. It inspires Krishna to play the flute.