Kutila’s Misunderstanding
One day, Kutila, the sister of Abhimanyu, was walking through a forest near Yavat when she saw Radha and Krishna sitting together in a small grove (kunj), laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Filled with suspicion and eager to expose what she believed to be improper behavior, Kutila rushed back to the Yavat palace. Finding her brother Abhimanyu, she exclaimed, “You foolish Abhimanyu, you never believe me when I tell you about your wife’s antics with this rascal Krishna! Go to the forest now and see for yourself what’s going on with your own two eyes. Radha and Krishna are sitting together in a kunj, happily enjoying each other’s association.”
Krishna’s Divine Trick
Abhimanyu, knowing his sister to be somewhat eccentric and often crooked, as her name implies, decided to go to the forest to see for himself if what she was saying was true. As he approached the kunj that Kutila had pointed out, Radharani saw him coming and became concerned. She said to Krishna, “Krishna, Abhimanyu is coming! What should we do now?” Krishna, ever resourceful, calmly replied, “Just bow down.”
Sri Radha, following Krishna’s instruction, bowed down. When Abhimanyu arrived at the kunj, expecting to catch his wife in a compromising situation, he was instead greeted by the sight of a beautiful statue of the goddess Kali, complete with a sword and her tongue sticking out. Radharani was there, very chastely worshipping the goddess Kali for the welfare of her husband.
Krishna as Kali
In reality, Krishna had manifested Himself as the statue of Kali. Abhimanyu, seeing this scene, thought to himself, “My sister is so stupid, and she thinks I am also stupid. Just see how my wife is nicely worshipping Mother Kali.” Satisfied, he returned home, thinking Kutila had been mistaken.
This is one of the wonderful pastimes where Krishna manifests in a unique form to protect His beloved Radharani and preserve the sanctity of their love.
This story is a beautiful illustration of how Krishna, in His infinite love and protection, can take any form necessary to safeguard the dignity and sanctity of His beloved devotees.
