Page 45 - Yearbook 2013update.pub

Sakshi Gopal drama: The kids of Synergy International and
Vedic school conducted the play remembering the pastime of Lord
Krishna as Sakshi Gopal—the deity who gave witness. Story of
Sakshi Gopal: Once there were two Brahmins (priests) from
Vidyanagara in South India, who decided to make a long tour of the
various holy places of pilgrimage in Northern India. After a long
time the two pilgrims reached Vrindavana, the sacred place of Lord
Krishna’s pastimes. They took their bath in the waters of the holy
Yamuna River and visited such holy places as Govardhana Hill, to-
gether with all twelve forests of Vrindavana, eventually arriving at a
great temple where gorgeous worship of the Gopala Deity was per-
formed. Gopala is Lord Krishna in His eternal form as a cowherd
boy. The beauty of the Gopala Deity stole away their minds, and
feeling great happiness, they remained there for two or four days.
One of these Brahmins was elderly and from a high class family,
and the other was poor and from a low class family. The young
man, out of love and respect, had rendered menial service to the
elderly man, ensuring that he felt no inconvenience from the rig-
ours of travel. The elderly Brahmin was so grateful for this reveren-
tial attitude, which he had never encountered even from his own
family members, that he announced his intention to hand over to
the young Brahmin his daughter in marriage.

The young man immediately objected. “Sir, I have rendered service
to you only for the satisfaction of Lord Krishna, for the Lord is
pleased by service rendered to the Brahmins. In any case, I am not
at all a suitable bridegroom for your daughter. You are well-
educated and very rich, whereas I am without a decent education
and have no wealth. Furthermore, your wife and sons will certainly
never agree to it.”

The elderly Brahmin insisted. “My dear boy, I will give you my
daughter, and I will neglect the position of others! Don’t doubt me
in this regard; just accept my proposal!”

The young Brahmin replied, “If you really have decided to give your
young daughter to me, then say so before the Gopala Deity.”
In those days it was the custom to honour any promise made in
front of the Deity, and, in any village, matters of dispute would al-