Deep in the heart of India, in a small village, lived a little boy named Shyam. He lived with his parents and grandparents in a cottage in the village. He was loved by one and all. He loved to play with everyone and listen to the stories his mother and grandmother told him. His favourite story was about Krishna, the ninth of the Dashavatars, or incarnations of Lord Vishnu. He loved to hear the stories of Krishna over and over again. Amma, please tell me again how Krishna stole butter from his neighbors’ house with his friends house! He kept asking his mother all the time. As he grew, his fascination with Krishna grew, especially when he learnt that his name, ‘Shyam’ was also one of Krishna’s names.
His fascination with Krishna grew to such an extent, that soon, he started behaving like Krishna. He entered his neighbors’ houses and ate up all the butter and curds. He hid their clothes while they bathed in the river, broke the pots of water they carried back, and in general troubled them in every way he had heard Krishna used to. His mother was at her wits end. All the neighbours and villagers started complaining, and she did not know what to say to them. And her son, no matter what she said to him, he took it as a joke. As far as he was concerned, he was just behaving like Krishna, the same Krishna that everyone in the village prayed to. When Krishna had been mischievous, then too, people had complained to Yashoda, his mother, but it was all in fun. Everyone actually wanted Krishna to come to their house and trouble them playfully. Then why would they complain about him? He too was Shyam, wasn’t he? Much as his mother tried to explain, he never understood.
Finally, one day,Shyam’s mother lost her patience. She had just had a huge group of women coming home to complain once again about her son, and she had enough!! Shyam came home only to get the worst scolding he had ever received from his mother She raved and ranted about his behaviour, and then finally said, “I have had enough of you behaving like this. Just get out of my sight, and stay out till you learn how to behave!” Shyam was stunned! He had never seen his mother so angry. It was evident that he was going to get no support from the older members of the family. His grandparents simply looked on, obviously in agreement with their daughter-in-law. Too stunned to answer, Shyam just started walking towards the riverbank…his favourite place, just outside the village. He sat there, looking at his reflection in the water, reflecting on the things that had happened.
He suddenly became aware of another reflection in the water, appearing behind him. ‘No, it couldn’t be’, he thought, as he looked first at the reflection, and then turned slowly around. But yes, it was, it really was Krishna. Krishna, in person, standing behind him, looking at him, Shyam, with a smile on his lips. If Shyam had been stunned before, now he was absolutely tongue-tied! He wanted to say so many things, but he couldn’t think, let alone speak. Then Krishna himself broke the silence. Laying his hand on the small boy’s head, he said, “Did I get you into trouble?” No!!! The answer burst from Shyam’s mouth like a rocket set afire. No! It wasn’t your fault, he said. “But you tried to act like me, didn’t you?” asked Krishna, smilingly. ”Yes, and that is just what I don’t understand” said Shyam. “When people didn’t get angry with you, why do they get angry with me? I just wanted people to love me just like they loved you.”
“People do love you very much. They just don’t want to be troubled by you. See, when I was born, the people who were born along with me, all the villagers, the children, the elders, everyone was part of a divine plan. It was like a drama being enacted on a stage for the benefit of the spectators, in this case, people in general. I was born on earth to teach people the values of love and duty, and things took the course I wanted them to take. It is not the same situation with you, or for that matter anyone else. Again, if you read about my life, you can also see in how many instances and in how many ways Balarama (my brother) and I helped the people around us. That is what you must learn from my stories. Not just how mischievous I was!” Krishna answered with a twinkle in his eyes.
Shyam seemed to understand exactly what his dear Krishna was saying, for he heard him with full concentration. Then at last he said, “I think I can understand now what my mother and you want me to do. You want me to make friends and make them love me , by helping them, not getting into their houses and forcing them to play with me. Is that right, Krishna? “Yes! You have got it just right! From now on, you must only be good, and no body must ever complain about you. Can you promise me that?” asked Krishna. “I promise” replied Shyam, “but when will I see you again?” You can see me whenever you want , but just meditating on me, by closing you eyes, and concentrating on me, and then, after you grow up, take care of your parents, your family, your children, and then, when you have finished all your duties, you can come to me for ever and ever and ever….”
And as Krishna said these words, he seemed to disappear into the reflection in the water. Shyam got up with a start. Oh, Krishna had gone, but he had promised him that he would be able to see him whenever he wanted. But, he had a promise to keep too…
Shyam ran all the way home. His parents were sitting on the doorstep, waiting for their little boy, wondering where he had gone.
“Amma, I am home… I met Krishna, and he explained everything to me, and from now, I am going to be a very very good boy….”out it came, all in a rush… Shyam’s mother didn’t understand…She thought “The poor boy was hungry and tired. He must have slept off and had a dream… let me take him in and feed him…” and they all went inside…
And you know what, from that day, Shyam was a very good boy. He helped everyone, and troubled nobody. He became the ideal boy from then on, and everybody used to say, “Oh, what a nice boy that Shyam is” he was good not only at home, but at school too, he studied well, and grew up to be a very good young man. And he never forgot his friend Krishna!!!
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