Govardhan Daaku ki Katha
About this film
The tale of a bandit named Govardhan, with whom the Lord performed a deeply divine and enchanting play.
The Story
In Vrindavan, the sacred land of Krishna’s childhood pastimes, a feared bandit named Govardhan makes a living by robbing people, blinded by greed. One day, the king’s soldiers chase him, and to save himself he rushes into a satsang hall, suspicious that the gathering might be a trap but forced to hide there. As he listens, he hears the speaker say that in Vrindavan that very day, Mother Yashoda has sent little Banke Bihari (Krishna) to graze cows wearing a golden waist-belt. Instantly excited by the prospect of gold, Govardhan storms onto the stage, threatens the storyteller and demands the boy’s name and address. Unafraid, the pandit calmly writes on a slip of paper: “Region: Mathura; Place: Vrindavan; Father’s name: Nand Baba; Son’s name: Kanhaiya; Occupation: cowherd,” and then, knowing Krishna loves butter, insists that Govardhan take a pot of butter as an offering for the boy. Thinking it easier to bribe a child than to hurt him, the bandit grabs the butter and goes searching through the village, asking everyone for Nand Baba’s son who wears a golden karadhani. Villagers say that Kanhaiya no longer resides there, but Govardhan refuses to believe that a saint’s words could be false. Just then, a sweet flute sound comes from the south and someone shouts that Kanhaiya’s cows are running away. Govardhan turns and sees a beautiful, delicate boy in yellow garments, playing the flute exactly as described. He runs up, boasts of being the notorious Govardhan dacoit, and threatens to stab the boy if he doesn’t hand over the gold. Smiling, the child replies that if Govardhan is a dacoit, He Himself is “Govardhan-dhari,” the lifter of Govardhan Hill, and challenges the bandit to try to frighten Him. Govardhan angrily pushes the butter forward, telling Him to eat quickly and remove the golden belt. Krishna playfully insists on first tasting the butter and then coaxing Govardhan to also take a bite. The moment the bandit tastes the remnants, his entire perception changes: before him appears the divine form of Lord Vishnu, a vision even the gods rarely behold. Overwhelmed, Govardhan stands with folded hands, tears streaming down his face, staring in love and awe. He realizes that he came to become rich through theft but instead has met the Supreme Lord Himself, and he says with a melted heart that he set out to gain wealth by stealing, yet God personally appeared before him.
