JANMAASHTAMI!

Oh Krishna!
Thou art great.

As an adult or in your childhood state.

 The naughty son,  Balaram’s brotherly fun

 Dwarka’s chosen one, with the eternal Sudarshan

The way you stand,with your body so sinuous

As if to remind us to be flexible and never fuss

 With that mellifluous flute you enchanted as Murli Manohar

 You have been worshipped as the dark faced Shyam Sundar

Why do people in this world not realise?

That being dark is not a vice

 While Yamuna was poisoned by the Kalia, killing your herdsmen

 The scene is no different today again,with toxins in the country’s den

Your message was clear even then

To worship and respect environment at Govardhan

 For nature around us should be resurrected

 Not some officious leader like Indra respected.

A friend to Sudama, provider to the penniless impoverished

We need that bounty again, as our vaults are famished

 The wonders of your flirtatious dance with the maidens of Dwarka

 But that true love for your soulmate Radhika

That one time when you married 16000 maidens

Only to restore their honour back,after Narakasura’s violation

 An epitome of a man you were

Saving Draupadi’s honour during that horrific stir

The situation is no different today

As thousands of them are disrobed and perpetrators walk away

 From Mahabharata we need that strategist, and that warrior

 That pragmatic leader and seer that even bravest fear
The country is again in conflict
With many forces internal and external betwixt

 Where are you dear Lord? Will you come down to earth?

 Or are atheists right? You had never really taken birth.

 In your delusion your Meera will be

Timelessly waiting for thee.

Waiting for the next Janmaashtami

This painting is the original work of artist Mukta Gupta