The Song of the Flute

In autumn, the music of Krishna's flute enchanted the gopis, cows, rivers, deer, birds and even the gods; its sound is the call of God to the soul.

Autumn arrived. The lakes of Vrindavan filled with clear water and blooming lotuses, and the forest was fragrant with flowers. In this lovely season Krishna went into the forest with the cows and his friends. He wore a crown of peacock feathers, karnikara flowers on his ears, golden-yellow silk on his body and the Vaijayanti garland around his neck. He placed the flute to his lips and played a melody so sweet that all of Vraja was immersed in it.

Sitting in their homes, the gopis heard that music and began describing its glory to one another. One said that the highest reward for the eyes is to see the dark and beautiful Krishna as he herds the cows. Another wondered what austerity this flute of bamboo must have performed, for it drinks the nectar of the Lord's lips.

The gopis saw that the flute's power reached the whole of creation. The rivers, hearing it, showed their love by forming whirlpools in their waves and offering lotus flowers. The deer of the forest, with their families, gazed at him with loving eyes. The cows raised their ears and drank in the nectar of the sound, tears of love flowing from their eyes, while the calves stood still with milk in their mouths, neither swallowing nor letting go. The birds sat on the branches with eyes closed, like silent sages in meditation. Even the goddesses travelling in their celestial chariots were enchanted. The clouds moved overhead like an umbrella to shade the Lord, and Govardhan Hill served him with its grass, water and caves. Moving creatures stood still, and the trees, thrilled, poured forth honey.

Saints explain that the flute is the Lord's call to every soul, inviting it back home to its original love. The flute itself is hollow, and that is why the Lord's music can flow through it. When a devotee becomes empty of ego, the Lord's music begins to flow through his life too.

Source

Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, ch. 21

Place

Forests of Vrindavan

Lesson

The flute is God's call to the soul; the one who becomes empty of ego lets the Lord's music flow through.