A Thief To Vrindavan

Characters and cast :

Props:

Lord Balkrishna
Thief
Sadhu
Narrator

Krishna - with heavy jewellery, flute and peacock feather

Thief - Knife, blanket, a head scarf
Sadhu - dhoti kurta with a copy of Srimad Bhagvatam

Narrator:
Once upon a time, there lived a thief whose only aim in life was to loot and steal.
Once a Sadhu came to his village to recite the Srimad Bhagvatam to the villagers..
He was describing how Krishna was decorated gaily in all kinds of stunning jewels by
his mother. While the Sadhu was giving this vivid description, it so happened that the
thief was walking by. His ears perked up on the mention of jewels and he became
more interested. Now he wanted to know more.
Sadhu:
Lord Shiva describes His appearance as mentioned in Rudra Gita in the Fourth
Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam :
(Can pepper with some Brahma Samhita Verses if you wish, e.g. AlOla Chandra,
etc.):

prti-prahasitpgam
alakai rpa-obhitam

lasat-pakaja-kijalkadukla ma-kualam
sphurat-kira-valayahra-npura-mekhalam
akha-cakra-gad-padmaml-may-uttamarddhimat
The Lord is super-excellently beautiful on account of His open and merciful smile
and His sidelong glance upon His devotees. His black hair is curly, and His garments,
waving in the wind, appear like flying saffron pollen from lotus flowers. His glittering
earrings, shining helmet, bangles, garland, ankle bells, waist belt and various other
bodily ornaments combine with conchshell, disc, club and lotus flower to increase the
natural beauty of the Kaustubha pearl on His chest.

siha-skandha-tvio bibhrat
saubhaga-grva-kaustubham

riynapyiny kiptanikamorasollasat
Lord Krishna has shoulders just like a lion's. Upon these shoulders are garlands,
necklaces and epaulets, and all of these are always glittering. Besides these, there is
the beauty of the Kaustubha-mani pearl, and on the dark chest of the Lord there are
streaks named Srivatsa, which are signs of the goddess of fortune. The glittering of
these streaks excels the beauty of the golden streaks on a gold-testing stone.
Indeed, such beauty defeats a gold-testing stone.
Thief: (listening very attentively from behind a curtain) Hmm...I must find out from
this Sadhu where this Krishna lives.(then rubs his hands)...I will catch Krishna and
steal all his jewels...then I can become a millionaire in just one night...I will not need
to steal anymore and I can spend the rest of my life in peace and opulence.
(As the Sadhu gets up to leave...the thief follows him)
Maharaj...Maharaj...please wait...pray tell me who is it that you were speaking about
just now.. where does He live...I must meet Him(begs to him with folded hands)..I
must meet Him!
Sadhu: He is everywhere, Vats. Everywhere.
Thief: Everywhere?? Where?? I dont see Him. You are kidding me. Tell me the
Truth.(thief points a knife to him)...or else
Sadhu:(a bit scared) Oh ok. He lives in Vrindavan..you can find Him there in the
forest grazing cows and playing with His friends. Now leave me, will you?
Thief: Ok..I will not waste a moment here with you. I must meet Him. I must meet
Krishna.(feeling ecstatic on getting Krishnas address)
(Thief and Sadhu exit in opposite directions..Thief is jumping about jubilantly and
Sadhu exits quietly.)
Narration: Soon the thief reaches the beautiful forest of Vrindavan. The thief had
eyes only for Krishna. He was longing to meet only Krishna. Although not out of Love
or devotion, but for getting His jewellery.
Thief: Krishna! O Krishna! Where are you? Come to me. I have come from far only to
meet You. Where are you, Krishna?

Narration: After a while, Krishna appeared in all his opulence, bedecked with flowers,
beautiful clothes and jewellery. The thief was stunned. Then all of a sudden he
remembered his mission. He goes near Krishna.
Thief: Are you Krishna?
Krishna: Yes.
Thief (trying to lure him with sweet talks): Oh you are such a beautiful child! Come to
me. Let me hug you. Do you know I have come from far only to steal I mean
um...to meet you.
Wow! What a beautiful necklace you have.who gave it to you? Your mother I am
sure. Let me see it.
Krishna: No no..you cannot ...my mother will scold me!
Thief: Oh, dont worry...your mother will bring you a new one. (he pockets the gold
necklace).
Krishna: Ok, you can take it but my mother will punish you.(says childishly)
Thief: Oh, and what beautiful earrings! Let me take a look.
Krishna: No no...my mother will beat me.
Thief: Oh, dont worry, she will not even notice! (and pockets Krishnas earrings)
Narration: And so one by one, the thief kept looting Krishna. Though Krishna knew,
He did not oppose the thief at all. And slowly by Krishna's association the thief
became purified. Then when he bent down to take His anklets, he just could not take
them out and he decides to use his teeth, in the process His head touches the lotus
feet of the Lord and He is completely purified. (...)
Thief: O Lord! What a great fool I am! I was searching for pieces of glass when the
jewel of the universe is in front of me. Please pardon me my Lord. I have realized my
mistake. Now let me spend my remaining life glorifying You! This is my only desire!
Krishna: Be blessed my son. I knew your intention all the while but because you
were so eager to see Me I appeared in front of you. Now go on serving and glorifying
Me and at the end of your life you will come back to Me.
So here we see that Krishna is only looking for how eager you are to see Him. If you
are actually eager to meet Krishna whether out of lust, greed or to steal His

ornaments, that implies that you have become attracted to Krishna. Your efforts will
surely be rewarded. And in the end you will be purified of all your material desires.
So, let us all put our hands together and pray to the Lord to develop attraction for
Him. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare
Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.