Instagram: The Disguise of the Henna Painter: A Divine Pastime of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa
One time, Kṛṣṇa was sitting under a tall kadamba tree when Lalitā-sakhī approached Him with a beautiful flower stick. She had a flower stick and cotton balls soaked with fragrant essential oils used by Śrī Rādhā as a gift for Kṛṣṇa.
Lalitā said,
“Oh Mohn, look what I got for you. The fortune of your life itself has approached you today.”
Kṛṣṇa asked,
“What is that, my dear Lalitā?”
Lalitā replied,
“More than you could expect. The sweet nectar of pink roses collected by queen bees and poured into a diamond pot, infused by the spring season and placed in the palms of goddesses, applied on soft cotton buds, and offered to the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhā. Such rare rose perfume was smeared on the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhā and is now in my hands on these cotton balls, which I'm giving you as the dearest fortune of your life.”
Placing those perfumed cotton buds around His ears, Kṛṣṇa smelled the aroma of Rādhā’s lotus feet. And what did He do? He joined His palms in respect and said,
“Oh Lalitā, I must have performed great yajñas, for you have appeared as a blessing for my eyes today.”
Lalitā replied,
“Indeed, you should always praise the sakhīs of Śrī Rādhā because we are the queens of all the forms of art.”
Kṛṣṇa said,
“Really?”
Lalitā asked,
“Do you have any doubts about it, Kṛṣṇa?”
Kṛṣṇa responded,
“I certainly do not agree with that statement.”
Lalitā asked,
“Why is that, Kṛṣṇa?”
Kṛṣṇa replied,
“Because whenever I disguise Myself, you sakhīs can never recognize Me.”
Lalitā said,
“That's because of your clever and cunning ways. But this time, our queen Śrī Rādhā will disguise Herself, and if you can find Her, Kṛṣṇa, then you win. However, if you will not recognize Her disguise, then we sakhīs will be known as the goddesses of all forms of art — because disguising also in Vraja is a form of art.”
As Kṛṣṇa nodded His head in agreement, Lalitā left for Śrī Rādhā’s palace. The rest here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aORKnlAUwro
