84 Vaishnav Story 84 Krishnadasji

Long ago, in the little town of Chilotara in Gujarat, a boy named Krishnadas was born into a family of caretakers. His father, the leader of the town, invited wise Brahmins from nearby villages to bless his newborn and tell him about his future. The Brahmins, however, gave a surprising prediction. They said, “Your son will grow into a great devotee of Shri Krishna and will leave home to live for Him. You should name him Krishnadas.”

Hearing this, Krishnadas’s father felt sad. He had hoped his son would stay at home and carry on the family name. But little Krishnadas was no ordinary child. From the tender age of five, he loved hearing stories about Shri Krishna’s pastimes. When his parents wouldn’t share these tales, he would cry and refuse to eat or drink until they did. His heart belonged to Shri Krishna even as a child.

As Krishnadas grew older, his longing for Shri Krishna became stronger. One day, he left home to go on a holy pilgrimage. He traveled far and wide and finally reached Mathura. There, after bathing in the sacred Yamuna River, he heard that a temple for Shri Nathji was being built near Govardhan Hill. Excited to see Shri Nathji, Krishnadas rushed there.

At the temple, he saw Shri Mahaprabhuji waving lights before Shri Nathji in a beautiful ceremony. Krishnadas felt his heart melt. It was as if Shri Nathji had called him home. Shri Mahaprabhuji looked at him with kind eyes and said softly, “After such a long time, my Krishnadas has come back to me.” Krishnadas fell at Shri Mahaprabhuji’s feet and asked for initiation. Shri Mahaprabhuji lovingly granted his wish, and from that moment, Krishnadas began experiencing Shri Krishna’s divine pastimes in his heart.

On another journey, Krishnadas visited the home of Mirabai, a famous saint. She asked him to stay, but he gently replied, “I only stay where Shri Mahaprabhuji’s disciples live.” When Mirabai offered gold coins for Shri Nathji’s temple, Krishnadas refused. “I cannot accept offerings from someone who is not Shri Mahaprabhuji’s follower,” he explained. Seeing this, the people around were amazed. They whispered, “If even Shri Mahaprabhuji’s disciple is so pure-hearted, how great must his guru be?”

Later, Shri Gusainji, Shri Mahaprabhuji’s son, placed Krishnadas in charge of the temple’s daily services. With love and care, Krishnadas oversaw all arrangements. He traveled with a group of 25 men, chariots, and wagons, and people everywhere knew his name.

Once, Krishnadas expressed his wish to visit Vrindavan. Shri Gusainji warned him, “You may face trouble there.” But Krishnadas went anyway. As soon as he arrived, he fell ill with a high fever. He asked for water from a follower of Shri Mahaprabhuji, but the only one nearby was a humble sweeper from Gokul. The sweeper went to the Yamuna to fetch water and met Shri Gusainji on the way. Hearing of Krishnadas’s suffering, Shri Gusainji rushed to Vrindavan and gave Krishnadas some of his own water. Feeling better, Krishnadas admitted, “I should have listened to your advice.” Together, they returned to Govardhan.

One afternoon, a devotee gave Krishnadas 300 rupees to build a well near Govardhan Hill. Krishnadas used 200 rupees to dig the well and planned to use the remaining 100 to line its sides with cement. But when he went to inspect the well, leaning in with his cane, he slipped and fell in. Helpers rushed down with ropes but could not find him.

When news of this reached Shri Gusainji, he calmly said, “Krishnadas’s service and poems about Shri Krishna’s rasa lila are unmatched. Shri Nathji is forever pleased with him. There will never be another like Krishnadas.”

To this day, the story of Krishnadas inspires Vaishnavas everywhere to live with devotion, humility, and love for Shri Krishna.

Poem: Krishnadas the Pure Heart

Krishnadas heard the Lord’s sweet name,

From childhood on, it lit his flame.

He left his home to serve and pray,

And found Shri Nathji on his way.

He stood so firm, his heart so true,

Refused gold coins, though offered too.

He cared for seva, with love so wide,

With Shri Mahaprabhuji as his guide.

He fell one day in a well so deep,

But Shri Nathji’s grace made all hearts weep.

The tale of Krishnadas, shining bright,

Teaches us to walk in dharma’s light.

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