The Parijata Tree - When Krishna Stole from Heaven

Dadi: "Guddu, tonight I'll tell you about the time Krishna stole a tree from heaven - all because of a flower!"

Guddu: "Krishna stole from heaven? That sounds like trouble!"

Dadi: "*chuckling* It all started with a mischievous sage named Narada, who loved stirring things up. He visited Krishna's palace carrying a parijata flower - a magical blossom that only grows in Indra's heavenly garden."

Guddu: "A flower from heaven! It must have been beautiful!"

Dadi: "Beyond compare, beta. Its fragrance could fill entire palaces. Narada presented it to Krishna, then said loudly for everyone to hear: "Of course, you'll have to choose which queen gets it. Rukmini? Or Satyabhama? Such a difficult choice!""

Guddu: "Oh no... he was making trouble!"

Dadi: "Krishna gave the flower to Rukmini, his gentle first queen. When Satyabhama heard this, she was furious! She was a proud warrior princess, and she felt humiliated."

Guddu: "Because she didn't get the flower?"

Dadi: ""Everyone will think I don't matter to you!" she cried to Krishna. "Rukmini got the only parijata flower in existence, and I got nothing!""

Guddu: "What did Krishna do?"

Dadi: "He smiled and said, "You're right. One flower isn't enough. I'll bring you the entire tree.""

Guddu: "*gasping* The whole tree? From heaven?"

Dadi: "He mounted Garuda, his giant eagle, and Satyabhama climbed on behind him. They flew up through the clouds, past the stars, into Indra's celestial garden. And there it was - the magnificent parijata tree, glowing with inner light."

Guddu: "Did Krishna just... take it?"

Dadi: "He pulled it right out of the ground! Just like that - a tree that had been growing for millions of years!"

Guddu: "Indra must have been so angry!"

Dadi: "Furious! He appeared with his divine army. "That tree is MINE!" he roared. "I am the king of heaven! I defeated demons! You cannot just take it!""

Guddu: "What did Krishna say?"

Dadi: ""I just did." Very calm, very simple. Indra threw his famous thunderbolt at Krishna - the weapon that had slain countless demons. And Krishna... caught it. Like catching a ball."

Guddu: "*eyes wide* He caught a thunderbolt?"

Dadi: "*smiling* Then he reminded Indra about Govardhan mountain - when Indra sent storms and Krishna held up an entire mountain with one finger. "Should we do that again?" he asked."

Guddu: "Indra must have felt so embarrassed!"

Dadi: "He surrendered completely. "Take the tree. Take whatever you want. I keep forgetting who I'm dealing with." And Krishna flew home with the tree for Satyabhama."

Guddu: "Was Rukmini jealous now? She only got one flower, but Satyabhama got the whole tree!"

Dadi: "*smiling* Someone asked Rukmini that exact question. She laughed and said, "Jealous of a tree? I have Krishna's heart. Satyabhama has his grand gestures. We each have what we need.""

Guddu: "That's actually very wise."

Dadi: "Both queens were right in their own way, beta. Rukmini was content with quiet love. Satyabhama needed dramatic proof. And Krishna gave each exactly what they needed."

Guddu: "Krishna stole from heaven just to make his wife happy?"

Dadi: "He humbled the king of gods for a human woman's tears. That's how much love mattered to him. But there's another lesson too - Indra had power, but Krishna had love. And love always wins."

Guddu: "Dadi, what happened to the tree?"

Dadi: "It bloomed in Satyabhama's garden for many years, filling Dwaraka with celestial fragrance. When the city eventually sank into the sea, the tree returned to heaven. But the story remained - of a husband who would move heaven for his wife, and a God who proved that no treasure is too great when given for love."

Guddu: "I want to love people like that when I grow up."

Dadi: "Then remember - it's not about the size of the gift, but the size of the love behind it. Sometimes a single flower given with true love is more precious than a tree. And sometimes, moving mountains is exactly what's needed. The wisdom is knowing which is which."

Guddu: "Goodnight, Dadi. I'll dream about flying on Garuda!"

Dadi: "Sweet dreams, mera bachcha. May you always have the courage to give greatly and the wisdom to love wisely."