Mirabai Leaves Palace for Krishna

Dadi**: "Guddu, sometimes the bravest thing is walking away from everything you know."

Guddu**: "Like running away?"

Dadi**: "Not running away - walking toward. Mirabai left her palace to walk toward Krishna. Let me tell you what happened."

Guddu**: "She left by choice?"

Dadi**: "After years of persecution. Her in-laws never accepted her devotion to Krishna instead of their family deity. Her mother-in-law disapproved. Her sister-in-law even falsely accused her of meeting another man at night!"

Guddu**: "But she was just praying to Krishna!"

Dadi**: "Yes! But they wouldn't understand. They sent poison, snakes, beds of nails - all failed. Finally, they ordered her to drown herself in a river as punishment."

Guddu**: "That's terrible!"

Dadi**: "Mira, being obedient, went to the river and prepared to enter. But according to legend, as she raised her feet to step in, a hand from behind grasped her!"

Guddu**: "Who grabbed her?"

Dadi**: "She turned and beheld Krishna himself! He commanded her: 'Your household life is complete. Go to Vrindavan.' It was divine permission to leave everything behind."

Guddu**: "Krishna told her to go!"

Dadi**: "Mira walked barefoot across the hot sandy deserts of Rajasthan, leaving behind palace comforts, royal status, everything. She became a wandering singer among the poor."

Guddu**: "A princess became a beggar?"

Dadi**: "In worldly terms, yes. In spiritual terms, she became the richest woman in India. She had nothing but her veena, her voice, and her love for Krishna."

Guddu**: "Where did she go?"

Dadi**: "First to Vrindavan, where she spent years reviving the memory of Krishna's childhood pastimes. She sang in temples, composed songs, inspired others with her devotion."

Guddu**: "Did she stay there?"

Dadi**: "Eventually she traveled to Dwarka in Gujarat - where Krishna had ruled as king. This was to be her final home."

Guddu**: "What happened in Dwarka?"

Dadi**: "Meanwhile, back in Chittorgarh, problems arose. The rulers believed their troubles were divine punishment for how they had treated Mira. They sent a group of Brahmins to bring her back."

Guddu**: "Did she go back?"

Dadi**: "She refused. She said she wasn't sure if they would let her worship her Krishna in peace. She had found peace in Dwarka and didn't want to return to uncertainty."

Guddu**: "What did the Brahmins do?"

Dadi**: "They went on a hunger strike to change her mind! Mira was distressed - she didn't want them to die. This is where her earthly story approaches its mystical end."

Guddu**: "Dadi, she was stuck between going back and staying."

Dadi**: "And that's when something extraordinary happened - but that's a story for another night. What's important is this: Mira chose freedom over comfort, devotion over status, Krishna over everything."

Guddu**: "She gave up so much."

Dadi**: "And gained everything that matters. Her songs? Sung for five hundred years. Her example? Inspiring millions. Her palace? Long forgotten. But her love? Eternal."

Guddu**: "Sometimes leaving is arriving."

Dadi**: "Beautiful thought, beta! Mira left the palace and arrived at Krishna's feet. She left royal titles and arrived at immortality. Sleep now, and may you always know what to leave and what to walk toward."