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red about it when we came out of the woods。 Yet they made no attempt to attack us； although our numbers were roughly equal。 I saw Arjuna； standing near his brothers； his mighty bow in his hands。 When he looked my way and saw me holding on to Radha； he frowned and took an arrow into his hands and rubbed it to his chest。 But he did nothing more。 He was waiting for his master。 We were all waiting。 In that moment； even though I was not yet seventy years old； I felt as if I had waited since the dawn of creation to see this person。 I who held captive his great jewel。
Krishna came out of the forest。
He was not a blue person as he was later to be depicted in paintings。 Artists were to show him that way only because blue was symbolic of the sky； which to them seemed to stretch to infinity； and which was what Krishna was supposed to be in essence； the eternal infinite Brahman； above and beyond which there was nothing greater。 He was a man such as all men I had seen； with two arms and two legs； one head above his shoulders； his skin the color of tea with milk in it； not as dark as most in India but not as light as my own。 Yet there was no one like him。 Even a glance showed me that he was special in a way I knew I would never fully prehend。 He walked out of the trees and all eyes followed him。
He was tall； almost as tall as Yaksha； which was unusual for those days when people seldom grew to over six feet。 His black hair was long…one of his many names was Keshava； master of the senses； or long…haired。 In his right hand he held a lotus flower； in his left his fabled flute。 He was powerfully built； his legs long； his every movement bewitching。 He seemed not to look at anyone directly； but only to give sidelong glances。 Yet these were enough to send a thrill through the crowd； on both sides。 He was impossible not to stare at； though I tried hard to turn away。 For I felt as if he were placing a spell over me that I would never recover from。 Yet I did manage to turn aside for an instant。 It was when I felt the touch of a hand on my brow。 It was Radha； my supposed enemy； forting me with her touch。
〃Krishna means love；〃 she said。 〃But Radha means longing。 Longing； is older than love。 I am older than he。 Did you know that； Sita？〃
I looked at her。 〃How did you know my name？〃
〃He told me。〃
〃When？〃
〃Once。〃
〃What else did he tell you about me？〃
Her face darkened。 〃You do not want to know。〃
Krishna walked to the edge of the pit and gestured for his people to withdraw to the edge of the trees。
Only Arjuna remained with him。 He nodded to Yaksha； who likewise motioned for our people to back up。 But Yaksha wanted me near the pit with my hands not far from Radha's neck。 The arrangement did not seem to bother Krishna。 He met Yaksha not far from where I stood。 Krishna did not look directly at Radha or me。 Yet he was close enough so that I could hear him speak。 His voice was mesmerizing。 It was not so much the sound of his words； but the place from which they sprang。 Their authority and power。 And； yes； love； I could hear love even as he spoke to his enemy。 There was such peace in his tone。 With all that was happening； he was not disturbed。 I had the feeling that for him it was merely a play。 That we were all just actors in a drama he was directing。 But I was not enjoying the part I had been selected for。 I did not see how Yaksha could beat Krishna。 I felt sure that this day would be our last。
Yet it was not day； but night； although the dawn was not far off。
〃I have heard that Yaksha is the master of serpents；〃 Krishna said。 〃That the sound of his flute intoxicates them。 As you may have heard； I also play the flute。 It is in my mind to challenge you to a bat of instruments。 We will fill this pit with cobras； and you will sit at one end； and I will sit at the other； and we will each play for the control of the serpents。 We will play for the life of Radha。 You may play what you wish； and if the serpents strike me dead； so be it。 You may keep Radha for your own pleasure。 But if the serpents should bite you so many times that you die； or decide to surrender； then you must swear to me now that you will take a vow that I will ask you to take。 Is this a reasonable challenge？〃
〃Yes；〃 Yaksha said。 His confidence leaped even higher； and I knew how strong Yaksha was with snakes。 For I had watched many times while he had； hypnotized snakes with the sound of his flute。 It never surprised me because sometimes yakshinis were depicted as serpents； and I thought Yaksha was a snake at heart。 In reality vampires have more in mon with snakes than bats。 A snake prefers to eat its victim alive。
I knew Yaksha could be bitten many times by a cobra and not die。
Krishna left it to our people to gather the cobras； which took time because there were none in the forests of Vrindavana itself。 But vampires can work fast if they must； and travel far； and by the following evening the pit was filled with deadly snakes。 Now the feeling in our group favored Yaksha。 Few believed a mortal could survive for any length of time in the pit。 It was then I saw that even though Krishna had impressed the vampires； they still thought of him as a man； an extraordinary man； true； but not as a divine being。 They were anxious for the contest to begin。
I stayed with Radha throughout the day。 I talked to her about Rama and Lalita。 She told me that they had both passed out of this world； but that Rama's life had been noble and my daughter's had been happy。 I did not ask how she knew these things； I simply believed her。 I cried at her words。 Radha tried to fort me。 All that are born die； she said。 All who die are reborn。 It is inevitable； Krishna had told her。 She told me many things Krishna had said。
Finally； close to dark； Yaksha and Krishna climbed into the pit。 Each carried a flute； nothing more。 The people on both sides watched； but from a distance as Krishna had wanted。 Only Radha and I stood close to the pit。 There had to be a hundred snakes in that huge hole。 They bit each other and more than a few were already being eaten。
Yaksha and Krishna sat at opposite ends of the pit； each with his back to the wall of earth。 They began to play immediately。 They had to； the snakes moved for each of them right away。 But with the sound of the music； both melodies； the snakes backed off and appeared uncertain。
Now； Yaksha could play wonderfully； although his songs were always laced with sorrow and pain。 His music was hypnotic； he could draw victims to feed on simply with his flute。 But I realized instantly that his playing； for all its power； was a mere shadow next to Krishna's music。 For Krishna played the song of life itself。 Each note on his flute was like a different center in the human body。 His breath through the notes on the flute was like the universal breath through the bodies of all people。 He would play the third note on his flute and the third center in my body； at the navel； would vibrate with different emotions。 The navel is the seat of jealousy and attachment； and of joy and generosity。 I felt these as he played。 When Krishna would blow through this hole with a heavy breath； I would feel as if everything that I had ever called mine had been stripped from me。 But when he would change his breath； let the notes go long and light； then I would smile and want to give something to those around me。 Such was his mastery。
His playing had the snakes pletely bewildered。 None would attack him。 Yet Yaksha was able to keep the snakes at bay with his music as well； although he was not able to send them after his foe。 So the contest went on for a long time without either side hurting the other。 Yet it was clear to me Krishna was in mand； as he was in control of my emotions。 He moved to the fifth note on the flute； which stirred the fifth center in my body； at the throat。 In that spot there are two emotions： sorrow and gratitude。 Both emotions bring tears； one bitter； the other sweet。 When Krishna lowered his breath； I felt like weeping。 When he sang higher I also felt choked； but with thanks。 Yet I did not know what I was thankful for。 Not the oute of the contest； surely。 I knew then that Yaksha would certainly lose； and that the result could be nothing other than our extinction。
Even as the recognition of our impending doom crossed my mind； Krishna began to play the fourth note。 This affected my heart； it affected the hearts of all gathered。 In the heart are three emotions…I felt them then： love； fear； and hatred。 I could see that an individual could only have one of the three at a time。 When you were in love you knew no fear or hatred。 When you were fearful； there was no possibility of love or hate。 And when there was hate； there was only hate。
Krishna played the fourth note softly initially； so that a feeling of warmth swept both sides。 This he did for a long time； and it seemed as if vampires and mortals alike stared across the clearing at one another and wondered why they were enemies。 Such was the power of that one note； perfectly pitched。
Yet Krishna now pushed his play toward its climax。 He lowered his breath； and the love in the gathering turned to hate。 A restlessness went through the crowd； and individuals on both sides shifted this way and that as