Saturday, April 18, 2015

P for Platonic love



Platonic love, the purest form of a relationship between a man and woman, a relationship that goes beyond physical intimacy and yet the closeness to each other cannot be ignored. A relationship, that rests at the cusp of the physical and the spiritual.

This is one such tale of a tender love between two individuals, a love that is beyond the ordinary.

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The gardens of Panchal were in full bloom. Maybe it had something to do with the visit of Krishna.

“Maadhav, do you work your magic on the flowers too?” teased Draupadi, as they sat together on the swing, enjoying the cool breeze blowing through their hair.

“Krishnaa…” he said laughing, but she cut him off.

“Why do you call me Krishnaa? Am I as dark as you?” she asked, pouting like a little child.

Krishnaa; because you have such fiery eyes,” he teased back, “Krishnaa; because you are beautiful, Krishnaa; because your attraction cannot be resisted.”

“Like you?”

“Like me.”

As they sat swinging, she gazed into Krishna’s beautiful eyes. Was it love that she saw on his face? If it was, then it was so different than any other kind of love she had ever known.

 “Maadhav, why do I feel this intense love for you?” she asked. She could ask him anything, knowing he would always tell her the truth. “The love I feel for you reaches past my body. It makes my heart tremble; it penetrates parts of me that I never even knew existed.”

Krishna smiled and held her hands. “You are the Aatma, Krishnaa, and I, the Paramatma. You are the soul which is eternally in search of the divine. The love that the Aatma feels for the Paramatma is natural, Sakhi. It cannot be described, it can only be felt. It is beyond the body, it is beyond understanding, it is cosmic and yet it is concentrated in the self."

"Beyond understanding, Maadhav?" she asked, not quite sure of what he meant.


"Sakhi, the love I have for you is not the same as I have for maiyya Yashoda; and yet, we nurture each other, we love to trouble and tease, and yearn to be protected by the other. The love we share is not the same that I have for Rukhmini, she is my wife; and yet, I share my most intimate secrets with you, like you share yours with me. It is not the love I have for Subhadra; it is above that, I wouldn't rush to hold, and yet I wouldn't let you fall. The feelings are not that of a lover, and yet we pine to be together. The feelings are beyond lust, but when we touch, the feeling is magical and yet so pure. It is different than the love for a child, and yet we can be children when with each other. If you cry, it brings tears to my eyes, and when I am in pain, you feel the hurt. We are connected and yet separate. You are an extension of me, and yet you are not me. And that is why Sakhi, it is beyond understanding."


She smiled at the thought. Friendship was such a complex feeling. It was truly beyond anyone's understanding, except the two people bound by it. 

 “Will you always hold my hand, Maadhav?” she asked innocently, resting her head on his lap. There was an amazing comfort when she leaned on him; it felt like all her troubles had suddenly eased away.

“You are not an ordinary woman, Krishnaa; you are Yagnyaseni, born out of the holy fire,” he said gently stroking her head, “You are stronger and courageous than any man. You are an embodiment of virtue, chastity, and intelligence. But whenever you think about me, whenever you need me, I will be there,” he said, “Amn’t I your Sakha?”

 She knew that he would always be there; she just had to call out to him. She knew that she was the only one who enjoyed that unique relationship with him.

And then he untied his flute from his waist and raised it to his lips. As the notes of his flute wafted into the winds, Draupadi closed her eyes, losing herself in the celestial song and the whole world seemed like it had come to a standstill.  

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A love so endearing, that it melts your heart. A friend so sincere, that he is there when she needs him. A mentor so great, that he not only guides her but also holds a mirror to her strengths.

Do you share such a lovely and deep relationship with anyone?




This day...last year....P for Positive Thinking

31 comments:

  1. It is indeed the purest form of love. Good choice for Platonic Love.
    *Shantala @ ShanayaTales*

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  2. Mind boggling explanation!!! I am compelled to read this post several times. The way you have explained the platonic love is in such a matured way and simplistic way. It is so true that few relations cannot be simply explained. It is above the male-female relations, complicated, but so serene.

    Loved reading this one!

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    1. Thank u Aj for the generous words of appreciation!

      A complicated relationship it is! And so difficult to explain the nature of the relationship to a third person

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  3. Such an amazing narration! Loved the way you have described their relationship Title :) Kudos to you :)

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    1. Thanks Swati! I am glad I could do justice to the delicate relationship!

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  4. Wow I never knew this side of their relationship. I always wondered how Krishna came to rescue her during the vastrabharana! Now I know!

    Thanks Titli, you are making me fall in love with mythology.

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    1. True... such was the nature of the friendship that he came when she called out to him...

      Mythology if not taken in the actual sense of the word is quite beautiful!

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  5. Beautiful narration of the platonic love shared between Krishna and Draupadi. Loved the way you explained in Krishna's words the love that he shared with Draupadi.

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  6. That was a great tale, it warmed my heart! :-) What a rare a precious gift to have such friendship.
    My link: http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/blogging-from-a-to-z-challenge-letter-p-perfect-partner

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  7. Great article.. would be lucky to have such a beautiful,wonderful friend...Sakha

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  8. Krishna..not just a body, mind and soul. It is an ideology enshrined in great human values of Dharma. At all times, it is not possible for any emancipated individual not to fall in love with Krishna and possess him. Rather that is the mark of emancipation. The ultimate bliss is integrating life with the Krishna inside.

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  9. Replies
    1. Agree completely! Such a beautiful narrative. Priceless.

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  10. Titli, it's powerful love beyond intimacy bringing together two souls. It's beyond the body and such love is pure and make souls grow;)

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  11. This description of platonic love is the most beautiful I've ever read. You have a gift.

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  12. This is such powerful story telling! Krishna and Draupadi share a love that is purely platonic, yet so intense! I love the way you have put all those emotions into words! Sheer brilliance, little princess!

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  13. Wow! That was beautiful. The narration, the choice of words..wonderfully penned Titli.
    Platonic love is beyond understanding..

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  14. That was so beautifully explained. This one needs to be read and re-read.

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  15. "I wouldn't rush to hold, and yet I wouldn't let you fall."
    Beautifully written! :) And a beautiful kind of pure love... People often underestimate friendship as something less than love. I don't think it is.

    @TarkabarkaHolgy from
    Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
    MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary

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  16. wow how beautifully you have described the different flavours of love. It's an absolute delight to read it.

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  17. Love comes in all forms. Your post illustrates it perfectly :-)

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  18. Love story always makes me happy .. in what ever form it is :D

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  19. They shared such a beautiful and a heart-warming relationship! Loved this story, S :)

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  20. To connect with someone this way is such a gift... Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

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  21. Princess! This was beautifully written! That entire paragraph where he explains why it is beyond understanding! That was just brilliant!
    I agree with Ajay. This post is worth reading again and again!
    Have you written any other posts on Mahabharat here? Besides this A to Z, I mean.

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  22. So beautiful. Draupadi and Krishna truly shared a special bond and when Kanha plays his flute it is pure bliss.

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  23. Beautiful writing... I'm still making my way around the A-Z blogs... I chose a random post of yours... NOW I have to read 25 more! :)

    --Mee (The Chinese Quest)

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At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person..deep gratitude for those who have lighted the flame within me!! your comments will be appreciated..

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