Lover's Life - Lord Buddha's Consort Yasodhara (Gopaa)

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste.

 

The Story of Princess Yasodhara

 

When the Buddha had taken his evening meal that day, all who knew him

as Prince Siddhartha, except Princess Yasodhara, came to talk to him.

All of them were surprised but happy to see their prince dressed like

a monk.

 

Yasodhara stayed in her room thinking, "Prince Siddhartha is now the

Enlightened One—the Buddha. He now belongs to the line of

Buddhas. Is

it right for me to go to him? He does not and cannot need me. I think

it is better to wait and see."

 

After a while the Buddha asked, " Where is Yasodhara?"

 

"She is in her room," said his father."I shall go there," said the

Buddha and, giving his bowl to the king, he went to her room. As he

entered he said to the king, "Let her pay me respect as she likes.

Say nothing."

 

http://www.goldenlandpages.com/hotspots/buddhism/25.jpg

 

As soon as the Buddha entered the room, even before he took his seat,

Yasodhara rushed to him. She fell to the floor, held his ankles,

placed her head at his feet and cried and cried until his toes were

wet with her tears. The Buddha kept quiet and nobody stopped her

until she was tired of crying. King Suddhodana then said, "Lord, when

my daughter-in-law heard that you were wearing yellow robes she also

robed herself in yellow. When she heard you were taking one meal a

day she did the same. When she heard that you had given up lofty

couches, she lay on a low couch and when she heard that you had given

up garland and scents she too gave them up. So virtuous is my

daughter-in-law."

 

The Buddha nodded and said, "Not only in this last birth, O king, but

in a previous birth too, Yasodhara was devoted and faithful to me."

 

from: http://www.buddhanet.net/

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

Lord Buddha's Consort Yasodhara reminds me so much

of Vishnu Priya devi, Gauranga Mahaprabhu's Divine Consort.

 

Both Lords walked out on Their young wives to embrace monkhood for

the spiritual welfare of the humanity.

 

Their Consorts had to endure the pangs of Divine separation during

Their entire life.

The 'National Poet' Sri Maithili Sharan Gupta of India wrote sublime

Hindi poetry on both Divine Consorts, Yasodhara and Vishnupriya.

I did have the opportunity to read only the former. It is truly a

blissful experience of Divine Love.

 

I recommend those books to all Hindi knowing devotees.

 

Here is a post from another board:

 

- Dear Friend: This is a piece from Maithili Sharan Gupta entitled

'Yasodhara'. Hope the readers will enjoy the same. - J. K. Mohana

Rao.

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" O heart, the time of your testing is come!

I entreat you not

to let my resolution fail.

As long as He was not here

It was easy to deny myself.

Where there is no hope there is no temptation.

Hear; drums are beating His welcome!

O heart, the time of your testing is come!

 

"Great is the Treasure now two feet away,

The Treasure on whom life depends. But how

Can I find the way to Him?

I am, and darkness is.

O heart, the time of your testing is come!

 

"What can two steps more to be to one

Who has travelled so very far?

Can it be so hard for Him as it is for me?

He turned His back on me.

O heart, the time of your testing is come!

 

"Those who are with Him know their good fortune.

The sight of Him and His touch gives them the salvation.

For my salvation He must come to me. As His servant

I shall stay here."

 

Note: Yasodhara is the wife of Prince Siddhartha. He left her

and their son Rahul one night for finding the true meaning of

Life and after a few years of penance obtained enlightenment

under the bodhi tree and became Gautama Buddha. If the

translation is so enchanting, how good the Hindi original of the

poet must be! May be, someone will post it on the net soon.

 

Om Saantih! Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

 

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from: http://www.bhaavana.net/telusa/