How Krishna grew pearls

The gopis were preparing for the Diwali festival and stringing pearls onto threads. “We are going to celebrate Diwali! We need to decorate our cows with these beautiful pearls!” said Lalita.

Smiling sweetly, Krishna asked: “Dear cowherd girls, please give Me some pearls so that I can decorate My favourite cows, Hasini and Harini.”

Krishna begged: “Please, at least a little! I am asking you very nicely!” “No, Krishna, we cannot give You our pearls!” Lalita replied.

Proudly, Lalita said that she would see which of her wonderful pearls she could donate. She rummaged through her jewellery boxes and pulled out the smallest and most crooked bead: “Here, this is the most priceless and perfect pearl, worthy to adorn Your cows!”

Indignantly, Krishna replied: “All right, all right! I will grow My own pearls, and they will surpass yours in every way!”

“You will grow Your own pearls? They’re not apples or berries — they don’t grow on bushes and trees!” The gopis rolled with laughter.

Krishna returned home and asked Mother Yashoda for pearls: “Mother, can I have some pearls? I need them for something important!” Surprised, Mother Yashoda asked: “Pearls? Why do You need them?”

Krishna explained: “I want to grow My own pearls so that they are better than those of the gopis!” Mother Yashoda did not expect such an answer: “But Krishna, pearls do not grow on the ground or on trees. They are found in the sea, in shells.”

“Don’t worry, Mommy, I will succeed. I will have special pearls. You’ll see!” Krishna continued to insist. “Well, all right, take them,” said Mother Yashoda. “Children are always inventing new games!”

Krishna went to the river Yamuna and buried the pearls in the ground: “I will bury them here. Now I must water them with milk so they will grow!”

“Where can I get some milk to water My pearls? I know! I’ll go and ask the gopis!”

“Please give Me some milk to water My pearls!” Krishna asked. Lalita replied: “No, we will not donate food for Your antics!”

So Krishna returned to Mother Yashoda, took milk from her, and watered His pearls.

After a few days, tiny shoots appeared where Krishna had buried the pearls. Krishna exclaimed: “Mother, look! They are growing! This is a miracle!” “How is this possible?” Mother Yashoda said in amazement.

The gopis also came to look at the shoots. “This cannot be! These are just weeds, Krishna!” Lalita said mockingly.

When everyone fell asleep at night, Krishna quietly came to His pearls and played a magical melody to them on His flute. The music was so beautiful that all the plants around began to sway as if dancing.

The small shoots grew bigger and bigger, and amazing flowers bloomed on the thin stems. Inside them, like drops of moonlight, radiant pearls grew.

The next morning, Krishna harvested the pearls and made decorations for all His cows. But so many pearls grew that He was also able to decorate the peacocks and monkeys.

Seeing this miracle, the gopis came to Krishna and asked for pearls for their cows, too. Krishna replied: “I will not give you anything!”

Radharani had an idea: “Then we will plant our own pearls too. Girls, run to your parents and collect all the pearls we have!”

“We will have the most beautiful decorations!” Lalita dreamed. Having begged jewellery from their parents, the gopis planted all the pearls in the ground and began to water them with milk, yoghurt, and ghee.

But alas, a few days later, only prickly weeds grew for the gopis! All the gopis were very upset. “What is this? Where are our pearls?! Our parents will scold us!” Lalita cried in distress.

Frightened that their missing pearls would be discovered at home and that they would be scolded, the gopis sent one girl with gold to buy pearls from Krishna. “Krishna, we want to buy some pearls from You. Let us make a deal!” she said. Chuckling, Krishna replied: “Even the smallest of My pearls is more valuable than the Kaustubha jewel on Lord Narayana’s chest. Whoever wants pearls should come personally!”

All the gopis came, except Radharani, who hid behind the trees to listen.

“Krishna, sell us pearls!” the gopis pleaded. Krishna took out the smallest pearl and held it out to them.

“We know You have more beautiful and better pearls, sell them to us!” the gopis pleaded. Krishna and His friends spread the radiant rainbow-coloured pearls before the girls and began to name their prices: “This pearl is worth a whole pot of gold!” “This one? One coin is enough for it!” The gopis were offended by Krishna and left.

Krishna had wanted to tease the girls and teach them a lesson for not sharing with Him. He had also hoped that Radha would come to Him for the pearls. But seeing the gopis leave with lowered heads, He could not bear it. He personally strung the finest pearls into necklaces and sent them as gifts.

Admiring the gifts, the gopis exclaimed that Krishna had sent them beautiful necklaces and that the pearls were so gorgeous and shimmered so delightfully that they would no longer be scolded at home.

“And what is this marvellous golden box?” Radharani asked. Lalita read the inscription on the lid and said: “It says ‘RA-DHI-KE’. Radha, this is for you!”

Radharani opened the box and took out a necklace of incredible beauty, adorned with even more exquisite pearls.

Filled with joy, she said that Krishna was wonderful—how He had saved them from trouble and made them so happy. She suggested giving Him a pleasant surprise in return. The girls prepared delicious sweets, strung fragrant garlands of wildflowers, arranged everything beautifully in baskets, adorned themselves with new necklaces, and brought their gifts to Krishna.

They garlanded Him, offered Him sweets, and then sang and danced together, glorifying the Lord of their hearts.