Thief of a thief

 This story happened in Dwapara yuga during Krishna's childhood days in

Vrindavan. We know about all the asuras sent by Kamsa (like
Shakataasura, Thrunavartha, Bakaasura etc) to kill Krishna and what
happened to all of them. Here is a different story of a regular thief
who lived in Vrindavan.

There was a thief who never saw Krishna, but heard a lot about Him. He
listened to a lot of songs describing the beauty of Krishna decorated
with all his ornaments like bangles, bracelets, earrings, anklets,
necklaces including "pulinakhamothiram" etc. Being a thief, the
description of the ornaments appealed to him more than Krishna's
beauty. He wanted to steal the ornaments of Krishna and he strangely
prayed Krishna himself to make it possible. He asked a sanyaasin who
was singing the praise of Krishna about his whereabouts. As per his
instructions, the thief went to the Vrindavana (forest) during day
time when Krishna and His friends were grazing the cows.

He wanted to see the seven year old Krishna alone so that he can grab
all the ornaments easily from Him. To his surprise, he did not have to
wait too long to see Him alone. Krishna was sitting under a big tree
and playing his flute beautifully. It appeared as if the whole forest
was enjoying the beauty of Krishna and the lovely song he was playing.
He looked and looked at Krishna and thought: "How can I rob anything
off Krishna? If I took anything away, that will lessen his beauty.
Krishna! I will not do anything to make you less attractive. I am
experiencing bliss and I am enchanted by your beauty. I do not want
anything other than your presence in my heart". Tears of happiness
were rolling down through his cheeks.


adharam madhuram vadanam madhuram
nayanam madhuram hasitam madhuram
hrdayam madhuram gamanam madhuram
madhuraadhipate: akhilam madhuram

"His lips are sweet; His face is sweet;
His eyes are sweet; His smile is sweet:
His Heart is sweet; His gait is sweet;
Every single thing about the Lord of Mathura is completely sweet!

venur madhuro renur madhura:
paanir madhuraH paadau madhurau
nrtyam madhuram sakhyam madhuram
madhuraadhipate: akhilaM madhuram

"His flute is sweet; the dust of His lotus feet is sweet.
His hands are sweet; His feet are sweet. His dancing is sweet;
His friendship is sweet. Everything about the Supreme Lord of
sweetness is sweet.

Krishna sensed his devotee's feelings for Him. He came forward to him,
took off all His ornaments and gave it to the thief. The thief did a
saashtaang namaskaar and by the time he got up, Krishna had
disappeared. He went back to the sanyaasi, showed all the ornaments
Krishna gave him and  told the whole story. Sannyaasi prostrated
before the thief because now he is a blessed thief who stole the heart
of the divine thief Krishna who stole not only milk and butter but
also the hearts of all Gopis and Gopaas.

Jai Sri Krishna!