In the divine days of Lord Krishna’s time in Gokul, there lived a wise and beautiful peacock. He was clever, sincere, and a devoted follower of Krishna.
Day after day, he longed to receive the Lord’s grace.
One morning, he had an idea. “If I sing every time Krishna passes by, perhaps He will notice me.”
So the peacock went and sat near the entrance of Krishna’s home.
Whenever Krishna walked in or out, the peacock would sing with deep devotion—
“Mera koi na sahara bina tere,
Gopal Saanwariya mere,
Maa baap Saanwariya mere…”
He sang this simple bhajan every single day.
One day passed, then another, then a month, and soon an entire year went by.
But Krishna never stopped to listen.
The peacock’s faith wavered. Tears filled his eyes. “Why, O Lord, do You not see my devotion?” he cried.
Just then, a mynah bird flying from Barsana noticed him weeping. She was astonished—not because the peacock was crying, but because someone was crying outside Krishna’s door!
She landed beside him. “O peacock, why do you cry outside the home of the most merciful Lord?”
The peacock replied sadly, “I have sung His name for a whole year, and yet, He has not even offered me a drop of water.”
The mynah said gently, “Come with me to Barsana. There dwells Radha Rani, full of compassion. She will surely bless you.”
The peacock agreed, and they both flew toward Barsana.
When they reached Radha’s home, the mynah began singing joyfully:
“Shri Radhe Radhe, Radhe Barsane Wali Radhe…”
But the peacock, even in Barsana, kept singing his same old tune:
“Mera koi na sahara bina tere,
Gopal Saanwariya mere,
Maa baap Saanwariya mere…”
Hearing this heartfelt song, Radha Rani herself came running. She embraced the peacock lovingly and asked, “Where have you come from, dear one?”
The peacock bowed and said, “O Mother Radha, I had heard of your boundless mercy—and today, I’ve witnessed it. I spent one whole year at Krishna’s door, singing His name, yet He never listened.”
Radha smiled gently. “My Krishna is not heartless. Go to Him once more. But this time, sing Radhe Radhe instead of Krishna Krishna.”
The peacock nodded and returned to Gokul.
As he sat again near Krishna’s door, he began softly singing:
“Shri Radhe Radhe, Radhe Barsane Wali Radhe…”
The moment Krishna heard Radha’s name, He ran outside joyfully and embraced the peacock.
“O peacock! Where have you been?” Krishna asked with affection.
The peacock smiled through tears. “Ah, my Lord! For a year, I sang Your name, and You never asked for me. But today, I sang Radha’s name once—and You came running!”
Krishna laughed. “Tell me everything, dear friend.”
The peacock recounted his story—how he had sung for a year, met the mynah, and received Radha’s advice.
Krishna’s eyes softened. “Yes, I was wrong not to come earlier. You took Radha’s name with faith—and that name is My very life. As a blessing for your devotion, I give you this boon:
As long as creation exists, your feather shall rest upon My crown.
And whoever chants Radha’s name shall dwell forever in My heart.”
From that day, the peacock’s feather became a symbol of divine love and devotion — resting forever upon Lord Krishna’s head, a mark of faith rewarded by grace.
