The Fragrance of the Kadamba Forest
One afternoon in Chhapaiya, Ghanshyam went to the banks of the Khampa Lake with his four best friends: Veni, Madhav, Prayag, and Sukhanandan. On the shore lived a hermit named Haridas, who was loudly reciting the Ramayan. Ghanshyam and his friends sat quietly to listen for a while before heading toward the water.
After bathing in the lake, Ghanshyam noticed a lush forest on the opposite bank. “Look at those trees!” he exclaimed. “The fragrance is so beautiful. Let’s go explore.”
They wandered into a grove of Kadamba and Kevada trees. The boys were so enchanted that they began picking flowers and weaving elaborate garlands. They didn’t just stop at necklaces; they fashioned armlets, crowns, and an entire outfit made of fragrant blossoms for Ghanshyam. As he stood under the trees adorned in flowers, he looked like the very Lord of the Universe.
The Call of the Cows
Suddenly, a massive herd of thousands of cows appeared. Sensing the presence of their Master, the cows ignored their cowherd’s commands. They ran toward Ghanshyam with their tails and heads held high, mooing in affection.
To get a better view and play with the animals, Ghanshyam and his friends climbed a large tamarind tree on the bank of the lake. From the branches, Ghanshyam stretched out his arm, and the entire herd calmed down, moving in perfect unison as if guided by his hand.
The Divine Injury
“We’ve been up here a long time,” Ghanshyam said to his friends. “Let’s head down.”
As Ghanshyam was climbing down the tamarind tree, his foot slipped. A sharp, jagged stump (known as a khānpo) sliced deep into his right thigh. A thick stream of blood began to flow. His friends turned pale with fear and sadness at the sight of their beloved friend’s injury.
High in the heavens, King Indra and the other devtas saw what had happened. Indra immediately summoned the Ashwini Kumars (the twin physicians of the devtas). They descended to Earth in an instant, treated the wound with celestial herbs, and tied a bandage around Ghanshyam’s leg. “Lord,” Indra prayed, “please keep this bandage on and let us know if you need anything else.” Then, the devtas vanished.
The Miracle of the Healed Wound
Sukhanandan ran to the village to inform Dharmadev. When the father arrived at the lake, he saw the bandage. Veni explained, “The doctors of the devtas came themselves to heal him!”
When they returned home, Bhaktimata was distraught. “My dear child, what have you done to yourself?” she cried.
To calm his mother’s heart, Ghanshyam smiled and began to untie the bandage. “Look, Mother,” he said. “Does it look like anything is wrong?”
When Bhaktimata looked at his thigh, the wound had completely disappeared. There wasn’t even a drop of blood. The only thing remaining was a small, faint mark where the stump had struck—a permanent sign of this “Lila”. Because of this incident, the lake became eternally famous as Khampa Talavdi.
This prasang has been documented by Sadguru Shree Bhumanand Swami in Shree Ghanshyam Lilamrut Sagar, Tarang 30.