Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
The name of the village is derived from the word ‘hara’ which means ‘defeat’ or ‘loss’ and at this place Krishna was defeated in a dice game by Radharani. Once Radharani told Lalita and the sakhis that Krishna was so strong that He easily defeated them in the games they played because they were all based on bodily strength, therefore think of a game that is based on intelligence, by which Krishna can easily be defeated. Lalita then suggested that Radharani should challenge Krishna to a game of dice. The sakhis challenged Krishna to a dice game and accepting their challenge, Krishna sat down facing Radharani and started throwing the dice. However, Radharani very easily won the first few games. Feeling confident that His luck was changing, Krishna placed his flute as a wager, but Radharani once again won the game and took Krishna’s flute as Her prize. Seeing Krishna repeatedly lose in the dice game, Madhumangala told Krishna, ‘now the gopis have won your flute and next they will confiscate everything. I am not happy to see you lose like this, so just go back to your cow-herding activities’. The Bhakti-ratnakara says, “Behold Krishna-kunda in the village of Haroyala where Radha and Krishna enjoyed Their divine pastimes. It was here that Radha defeated Krishna in a game of dice, causing great embarrassment to Krishna. Lalita then said to Radha ‘You have easily defeated the master of your heart in this dice game, now let us see who will win in the battle of love’. Saying this, Lalita escorted Radha and Krishna to a nearby nikunja and then the sakhis secretly watched the amorous love-games of the ‘divine couple’ from a hidden place. Seeing this divine loving relationship between Radha and Krishna, the sakhis felt themselves most fortunate.”
