This story is from the early childhood of Srimajjagadguru Shankaracharya Svami Sri Nischalananda Sarasvatiji Maharaja, Shankaracharya of Puri (named Nilambar).
When Nilambar was about two years old, he woke up crying in the middle of the night. As he wept, he said, “Radha Krishna’s jewellery is lost”. His father woke up and tried hard to pacify the child. However, the boy started howling incessantly and went on repeating in his childish lisp, “Radha Krishna’s jewellery is lost.”
The night passed. The whole family was surprised. They wondered what exactly the child was trying to convey and what happened to him all of a sudden.
Soon, the boy found himself all alone, standing on the banks of a pond, gazing at the murti of Sri Radha Krishna in the mandir.
Unexpectedly, digambar (sky-clad/without clothes) Sri Krishna appeared before the digambar child. He kept his hands on the little boy’s shoulders. They stared into each other’s eyes. Restlessly Sri Krishna said, “Our jewellery is lost. Have you seen it somewhere?”
On experiencing divine touch, the penetrating loving gaze, and hearing compassionate words, the child understood – this is my friend Sri Krishna. He was speechless. Balagopala vanished and the child came home at great speed.
In private, he told his mother-like sister, “The jewellery of Bhagavan who lives in that mandir has been lost, have you seen it?”
His sister was shocked. It was unimaginable that this young little child was referring to the mandir of the other neighbourhood. Alone, how did he reach there? After going along the banks of two ponds using some unexpected method? Who did he find? What is he saying?
Nilambar’s sister hugged her little brother and lifted him in her arms. Quickly, she started walking towards the house of the brahmin of the Sri Radha Krishna mandir.
On the way, she narrated the entire story to her friend. The friend said, “It is true. At night the jewellery of Sri Radha Krishna was stolen.”
Both their eyes were streaming with tears of joy. Lo and behold, Bhagavan gave darshan to this small little boy! He was told about the stealing of the jewellery in his dream. Blessed is His grace. Bhagavan has blessed the boy’s life.
The yogamaya of Bhagavan kept this incident a secret.