In Sanskrit the parrot is also known as suka. When a ripened fruit is cut by the red beaks of such birds, its sweet flavor is enhanced. The Vedic fruit which is mature and ripe in knowledge is spoken through the lips of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, who is compared to the parrot not for his ability to recite the Bhagavatam exactly as he heard it from his learned father, but for his ability to present the work in a manner that would appeal to all classes of men.
Feeding Pomegranates to Suka
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami was actually the dear parrot of Srimati Radhika – Sriyah Suka. Sriyah means ‘of Radhika’. One day, Srimati Radhika was feeding pomegranates to that parrot. She placed him on Her hand and told him, “O Suka, say ‘Krsna, Krsna, Krsna.’” The parrot repeated, in the same very sweet and melodious tune and voice as Srimati Radhika's: “Krsna, Krsna, Krsna”.
The parrot then flew away from Her and went to Krsna’s home in Nandagaon, which was situated nearby. There, Krsna was sitting with Madhu-mangala and they were talking about something. The green parrot sat on the branch of a tree that was fully laden with dark green leaves and began to speak like Srimati Radhika: “Krsna, Krsna, Krsna.” Krsna asked, “Where is the sound coming from? No one is here!”
He then saw that a very beautiful parrot was sitting on the tree. He very sweetly called to the parrot, “Come on, come on,” and the parrot at once came to sit on His hand.
Krsna asked him, “What are you saying again and again?”
The parrot said, “Krsna, Krsna, Krsna,” and added, “I am very, very unlucky. My Svamini (mistress) is Srimati Radhika. She held me on Her hand and gave me pomegranates, and She told me to repeat ‘Krsna, Krsna.’ She is very merciful. She loves me so much. Unfortunately, however, because I have the nature of a bird, I flew from there and I have come here.”
When Krsna heard this, He began to caress the parrot. He said, “Speak again.”
In the meantime, Lalita and Visakha arrived. They said, “O Krsna, this parrot belongs to Srimati Radhika. She cannot live without him. Please give him to us.”
Krsna replied, “You can call him, and if he comes to you, you can take him.”
They began to call the parrot, but he did not come. They told Krsna, “If any living entity comes to You, he will get Your affection and never go anywhere else. If Srimati Radhika comes and calls him, only then will he come; otherwise not.
“Without this parrot, my sakhi Radhika will not be able to remain alive. She is very upset.”
Krsna replied, “I will not give him to you. If he personally wants to go, he can go.”
Then Lalita and Visakha, who were very intelligent, went to Mother Yasoda and said, “Srimati Radhika’s parrot has come here. Our sakhi is very upset. Please take the bird and give him to us so that we can return him to Her.”
Mother Yasoda immediately said, “Sit here and wait, I will come back very soon.” She went to the place where Krsna was playing with the bird and said, “What nonsense are you doing? You are always playing with birds and animals. Come with me.” She took hold of Krsna’s hand and began to take Him home. “Your father is sitting and waiting for You to take bath and prasadam. You should go at once.”
