It is said that every day, Bhagavan Krishna used to walk through the gardens and declare to all the plants: I love you!

All the plants felt very happy and also got used to thanking Him: Krishna, we love you too!

One day, however, Sri Krishna, very alarmed, entered those gardens. Perceiving His distress, a bamboo asked Him: Lord, what is wrong?

The Bhagavan replied: I have a very difficult request!

The bamboo answered: Tell me, Lord, that if I can, I will be very happy to serve You.

Sri Krishna then said to him: I need to cut you down.

The bamboo reflected for some time and replied: Do You have no other choice? Is there no other way?

The Bhagavan retorted: No, there is no other way.

Even without fully understanding what was happening, the bamboo said to Him: Yes, Lord. That being so, I surrender myself to You.

Sri Krishna then cut the bamboo, carved it, and made some deep wounds in it. With every movement, the bamboo staggered in pain.

At the end of the whole process, the bamboo then realized that the Bhagavan had made it His precious flute. From that day on, it never again parted from the company of the Blessed Lord.

Even the Gopis (devotees of Krishna), observing that, felt slighted. Perceiving that the Lord used to spend all His time in the company of that flute, they decided to question the flute: The Lord is always with you! Tell us the secret of that!

The satisfied bamboo flute said to them: the secret is being empty inside!