A simple villager once picked up some English words just by listening here and there.
He only knew “Yes” “No” and “Very good”.
But he never attempted to serious understand the application of these words in their proper context.
He only thought that a sort of respect for an “English speaking person” could be attained by using these words in front of others!
Once some robbers killed a man while escaping with the loot from his house and made it look like the villager was the culprit.
When the villager was brought before the judge in court, the Judge asked him in Bengali, “Did you commit the murder?”
The foolish villager thought that if he could speak some English in front of the judge, then he would be impressed and have great respect for him. He may be relieved of these allegations.
So the villager replied “Yes!”
The judge asked “Was there anyone else with you?” The villager replied “No!”
Then the judge said , “Do you realize that you will have to go to jail?”
Now the villager thought that he should put forth his protest against such injustice by applying his last resort.
To show he was the perfect educated gentleman, he said loudly,
“Very Good!”
Needlessly to say, he was thrown into prison!
Moral of the story:
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master quoted this story to illustrate that even in the field of devotional service, scriptural quotes without proper understanding of the instructions, and true purport but quoted in parrot like fashion is just a subtle way for devotees to receive respect and adoration from the masses.
The true purports of Srila Prabhupada in Srimad Bhagavatam is how we apply the verses and their purports to our daily lives – especially in moments of reversals, adversities and difficulties.
In S.B.G 12.13.18:
“…tac chrnvan su-pathan vicarana-paro bhaktya vimucyen narah”
1) First we must hear (chrnvan) Srimad Bhagavatam very properly and submissively, not in a challenging or fault-finding manner.
2) Then whatever we hear we must properly chant with devotion (su-pathan).
3) then finally whatever we have heard and now are chanting (meaning writing, transmitting, preaching,living etc) we must vicarana paro – being very serious about understanding – vicarana – digest it and ingest it into our daily life – then only we will be freed from the cycle of birth and death.
If we have digested Bhagavatam, then we will display the characteristics of Bhagavatam otherwise we will be like the villager and tie ourselves into a knot – In Srimad Bhagavatam 7.1.9, Narada Muni states very correctly that “…one can understand whether a living entity is a demon or demigod by understanding that living entity’s devotional performance.
A thoughtful man can understand how much person is favored by the Supreme Lord by seeing his actions.
( Dear readers please comment on this stories )
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefited by hearing about Krishna and his dear devotees.