The Forest Dweller’s Sinful Life
In a dense forest lived a hunter named Mṛgāri, whose name meant “enemy of the animals.” He took great pleasure not only in killing animals, but in half-killing them, watching them writhe in pain. He was known among forest creatures as a terrifying presence, and his name was spoken in fear.
He knew nothing of dharma, scriptures, or the Lord. His days were spent in the forest and his nights in cruelty. The only humans he avoided were the sages who sometimes walked through the woods, speaking of God and compassion.
An Unexpected Encounter
One day, as fate would have it, a group of Vaiṣṇava devotees, singing the holy names of the Lord and speaking verses from the Bhāgavatam, came walking through the forest. Mṛgāri saw them from a distance and, out of curiosity—not compassion—watched them silently from behind a tree.
He listened to their voices and stared at their glowing faces as they chanted:
“nārāyaṇa! nārāyaṇa! govinda! govinda!”
Their simple beauty, the purity in their gait, and the way they bowed to every tree and spoke with reverence to every living being, struck something deep in Mṛgāri’s heart. For the first time in his life, he felt a pull toward something he could not name.
The devotees saw him and greeted him gently. Not ready to respond, Mṛgāri turned and ran, but the image of their compassion remained etched in his heart.
The End of Sin and the Dawn of Light
That night, Mṛgāri saw a dream where those same devotees appeared, standing with Lord Viṣṇu Himself. The Lord looked at him—not with anger—but with compassion and forgiveness.
When he awoke, he found his hands trembling. From that day on, he never killed again. Slowly, he began to follow the sages at a distance, watching and learning, until he finally approached them in humility, begging for their mercy.
He became a servant of the devotees, sweeping their paths and carrying water for them. When he died, Viṣṇudūtas came and lifted him up, praising his soul:
“Though once a great sinner, by simply gazing upon the pure-hearted devotees of the Lord, his soul was touched. By giving up violence and surrendering to their mercy, he has now attained liberation.”
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Even a glance at the Lord’s devotees can awaken dormant bhakti in the heart of the most fallen.
- The company of devotees is the greatest purifier—even for those not yet willing to surrender.
- The Lord’s mercy descends through His pure devotees, and their compassion transforms even the hardest hearts.
- As confirmed in the scriptures: “sadhu-saṅga, sadhu-saṅga—sarva-śāstre kaya / lava-mātra sadhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya”
“Association with pure devotees, even for a moment, brings all perfection.” (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 22.54)
Origin of the Story: Padma Purāṇa – Stories section glorifying the power of devotee association and how the sight and presence of saints can purify even the greatest sinner.
