Based on The Faith Book by Kadamba Kanana Swami
A Mountain of Sweetness
Once, the demigods arranged a divine experiment. They wanted to understand the capacity of living beings to taste and explain transcendental sweetness. So, they created a towering mountain made entirely of sugar. Its slopes shimmered in sunlight, its fragrance pulled bees from miles away, and it stood like a symbol of absolute bliss.
They called forth various creatures, sages, and mystics to see who could describe the mountain most accurately.
The Ant’s Arrival
At last came a tiny ant, walking with slow determination. No wings, no wisdom of the Vedas, no divine power—just a humble ant with a sharp tongue and a sharper hunger.
It climbed up, step by step, and took a few grains of sugar into its mouth. Its eyes sparkled with joy.
A Humble Declaration
The celestial beings asked, “Little one, what have you learned from this mountain of sugar?” The ant bowed and said, “It is sweet. Very sweet.”
“Can you describe it in more detail?” they pressed.
The ant shook its head. “I took only a few grains. That is all I could carry. How can I speak of the whole mountain? What I tasted was divine, but I cannot begin to describe the totality of what lies beyond my reach.”
The Revelation of Humility
The demigods smiled, for the ant had passed the test better than all others. It had not claimed to know what it did not. It had not built theories or philosophies around things beyond its grasp.
Its honesty, its humility, and its reverence made it the wisest of them all.
The Meaning for Bhaktas
This story teaches us the proper mood when approaching God. The Lord, like the sugar mountain, is unlimited sweetness. We may chant, read, and hear of Him, and we will taste something sweet—so sweet it melts our hearts. But the real devotee never claims, “I know Him fully.”
Instead, the bhakta says, “What little I have received is enough to keep me chanting His name forever. I can only pray to taste more.”
A Verse to Remember
jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva
jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām“Those who give up the pursuit of speculative knowledge, and who hear about You from the mouths of pure devotees, live truly peaceful lives.”
— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.14.3
We do not need to understand Kṛṣṇa fully. We only need to taste one grain of His mercy—and our life becomes perfect.
