The Devotee’s Life in the River Ashram
Once, in a tranquil forest where the Yamunā River flowed gently, lived a devout sage, absorbed in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He had constructed a small āśrama on the riverbank, from where he would bathe in the holy waters, worship the Lord, and recite the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam daily with great devotion and deep emotion.
The sage would sit under a large banyan tree, and with a clear, melodious voice, he would chant verses describing the sweet pastimes of the Lord, from the childhood of Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Gokula to His heroic acts in Mathurā and Dvārakā. His voice echoed across the forest, sanctifying the air.
The Fish Who Heard Divine Sound
Beneath the surface of the Yamunā flowed many aquatic creatures, among them a fish who regularly swam near the riverbank. That fish, though not aware of its surroundings in a conscious way, often came near the root of the tree under which the sage would chant. There, it would remain still, hearing the vibration of the sacred Bhāgavatam, especially during the narrations of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in Vṛndāvana.
This continued for months. By simply floating near the sound of the Bhāgavatam, the fish became purified. One day, while leaping from the water near the shore, the fish was caught in the nets of a fisherman. It gasped, struggled, and then passed away.
The Gift of Bhāgavata-śravaṇa
In that very moment, the sky lit up. Viṣṇudūtas appeared, descending swiftly, their forms like blazing suns. They stood before the fisherman—who was bewildered—and lifted the soul of the fish. They declared:
“This soul, though born in an aquatic body, has repeatedly heard the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is nondifferent from Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. That hearing alone has burned away the reactions of sinful karma. Now, this jīva shall attain the eternal service of the Lord in His supreme abode.”
The soul of the fish now took a shining, spiritual form and ascended with the celestial beings, leaving behind the stunned fisherman and the amazed sage, who had witnessed the divine event.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Hearing the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, even without understanding or conscious intent, can cleanse the heart and lead to liberation.
- The holy sound vibration of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glories reaches all living beings and uplifts them beyond their current state.
- All species of life are eligible for mercy through contact with devotional sound.
- As stated in the Bhāgavatam (1.2.18): “śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ / hṛdy antaḥ-stho hy abhadrāṇi vidhunoti suhṛt satām”
“Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā in everyone’s heart, cleanses the desire for material enjoyment from the heart of one who has developed the urge to hear His messages.”
Origin of the Story: Padma Purāṇa – Stories section illustrating the transformative power of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, even upon unintelligent creatures.
