A Humble Brāhmaṇa’s Routine
In a small village nestled by the side of a holy river, there lived a poor but pious brāhmaṇa. Though he had little wealth, he was rich in faith and simplicity. Every day, he would gather flowers, offer water, light a lamp, and perform pūjā to Lord Viṣṇu in a small shrine made of clay in his humble home.
He would chant mantras softly and offer cooked rice with love. His entire worship would sometimes be just one flower and a spoon of water—but it was done with a heart full of devotion.
The Challenge of Poverty
His wife often complained, “We are struggling to eat, and yet you waste rice and ghee in the name of worship! Why do you not serve your family first?”
The brāhmaṇa replied gently, “My dear, by serving the Lord, everything will come. We are not the doers; He is the maintainer of all.”
Still, the poverty deepened. Days came when they had nothing but dry husks to eat.
A Divine Test
One evening, as he sat in prayer, a divine sage—Nārada Muni—appeared at his doorstep. The brāhmaṇa welcomed him with folded hands and offered him whatever little water and flat rice he had. Nārada smiled and said:
“O gentle brāhmaṇa, the Lord is very pleased with your unwavering devotion. Ask for any boon.”
But the brāhmaṇa folded his hands again, “O Nārada, I only ask that I may never forget to worship the Lord, even for a day.”
Nārada was pleased. He blessed him and vanished.
A Sudden Turn of Fate
That very night, a wealthy merchant who was childless had a dream. In it, the Lord told him, “Go to the house of that poor brāhmaṇa and give him all your wealth. You shall have a son through this act of charity.”
The next day, the merchant appeared with carts full of grains, gold, cows, and clothes, and surrendered them at the brāhmaṇa’s feet. The brāhmaṇa was astonished, but he accepted it as the Lord’s arrangement.
Remaining Simple and Steady
Even after receiving great wealth, the brāhmaṇa did not change his habits. He continued to wake before sunrise, bathe, gather flowers, cook himself, and offer food to Lord Viṣṇu in the same earthen shrine with the same humble heart.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Daily devotional service, no matter how small, pleases the Lord greatly.
- One should never abandon worship due to poverty or hardship.
- The Lord tests and then rewards, but real devotees do not ask for reward.
- As the Padma Purāṇa declares: “na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati”
“My devotee is never lost.” (Bhagavad-gītā 9.31)
Origin of the Story: Padma Purāṇa – A tale of how unwavering daily worship, even in poverty, brings the grace and personal attention of the Supreme Lord.
