A Hungry Jackal in the Village Outskirts
In a small village surrounded by dense forests, there lived a starving jackal. Old and weak, he could no longer hunt and was barely surviving on scraps. Driven by hunger, he would sneak into the outskirts of the village, scavenging for remains, constantly in fear of being beaten or chased away.
One evening, after a temple festival, the villagers had thrown away the leftovers of a large prasāda feast, including many preparations offered to Lord Viṣṇu. These were discarded outside the temple grounds near a garbage pit.
That night, the jackal, driven by unbearable hunger, wandered into the area and smelled the rich fragrance of the discarded food. He approached cautiously and, seeing no one around, began to devour the remnants voraciously.
The Effect of Sacred Remnants
Though unaware of the significance of the food, the jackal was consuming Mahā-prasāda—remnants directly offered to the Supreme Lord. That night, after his belly was full, he slept peacefully for the first time in many days.
While sleeping, he had a remarkable dream. In the dream, a divine figure of Lord Viṣṇu appeared, shining with brilliance, holding conch, disc, mace, and lotus. The Lord smiled at him and said:
“Though born as a jackal, you have eaten My remnants, which are spiritually purifying. Your hunger is now satisfied not just materially but spiritually. In your next birth, you shall receive a human body and be inclined toward Me.”
The jackal woke up confused but strangely peaceful, as if a great burden had lifted from his heart.
The Jackal’s Final Breath
Days passed, and the jackal grew weaker from old age. One morning, just as the sun rose, he took his final breath under a tree near the temple. At that moment, Viṣṇudūtas arrived—to the astonishment of subtle beings witnessing from higher realms—and carried the soul upward.
The animal who had once roamed the forests, living in ignorance and fear, was now freed from saṁsāra by the power of unconscious devotion.
A New Life Begins
The soul was born into a brāhmaṇa family in a pious village. From a young age, he showed a natural detachment from worldly pleasures and a strong inclination toward devotion. He would offer food to Lord Viṣṇu before eating, always speak truthfully, and keep the company of sādhus.
Eventually, as a young man, he left home and went to perform bhajana in a forest āśrama, remembering a strange feeling of gratitude toward the Lord—as if he had been blessed long ago.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Even animals who unconsciously honor prasāda are blessed by the Lord.
- The power of Mahā-prasāda is beyond measure; it purifies all who touch or consume it.
- The Lord’s mercy flows freely, even to those who are unqualified, simply through contact with His remnants.
- As declared in the Padma Purāṇa: “mahā-prasāde govinde nāma-brahmaṇi vaiṣṇave / svalpa-puṇyavatāṁ rājo viśvāso naiva jāyate”
“Only one who has great spiritual merit can have firm faith in the Lord, His name, His devotee, and His mahā-prasāda.”
Origin of the Story: Padma Purāṇa – A tale revealing the immeasurable purifying power of the Lord’s remnants and the compassionate reach of divine mercy.
