Based on The Faith Book by Kadamba Kanana Swami
A Royal Procession
In a great kingdom famed for its opulence and power, a benevolent king once arranged a grand procession through the capital. With elephants clad in gold, guards dressed in scarlet, and musicians playing conch and drum, the king paraded through the city streets.
Subjects lined the road, cheering, offering garlands, waving fans. The king, seated high upon his chariot, acknowledged them with graceful nods, basking in the affection of his people.
But then, amidst the golden glow and jubilant noise, his eyes fell upon a different sight.
A Stranger on the Roadside
Under the shade of a banyan tree sat a man—covered in dust, wearing simple cloth, and seemingly unaware of the royal parade. His face was serene, eyes closed, fingers moving silently over a tulasī-mālā. He was chanting, completely absorbed in remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.
The king was intrigued.
“Who is this man who does not rise for me?” he asked. “Is he blind? Or is he proud?”
His ministers rushed to inquire but returned with humility.
“He is a devotee, O King. A lover of God. He lives with nothing and desires nothing—only the name of the Lord.”
The King Descends
Compelled by curiosity and a strange reverence, the king stepped down from his chariot and approached the devotee.
The devotee looked up, calmly. “Jaya Śrī Kṛṣṇa,” he said, then returned to his chanting.
The king sat before him in the dust. “Please forgive me,” he said. “All my life, I believed I was rich. But now I see—you are the wealthy one.”
A Lesson in True Wealth
That day, the king realized that real opulence is not found in jewels or armies, but in remembrance of the Lord. The devotee had no throne, no servants, no kingdom—but his heart was filled with a wealth beyond gold: nāma-rasa, the sweet taste of the holy name.
From that day on, the king began to serve the Lord and His devotees, not just with royal offerings, but with genuine humility.
What Pleases the Lord
This story teaches us that social titles, possessions, and prestige mean little before the Supreme. It is the bhakta—even covered in dust—who holds the Lord’s heart.
And those who recognize and honor such souls are truly noble.
A Verse to Remember
satāṁ prasaṅgān mama vīrya-saṁvido
bhavanti hṛt-karṇa-rasāyanāḥ kathāḥ“Only in the association of saintly devotees can one hear discussions about My glories, which are pleasing to the heart and soul.”
— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.25
Let us seek the dust of the devotees—not out of formality, but because in their company, even kings become beggars for bhakti.
