The Noble King and His Worldly Queen
In ancient times, there lived a noble and saintly king named Dharmadatta. True to his name, he ruled his kingdom according to dharma, the eternal principles of righteousness. He protected his subjects, performed daily worship, honored the brāhmaṇas, and was deeply devoted to Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
However, his queen was of a different nature. Though married to a dharmic ruler, she had no taste for spiritual practices. Her heart was absorbed in material enjoyment—fine garments, music, jewels, and the pleasures of palace life. She mocked the austerities of sages, criticized the brāhmaṇas, and laughed at devotional rituals. The transcendental glories of the Lord held no meaning for her.
The Patient Effort of a Devotee
King Dharmadatta, despite her indifference, never gave up on her. With great compassion, he would gently explain the glories of bhakti, the power of chanting the Lord’s names, and the futility of worldly pleasures. But her ears were closed and her heart unyielding. Still, he tolerated her behavior, praying that one day, the Lord’s mercy would reach her.
The Great Sacrifice to Lord Hari
One day, the king organized a grand Viṣṇu-yajña, a sacrifice to glorify the Supreme Lord. Sages, saints, brāhmaṇas, and thousands of citizens gathered to participate. The air vibrated with the holy names—Govinda, Mādhava, Nārāyaṇa, Hari!—and the fragrance of ghee, incense, and flowers filled the temple hall.
Lamps were offered before the deity in beautiful āratī ceremonies. With great joy and reverence, the devotees lit ghee lamps and waved them before the enchanting form of Lord Hari. The divine atmosphere touched the hearts of all who attended.
An Accidental Offering
The queen watched this grand festival from her chamber, aloof and detached. She remained uninterested, thinking it all to be sentimental ritualism.
Suddenly, her favorite pet parrot flew out of its cage and headed toward the deity’s area. Alarmed, the queen panicked. In her attempt to retrieve it, she grabbed a nearby lamp and rushed forward, hoping the light would lure the parrot back. As she waved the lamp, the parrot flew down and landed in her hand.
Unknowingly, she had offered a lamp before the Lord’s form—right in the middle of the sacred āratī.
The Lord’s Gracious Acceptance
Though the queen’s act had no devotional intent, Lord Viṣṇu, who is bhāva-grāhī—the knower and acceptor of all intentions—smiled with compassion. That brief moment of contact, that accidental offering, was registered in the Lord’s eternal memory as the beginning of her journey in bhakti.
Just as a spark can ignite a blazing fire, that one unconscious act of service would blossom in future births.
The Journey of the Soul
In due course of time, the queen died. By the power of that unconscious service to the Lord, she was granted a birth in a pious family. In that life, her nature was gentler, more inclined toward devotion. Over several lifetimes, her attraction to spiritual life deepened. She began chanting the holy names, worshipping the deity, serving sādhus, and relishing the words of scripture.
Eventually, in her final human birth, she became a pure devotee of Lord Viṣṇu, fully surrendered and absorbed in His loving service. Her past arrogance and ignorance were burned away by the light of bhakti.
Attaining the Eternal Goal
At the end of that final life, she attained Vaikuṇṭha-loka, the eternal spiritual realm where the Lord resides. There, free from all material coverings, she entered into the blissful service of her beloved Lord, never again to fall into forgetfulness.
Lessons to Be Learned
- Bhakti is never lost. Even an accidental or unconscious offering to the Lord has eternal value and can become the seed of liberation.
- The Lord is merciful. He does not see only the act but the potential of the soul behind it. One touch of His presence transforms the heart.
- Spiritual progress is eternal. Once devotion is awakened, even slightly, it continues to grow through lifetimes, eventually leading the soul back home to Godhead.
As Śrīla Prabhupāda said,
“Even if one offers Me a little water, a leaf, or a flower, I accept it if it is offered with devotion. That is enough to liberate the soul.”
Origin of the Story
This story comes from the Padma Purāṇa, illustrating the unlimited mercy of Lord Viṣṇu and the eternal power of devotional service.
