(Long) God Gives You What You Want

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Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Today's saying is a story:

 

“One day, Sri Krishna and Arjuna went for a walk. After going a long

distance, they reached the house of a rich merchant who was very miserly and

arrogant. As Sri Krishna and Arjuna felt thirsty, they went into the house

of the merchant in quest of water to quench their thirst. But, at that

time, the merchant was busy counting his cash and writing his accounts. So,

he did not receive Sri Krishna with proper regards and respects. But Sri

Krishna blessed him in return and said, 'Oh Merchant, as you are more fond

of wealth than Me, I bless you with more wealth. May you grow more rich and

become the richest man in the country.' Having blessed the man thus, Sri

Krishna left the place along with Arjuna.

 

Sri Krishna next went to the house of a poverty-stricken man. This poor man

was living in a thatched shed. He had only a cow as his possession. He was

eking out his livelihood by selling the milk of this cow. As soon as he saw

Sri Krishna coming to his hut, overwhelmed with joy, he rushed to the Lord

and fell at His feet and received Him with all respect and love. He had an

old mat, which he spread on the floor and prayed to the Lord to sit on it.

 

The poor man’s eyes were filled with tears of love for his beloved God. He

said, 'Oh, Lord Krishna, I am blessed today. How great is your love for me.

I never thought, oh Lord, you would visit me in this life.' Thereafter, he

offered the fresh milk given by his cow to Sri Krishna and Arjuna, and said,

‘Oh Krishna, oh God, I don’t have anything else except this milk to offer

you. Please accept and drink this milk and bless me.’

 

Highly pleased by the devotion of this poor man, the Lord drank the milk

with pleasure. Afterwards, Sri Krishna blessed the devotee and came out of

the hut. Nearing the gate, Sri Krishna saw the poor man's cow and wished

that it should die immediately. Arjuna

got irritated seeing the conduct of Sri Krishna and said, ‘Oh Lord, why do

you want the cow to die? This poor man is very much devoted to you.

Without the cow, how can he live? You have been good enough to bless the

rich man who did not show any respect to you at all. I am not able to

understand your strange behavior.'

 

Sri Krishna replied, ‘Arjuna, there is nothing wrong in my behavior. The

rich man, when he gets more wealth, will become more egoistic and arrogant

and that will lead him to lot of miseries and turmoil, which will make him

turn his mind towards God. The poor man, on the contrary, is a great

devotee of Mine. But he has some attachment to his cow, which is an

obstacle to his mind to get settled in his heart. What he wants is Mukti

(liberation) and not worldly possessions. Shortly, he will be giving up his

body. But, he is very much worried about the safety of his cow after his

death. This obstacle being now removed, his mind will merge in Me and enjoy

Eternal Bliss.'

 

The moral is, all the restlessness, frustration, and miseries of man are

caused by his attachment to worldly objects. Therefore the man wedded to

attachment can never grow in spiritual stature. On the other hand, he who

is free from attachment evolves in excellence and delights in God."

 

Sri Swamiji

Compiled by Swami Dattananda

Bhaktimala, June 1992 pp.4-5

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

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