Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 10 Chapter 81:31-41

Book 10: Eighty-one (Latter Half)

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 81: Verses 31-41


The walls made of clear crystal were inlaid with emeralds, and excellent images of women made of precious stones held dazzling jewels in their hands to light up the rooms. Seeing there such abundance of riches of all kinds come to him without any ostensible cause, the Brahmana reflected on this windfall with a calm mind: "I am poor and unluckly from birth; Oh, wherefrom could this wonderful fortune come to me? Nothing but the (gracious look) of Bhagavan Sri Krsna, the crown-jewel of Yadus and the possessor of untold riches, could be the cause of this. Sri Krsna (the Lord of the goddess of wealth and perfect in everyway), has infinite objects of enjoyment always at His disposal. Therefore, knowing the mind of His suppliant devotee, He gives in abundance to the latter, though He regards the gift as very insignificant and does not mention it to the devotee. My friend, the crest-jewel of Yadus, is generous like the cloud, (which though capable of filling up the ocean, sometimes does not choose to rain in the presence of the peasant, but inundates his fields at night when he is a sleep, and yet considers the gift as inadequate). Though underrating His own abundant gifts, He makes much even of a small present by His devotee. The noble-minded Lord accepted with great delight the handfuls of beaten rice I took for Him.
May I secure from birth to birth His good-will, love, friendship and service. (I have no need for wealth.) May I cherish ever-growing devotion to the lotus-feet of the glorious Lord, Bhagavan Sri Krsna, the one abode of excellent qualities, and obtain association with His devotees! Bhagavan Sri Krsna, who is ever free from the shackles of birth and death, is acquainted with the evil underlying worldly prosperity. He knows how the intoxication of wealth and power brings about the fall of many a wealthy man. That is why (out of compassion) He very often refuses to grant the prayer for wealth, kingdom and power of short-sighted devotees." (Pariksit!) having reached this conclusion by force of his reason, the Brahmana in conjunction with his wife enjoyed the worldly pleasures sparingly and without attachment, and his devotion to Sri Krsna grew from more to more. (Pariksit!) the almighty God of gods, the Lord of sacrifices, Bhagavan Sri Krsna, looks upon the Brahmana as His own Lord and deity. Therefore, there is no being (on earth) greater than the Brahmana. Now, this Brahmana, the friend of the Lord, realized that, though unconquerable by others, the Lord easily submits to the will of His devotee. Realizing this, he became absorbed in contemplation on the Lord. His ties of ignorance were cut asunder by force of this contemplation and before long he attained the abode of the Lord, the sole resort of saints. (Pariksit!) the man who hears this account which illustrates Bhagavan Sri Krsna's love for the Brahmanas attains devotion to the Lord and obtains release from the bondage of Karma.

Thus ends the eighty-first discourse entitled "The story of beaten rice (taken by Sudama as a present for Sri Krsna)," in the latter half of Book Ten of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.


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