The bhakti sastras are univocal in all philosophical conclusions. Srimad Bhagavatam, through the statements of various pure devotees, is univocal in what desires one must have, and what one must ask Krishna. The Supreme Lord Himself, as well as His dear servants are all univocal in what pleases Krishna. And a recurrent observation of the same principles is seen.
THE COMMON Conclusion of Scriptures:
In the First Canto, Suta Goswami describes his conclusion about what must be the goal of one’s life. (SB 1.2.6-7) Narada Muni tells the superiority of glorifying the Supreme Lord. (SB 1.5.22, SB 1.6.34) In the Second Canto, Sukadeva expresses his conclusions at the very beginning of his speech about the glory of devotional service (SB 2.1.5-9). Brahma reviewed the Vedas three times, and concluded the supremacy of devotional service. Brahmaji told the same to Narada. In the Third Canto, Lord Kapila tells about the grace of bhakti yoga. (SB 10.29.11-12) In this way, the whole of Srimad Bhagavatam is nothing but the glorification of devotional service by different authorities.
In the same manner, our sastras tell us how to attain success in life. It is not by doing big things that Krishna is pleased. Krishna is pleased more by the intent than the content. Krishna is purchased by one’s attitude and not the magnitude. Krishna favors the meek and humble, and not the proud and arrogant. Krishna hardly considers the expanse of one’s service, He is concerned about the depth of one’s service.
Grace through Glance
Pratap Rudra was a king. That in fact was his big disqualification to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After avoiding to meet him on various occasions, when the Lord saw Pratap Rudra rendering menial service of sweeping the street for Lord Jagannath, the Lord was greatly pleased with him.
It wasn’t that Pratap Rudra would daily do that service. It wasn’t that Pratap Rudra hadn’t performed huge things in relation to protecting the kingdom from Mughal Rule, in regard to even making housing arrangements for all the devotees. But Mahaprabhu was most satisfied with this menial service of the king.
The king was among the very few fortunate ones who was able to perceive the Lord’s simultaneous dancing in seven different groups at the Rath Yatra festival.
rājāra tuccha sevā dekhi’ prabhura tuṣṭa mana
sei ta’ prasāde pāila ’rahasya-darśana’
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had been very satisfied to see the king accept the menial task of sweeping the street, and for this humility the king received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He could therefore observe the mystery of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities.
sākṣāte nā deya dekhā, parokṣe ta’ dayā
ke bujhite pāre caitanya-candrera māyā
Although the king had been refused an interview, he was indirectly bestowed causeless mercy. Who can understand the internal potency of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu? CC Madhya 13.60-61
After that, the Lord even allowed him a personal darshana. Later, when the king massaged the Lord’s lotus feet, the Lord repeatedly embraced him, and also showed him His divine opulences.
Then also, the mood of Pratap Rudra remained the same. He didn’t consider himself great, nor did he have any complaints about why Mahaprabhu rejected him so many times before. When asked about his identity, he said,
rājā kahe,—āmi tomāra dāsera anudāsa
bhṛtyera bhṛtya kara,-ei mora āśa
The king replied, ”My Lord, I am the most obedient servant of Your servants. It is my ambition that You will accept me as the servant of Your servants.” CC Madhya 14.18
Shrila Prabhupada writes, “The common man, if he has no time to worship the Lord, may at least engage his hands for a few seconds in washing or sweeping the Lord’s temple. Mahārāja Pratāparudra, the greatly powerful King of Orissa, was always very busy with heavy state responsibilities, yet he made it a point to sweep the temple of Lord Jagannātha at Purī once a year during the festival of the Lord.” SB 2.3.21 P
The COMMON Conclusion: What pleases Mahaprabhu
Pratap Rudra’s small service of maybe 10-15 minutes of sweeping the street earned him entry in the internal circle of Mahaprabhu. Similarly, the milk drinking brahmacari’s great austerities only earned the wrath of Mahaprabhu. But, his moment’s repentance and humility earned him an entry in the internal circle of Mahaprabhu.
Rupa and Sanatana Goswami, by their meek behavior and devotion captured the heart of Mahaprabhu, and Mahaprabhu revealed all the esoteric truths of sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana to them. They weren’t granted entry on the basis of their having occupied big posts in the government, rather their entry in Mahaprabhu’s circle was made possible by their humble demeanor.
Mahaprabhu is unequivocal in his ways to grant mercy, and also unequivocal at what all times he refused to give mercy. Mahaprabhu was the least pleased with the show-off of Vallabha Bhatta who said that his commentary was better than that of even Sridhar Swami. Externally, it was a big service that Vallabha rendered. He even was the speaker of a very famous verse that we quote often –
kali-kālera dharma – kṛṣṇa-nama-saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahi tāra pravartana
CC Antya 7.11
He had directed this verse to Mahaprabhu. His eulogizing Mahaprabhu didn’t please Mahaprabhu, but when he humbled himself in front of the devotees, then Mahaprabhu was pleased.
Therefore, if we wish to enter the inner circle of Mahaprabhu, with great humility we must practice bhakti with a sincere intent. And while doing thus, even a small service done for a small amount of time may help us gain entry in the inner circle of Mahaprabhu.
