The Sculptor’s Dedication
A person once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an Archavigraha of Krishna. Suddenly, he noticed a similar Archavigraha kept nearby. Surprised, he asked the sculptor, “Do you need two statues of the same Deity?”
“No,” said the sculptor without looking up, “We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage.”
The gentleman examined the Deity and found no apparent damage. “Where is the damage?” he asked.
“There is a scratch on the nose of the Deity,” said the sculptor, still busy with his work.
“Where are you going to install the Deity?”
The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high.
“If the Deity is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?” the gentleman asked.
The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled, and said, “Anyone knows it or not, Krishna knows it.”
Moral of the Story
We are often under the illusion that no one is watching us when we are involved in certain activities, but Krishna is all-pervading and everywhere. He is omnipresent and omniscient. He is with us even in our thoughts and our dreams since He is situated in our hearts as Paramatma. We are never alone or left unnoticed. All our good and bad deeds are being watched by Him and the agents appointed by Him.
In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 6.1.42, the list of witnesses is explained very nicely:
suryo’gnih kham marud devah / somah sandhya ahani disah kam kuh svayam dharma iti / hy ete daihasya saksinah
(Yamadutas to Vishnudutas) “The sun, fire, sky, air, demigods, moon, evening, day, night, directions, water, land, and Supersoul Himself witness all the activities of the living entity.”
We need to understand and realize that every moment of our life is with Him. When we think of Him all the time, He will reciprocate in the same way by helping us to remember Him constantly.
Lessons to Be Learned
- Integrity in Actions Even when no one is watching, we should act with integrity and sincerity, knowing that Krishna is always aware of our actions.
- Divine Presence Acknowledge the omnipresence of Krishna, who witnesses all our deeds and thoughts.
- Consciousness of Krishna Cultivate a constant remembrance of Krishna in our daily lives.
- Accountability Recognize that we are accountable for all our actions to the Supreme Lord.
Prayer
“O Lord Krishna, please grant us the wisdom to act with integrity and sincerity at all times, knowing that You are always present and aware of our actions. Help us to cultivate a constant remembrance of You in our hearts and to live our lives in a manner that pleases You.”
