Setting: A compassionate sage traveled to various places, sharing the message of the Bhagavad Gita with the suffering masses. He had a few disciples who accompanied him everywhere.
The Disciples’ Complaint: In one village, the disciples noticed that none of the villagers seemed interested in the sage’s message. To test their inclination towards spirituality, the disciples placed a 500 Rs currency note inside a few copies of the Bhagavad Gita and left them on the book table. After a week, the books remained untouched, and the currency notes were still inside.
Disciples’ Conclusion: The disciples concluded that the villagers had no interest in spirituality and had not even touched the books. They complained to their guru about the villagers’ disinterest.
The Sage’s Response: Hearing this, the sage chastised the disciples, saying: “O fools! The Bhagavad Gita is so glorious that it cleanses the hearts of people who merely see, touch, or read it. After reading it, people would not be provoked to steal the money inside, as they would have realized that currency is as good as ordinary paper. On the contrary, fools like you, who doubt others and try to act smart, need to control your tongues, avoid unnecessary talks, and immerse yourselves in the pages of the Bhagavad Gita.”
Disciples’ Realization: The disciples repented for their behavior and seriously followed the sage’s instructions.
Moral of the Story:
Krishna, His names, form, and sound vibrations are all non-different from Him. The Bhagavad Gita, spoken by the Lord to Arjuna, is also non-different from His identity. Engaging sincerely with the Bhagavad Gita can cleanse one’s heart and transform one’s character.
The glories of the Bhagavad Gita are beautifully expressed in the following verses from the Gita Mahatmya:
gitaadhyaayana-shilasya, praanaayama-parasya ca naiva santi hi paapaani, purva-janma-krtaani ca
“If one reads Bhagavad-Gita very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the grace of the Lord the reactions of his past misdeeds will not act upon him.”
maline mocanam pumsaam, jala-snaanam dine dine sakrd gitaamrta-snaanam, samsaara-mala-naashanam
“One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-Gita, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.”
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Power of Sacred Texts: The Bhagavad Gita has a transformative power that can cleanse and elevate anyone who sincerely engages with it.
- Avoid Judging Others: It is important not to judge others hastily based on superficial observations.
- Sincerity in Practice: Engage sincerely with spiritual practices and texts to experience their true benefits.
- Self-Reflection: Reflect on one’s own behavior and attitudes before criticizing others.
Prayer:
“O Lord Krishna, please bless us with the wisdom to sincerely engage with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and other sacred texts. Help us to cleanse our hearts and minds and to avoid judging others hastily. Grant us the humility to reflect on our own actions and the devotion to immerse ourselves in Your divine words.”
