The Villager and His Misplaced English
The Villager and His Misplaced English
Setting: A simple villager picked up a few English words—”Yes,” “No,” and “Very good”—from listening to others. He thought that using these words would earn him respect, without understanding their proper context or application.
The Incident: One day, robbers killed a man while escaping with loot from his house and made it look like the villager was the culprit. The villager was brought before the judge in court.
Courtroom Dialogue:
- Judge (in Bengali): “Did you commit the murder?”
- Villager (thinking English would impress): “Yes!”
- Judge: “Was there anyone else with you?”
- Villager: “No!”
- Judge: “Do you realize that you will have to go to jail?”
- Villager (trying to show protest): “Very good!”
Outcome: The villager was thrown into prison due to his inappropriate use of English words.
Moral of the Story:
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master, used this story to illustrate that in devotional service, quoting scriptures without understanding their true meaning and application is like the villager’s misuse of English. It may be an attempt to receive respect and adoration, but it ultimately leads to misunderstandings and mistakes.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Proper Understanding: It’s crucial to understand the true meaning and context of the teachings and scriptures we study.
- Application in Daily Life: Knowledge must be applied correctly, especially in moments of adversity and difficulty.
- Humility and Sincerity: Approach devotional service with humility and sincerity, rather than seeking respect or adoration.
- Continuous Learning: Continuously strive to deepen your understanding and practice of devotional teachings.
Prayer:
“O Lord Krishna, please grant us the wisdom to understand Your teachings deeply and the humility to apply them sincerely in our lives. Help us to avoid the pitfalls of superficial knowledge and to strive for true understanding and devotion.”
Teachings from Srila Prabhupada’s Books:
From the Srimad Bhagavatam: In Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.18: “…tac chrnvan su-pathan vicarana-paro bhaktya vimucyen narah”
- First, we must hear (chrnvan) Srimad Bhagavatam very properly and submissively, not in a challenging or fault-finding manner.
- Then, whatever we hear, we must properly chant with devotion (su-pathan).
- Finally, whatever we have heard and are now chanting (meaning writing, transmitting, preaching, living, etc.), we must be very serious about understanding (vicarana) and digest it into our daily life. Only then will we be freed from the cycle of birth and death.
From the Bhagavad Gita: In the Bhagavad Gita (4.34), Lord Krishna says: “tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah”
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of learning from a realized teacher with humility and service.
