The Tale of Two Kings
There lived two kings named Kesidhvaja and Kandikya, ruling neighboring kingdoms. Kesidhvaja was a great devotee of the Lord, while Kandikya was a pious king and an expert in performing sacrifices and fruitive activities.
Once, a great war arose between the two kings, and Kesidhvaja emerged victorious. Feeling humiliated by his defeat, Kandikya retired from his kingdom and went to the forest to practice great austerities for self-realization.
The Encounter in the Forest
After a few years, Kesidhvaja wanted to perform sacrifices to set an example for his subjects. To gain knowledge of these sacrifices, he went to the forest to meet Kandikya. Kandikya explained the art of performing sacrifices to Kesidhvaja, who was very pleased with the answers.
Kesidhvaja then asked, “Please tell me how I can serve a great person like you.”
Kandikya, in turn, asked, “Please tell me how to control my mind and senses, which are presenting a great challenge to me.”
The Wisdom of Kesidhvaja
Kesidhvaja replied, “To control the mind and senses, one should meditate exclusively on the transcendental form of the Supreme Lord, which is the most auspicious object of meditation. The forms of the material world, like humans, matter, and devas, are not prescribed for meditation because they have two main flaws:
- The forms are acquired by the individuals because of karma and hence are not natural forms.
- The forms are subject to destruction by the force of time.
However, the Lord’s form is not a product of karma and is eternal. By meditating on His form, one can subdue the mind and senses.”
Kandikya, being pleased with the answer, offered obeisances to Kesidhvaja.
Moral of the Story
From the above story, we understand that one should meditate on the Lord’s form, either in His manifestation as a deity or through His pictures or instructions in the scriptures.
Lessons to be Learned
- Meditation on the Lord’s Form:
- Meditating on the Lord’s eternal form helps control the mind and senses. The material forms are temporary and influenced by karma, whereas the Lord’s form is eternal and auspicious.
- Need for Spiritual Guidance:
- Despite Kandikya’s expertise in performing sacrifices and his austere life, he struggled to control his mind and senses. He needed guidance from a devotee like Kesidhvaja to learn the science of devotional service.
- Power of Devotional Service:
- Kesidhvaja, though not as knowledgeable in sacrifices and burdened with ruling a kingdom, controlled his mind and senses through his ardent devotion to the Lord. This demonstrates the immense power of devotional service in spiritual advancement.
Reflection on Devotional Service
The story illustrates the transformative power of devotional service. Kesidhvaja’s devotion enabled him to master his mind and senses, and he could impart this knowledge to Kandikya. It highlights that true spiritual advancement comes from devotion to the Lord, beyond just ritualistic practices.
Scriptural Insight
In Srimad Bhagavatam, meditation on the Lord’s form is emphasized as a means to control the mind and senses:
“yat-pāda-paṅkaja-palāśa-vilāsa-bhaktyā
karmāśayaṁ grathitam udgrathayanti santaḥ
tadvan na rikta-matayo yatayo ‘pi ruddha-
sroto-gaṇās tam araṇaṁ bhaja vāsudevam”
“Engaged in the devotional service of the lotus feet of the Lord, the devotees’ minds are automatically controlled. They can discard all material desires, and thus they easily achieve success in their endeavors. Others, however, who engage in the speculative process of self-realization and controlling the senses, cannot achieve the same success. Therefore, one should engage in the devotional service of Vasudeva.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.22.39)
Conclusion
The story of Kings Kesidhvaja and Kandikya is a powerful reminder of the importance of meditating on the Lord’s form and the transformative power of devotional service. By following the example of Kesidhvaja, we can learn to control our mind and senses and progress on the path of devotion.
Prayer
Let us pray for the wisdom to meditate on the Lord’s eternal form and engage in devotional service:
“O Supreme Lord Krishna, guide us to meditate on Your eternal, auspicious form and help us control our mind and senses through devotional service. May we find strength and wisdom in Your teachings and the guidance of Your devotees.”
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
Request for Sharing
Please share this moral and instructive story with others so that everyone can benefit from hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees.
