The Fisherman’s Discovery
Once upon a time, a humble fisherman returned from a long day at sea. As he began to clean and cut one of the fish he caught, he made a startling discovery—a radiant diamond hidden inside the fish. Unaware of its true value, the fisherman was curious but clueless about the worth of his find.
The Merchant’s Offer
Eager to learn more, the fisherman took the diamond to a local merchant. The merchant, recognizing the fisherman’s ignorance about the gem’s value, saw an opportunity. He told the fisherman that the diamond was worth 10,000 gold coins—a substantial sum for someone so simple. The fisherman, overjoyed by what he believed to be an incredible fortune, sold the diamond to the merchant and lived a rich life with the money.
The Merchant’s Ambition
The merchant, knowing the diamond’s value far exceeded what he paid, decided to sell it to the King. He presented the gem at the royal court, where expert metallurgists examined it and declared its worth to be a million gold coins. The King, trusting his experts, immediately paid the merchant the hefty sum, making the merchant immensely wealthy.
The Sage’s Revelation
One day, a revered sage visited the King and saw the diamond. The sage was astonished and informed the King that the merchant had greatly undervalued the gem. Curious, the King asked the sage why he believed so. The sage explained, “This diamond is priceless. It is mentioned in ancient scriptures, but I have never seen it until now. No amount of money can truly capture its worth because it is unique and irreplaceable.”
The King’s Decision
The King, enlightened by the sage’s words, decided never to sell the diamond. Instead, he kept it as a symbol of honor and wisdom. Whenever respectable and wise persons visited his court, he would allow them to wear the diamond, considering it a great honor in his kingdom.
Moral of the Story
This story reflects profound spiritual lessons through its characters. The fisherman represents those who seek material wealth and happiness in exchange for their devotional service. The merchant symbolizes the inquisitive individuals who pursue spiritual practices for liberation from material existence. The King, guided by the sage, epitomizes the pure devotee who understands the full value of devotional service and shares it selflessly with others.
Krishna’s Teachings
Lord Krishna encapsulates these ideas in the following verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam (11.20.34):
“na kincit saadhavo dhiraa bhaktaa hy ekaantino mama vaanchanty api mayaa dattam kaivalyam apunar-bhavam”
“Because My devotees possess saintly behavior and deep intelligence, they completely dedicate themselves to Me and do not desire anything besides Me. Indeed, even if I offer them liberation from birth and death, they do not accept it.”
Understanding Devotional Service
Aspiring devotees can find themselves in any of these categories. By continuing to serve the Lord under the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher (acharya), without frustration or hopelessness, they can reach the understanding and fulfillment akin to that of the King. Krishna explains in the seventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita that four kinds of pious individuals render devotional service to Him, and all are magnanimous. However, He states that a wise person (jnani) who has firm knowledge of the Absolute Truth is the best and very dear to Him.
Conclusion
This story highlights that while devotees may perform similar services and activities, their motives differ, influencing their understanding of the value of devotional service. Those who equate bhakti with material happiness or liberation from distress undervalue it. True bhakti transcends material and spiritual attainments, embodying selfless service to the divine as the ultimate goal.
