Ravi and the Importance of Timely Devotion
A Negligent Boy
Once there lived a small boy named Ravi, born into a pious and devoted family. His parents and grandmother were sincere devotees of the Lord, strictly adhering to their sadhana, regularly worshipping the Lord, and serving prasadam to devotees. However, Ravi was different. He was playful and negligent in his sadhana, always late for offering prayers to the Lord. Despite his grandmother’s advice that it was not correct to give the least priority to the Lord, Ravi never bothered to listen.
The Tragic Accident
After some time, Ravi met with an accident and died. When the Yamadutas approached him, he was scared. Trying to recollect the moments when he had participated in prayers with his family and helped serve devotees, Ravi attempted to convince the Yamadutas that he had served the Lord and that they must have made a mistake. But the Yamadutas turned a deaf ear to his pleas and dragged him to the gates of hell.
Divine Intervention
Just at the moment when they were about to throw Ravi into hell, the Lord appeared and asked the Yamadutas to let him free. Ravi, thanking Supreme Lord Krishna, asked Him why He had allowed so many troubles to come upon him and why He saved him only at the end.
The Lord smiled and replied, “Well, do you remember any single instance when you were on time for offering prayers to me? You always gave last priority to me and prayed only at the last moment. So how do you expect Me to be on time?”
Moral of the Story
- Timely Devotion: We should offer our prayers to the Supreme Lord on time. Properly offering our prayers can prevent situations where others have to pray on our behalf.
- Sincere Prayers: Daily prayers should not be mechanical rituals but should be offered with the right mood and spirit. Spiritual activities done without the right attitude can become mere rituals, so we must always keep a cautious check on ourselves.
- Punctuality: We must always be punctual for every appointment with Krishna, whether it is mangala-arati, offering bhoga, attending satsang programs, or Bhagavatam classes. Every occasion is a special appointment with our Supreme Boss, Krishna, and we need to be punctual.
- Avoid Procrastination: Procrastination is the thief of time. Whether it is spiritual or material activities, we should never procrastinate. As Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (18.23):
ayuktah praakritah stabdhah / shatho naishkritiko 'lasah
vishaadi deergha-sutree ca / kartaa taamasa ucyate
“The worker who is always engaged in work against the injunctions of the scripture, who is materialistic, obstinate, cheating and expert in insulting others, and who is lazy, always morose and procrastinating is said to be a worker in the mode of ignorance.”
People often procrastinate, dragging tasks that can be done in an hour over years. Such workers are situated in the mode of ignorance. When given the opportunity to return to Godhead in this lifetime, we often fail to realize the value of this gift of human life and keep delaying the process. By doing our devotional service sincerely, there is every chance for us to go back to Godhead in this very life.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
PS: I humbly request all devotees to please forward and share this moral/instructive story so that everyone can benefit by hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees
