“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But
whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and
I am also a friend to him.” – Bhagavad Gita (9.29)
Rukmini’s reasoning was: “if this rice is satisfying my husband so
much, this must indeed be most special. I too want to taste this pure
love of my lord’s devotee and want my maid servants to also get this
blessing.” Krishna knew that sudama carried unflinching love in his
heart for him; therefore he forcefully snatched the offering that
sudama refused to give Krishna!
Five hundred fifty years ago when Krishna came as sri chaitanya
mahaprabhu, he enacted a similar pastime with suklambhar brahmachari.
Suklambhar was a simple renunciant who begged rice from different
houses and the poor quality rice that he usually got, he stored them
in an old worn out bag that hung it on his shoulders. Suklambar was
the reincarnation of sudama and carried the same spirit of simplicity
and love for the lord in his devotional heart. The lord performed
chanting of holy names and danced in kirtan and induced all others
also to do so. During the middle of the kirtan, one day, he grabbed
suklambar’s bag and ate a handful. Suklambar was shocked and begged
the lord not to do so. But the lord, immersed in the love of his
devotee, took another handful, even as suklambar cried in
transcendental disapproval. During this instance lord chaitanya
mahaprabhu not only revealed the special position of suklambar to the
whole world, but also proved how he is conquered by love, and not by
some external show business.
We can place ourselves in between the second and third category- level
2.5. We follow rituals and rules but offer sincere prayers and love
during those offerings. Krishna notices our mood and he sees rules are
a means that we use to connect with him better. But rules are not the
goal. And we don’t ignore the rules because it’s easier to connect to
God when we have certain systems and practises in place. These rules
help us remember Krishna with love. But the choice of love is what
attracts Krishna.
When Krishna is pleased by our adding of loving remembrance to our
devotional practises, he picks us up and then our offering would, by
his grace, rise to levels 3 and beyond.
