Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, 'Meeting of Bharata and the Sage Bharadvaja'. In the previous offering we saw how Bharata approached the sage with great humility. Now let us continue to learn few more lessons from this transcendental meeting.
2. Serving the Devotees: When the sage heard Bharata's resolve to bring back Rama to Ayodhya, the sage smiled at him and said, "I surely knew of Your intention and spoke only to heighten Your resolve and indeed Your fame. You are a worthy member of Your royal line, O prince, and are always dedicated to the service of Your elders. Your devotion to Rama is beyond doubt." Then the sage assured Bharatha that he would point out Rama's wherabouts and asked him to spend the night with them. Bharata replied that they were happy with whatever hospitality provided and that he did not want to trouble the sage by bringing the entire army. Bharadvaja smiled and replied, "Have Your army brought here forthwith. You should not doubt my ability to receive them, nor will they be any trouble at all."
Within few minutes, the sage by his divine powers, by uttering Vedic mantras he invoked the presence of the principal gods. He then requested them to provide hospitality for the divine prince and His army. They divine beings ensured that Bharata and his entire entourage were received with showers of flowers, celestial music, delicious refreshments, large white mansions furnished with seats and couches. Even the army's animals were carefully tended and given all kinds of food and drink by the celestial beings invoked by Bharadvaja. At the end of the night the sage also ensured that everyone received hot-water, soap, oil, dress, combs etc to refresh themselves. The army was astonished by the night's events, which seemed like a dream. When they were about to leave the whole hermitage had returned to its normal appearance. Bharadvaja asked Bharata,"I trust You and Your followers spent an enjoyable night. Please tell me if there is anything else I can do for You." The lessons we learn here is that
1. Bharadvaja inspite of being so powerful, did not misuse the potency for his own satisfaction. He
used it purely to serve the Lord's associates and His subjects.
2. Usually when we serve some one nicely, we start thinking that we have done everything nicely. We expect others to thank us and we don't even bother to ask whether they need any more service. But Bharadvaja, inspite of making so many arrangements, was still eager to serve them.
Krishna willing we will continue to meditate on this transcendental meeting in the subsequent offerings.
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