A Transformation To Cover All Sides

“With great alacrity the hunter began to run toward his spiritual master, but he could not fall down and offer obeisances because ants were running hither and thither around his feet.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 24.270)

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आस्ते-व्यस्ते धाञा आसे। पथ नाहि पाय
पथेर पिपीलिका इति-ुति धरे पाय

āste-vyaste dhāñā āse, patha nāhi pāya
pathera pipīlikā iti-uti dhare pāya

It is a variant of the age-old debate on the proper use of excess resources. In the case of money to spare, should we build a temple or something for charity, like a hospital or school? Should we feed the Supreme Lord through regular offerings presented to the archa-vigraha, which is the worshipable deity, or should we try to feed the poor? The question for today is whether we should strive for advancement in genuine religion first or should we prioritize acquiring good qualities. From a notable story involving the travels of Narada Muni, we see that one path takes care of whatever deficiencies we think might remain.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada refers to it as watering the root of the tree. Rather than tend to individual branches, to see if leaves are sprouting at the appropriate time, with good health and vibrant color, if we give attention to the root then everything else will be maintained. The argument generally takes place in the context of worship of the devas, as opposed to worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan.

The Supreme Lord is actually the deva of the devas. Whether you refer to Him as Vishnu, Narasimha, Rama, or Krishna, there is a single person as the source. He is the foundation upon which the universe is built. He empowers everyone else. He is the complete energetic. The numerous expansions are like His energy. The energy should be with the energetic. That is the proper condition.

To this end, Bhagavad-gita offers several comparisons to show how there is a single purpose. Fulfilling that purpose accounts for everything else. There is the conclusion, wherein Shri Krishna recommends full surrender. Give up all other systems of right and wrong. Take other items off the shelf of priority, so to speak. Give your full attention in bhakti, devotional service, to the one who holds all the truths of the universes together.

मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्
किञ्चिद् अस्ति धनञ्जय
मयि सर्वम् इदं प्रोतं
सूत्रे मणि-गणा इव

mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat
kiñcid asti dhanañjaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ
sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva

“O conquerer of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.7)

There is another section where Krishna makes the comparison between small ponds and larger bodies of water. The larger bodies already have the small ponds. If you have something big, then you also have the individual components. The many rules and regulations, presented in sacred texts like Manu-samhita, have an ultimate goal. Everything is meant for reaching the highest platform. This applies even to Brahman realization. There is another step to take.

यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके
तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः

yāvān artha uda-pāne
sarvataḥ samplutodake
tāvān sarveṣu vedeṣu
brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ

“All purposes that are served by the small pond can at once be served by the great reservoirs of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.46)

All purposes are accounted for in devotional service to Krishna. We have the story of Narada Muni meeting a hunter. In any society you are likely to find both cruelty and compassion towards animals. This is the nature of conditioned life, after all. There is always a choice. If you have rich people, you will have poor people. If you have nice people, you will also find mean people. You will be able to find extremes in both directions. We should not be surprised by this.

Choose your protected animal of choice. Be it a dog, a cat, a bird, or even a cow, we tend to make value judgments based on the treatment of that animal. If someone is cruel towards dogs, for instance, we think lesser of them. Rehabilitation in this sense would be kindness towards dogs. It is a change in character. Someone is improving in life if they go from cruel to compassionate.

Narada Muni happened to run into a hunter who was half-killing animals. It is like the victims were being tortured. They were already injured, ensnared in the traps intentionally set. They had no hope for recovery. At the same time, they were not yet dead. The hunter seemed to take pleasure in their pain.

Narada Muni asked several questions. For starters, why not just kill the animals? Moreover, did the hunter realize the future reactions he was accumulating by following such cruelty? Even if the hunter picked it up from within his own family, that is no excuse for transgressing the laws of nature. Narada Muni eventually convinced the hunter to give up this way of life. Narada even accounted for the future livelihood of the hunter. Just go to a place near a river, plant the holy Tulasi Devi, and chant the holy names. That is all the hunter needed to do.

After a while, Narada Muni took one of his friends along to visit the former hunter. The change was astonishing. The hunter had been overwhelmed with donations, as the people of the area saw him as a holy man. The hunter had excess, which he did not want. He was also so compassionate to every living creature that he did not want to step on ants on the ground. By every account this hunter was now a “good” person. The cause of the transformation was association with a saintly person and regular chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

In occupation blood to spill,
Sometimes animals half to kill.

Like taking pleasure from their pain,
Narada warning return the same.

Better towards Divine path to tread,
Hunter towards Tulasi Devi led.

Where the holy names to chant,
All good qualities to grant.