GURU PUJA SPECIAL EDITIONoption, he mustered courage and literally pleaded,
“Please revered Master... Just a little bit... I will
quickly go inside and get the required things. Please
grant my request, O merciful Lord!”
Mahaprabhu responded playfully, “Please,
O dear Govinda, have mercy on me by not asking me
to move even a “little bit”... I have told you that I am
very-very-very tired today... so tired that I just
cannot move... Now don't you dare to sing your
pleading tunes again...”
“But, how will I get the required things
to accomplish my service?” Govinda said in a
humble tone. However, he knew, his tone also
would be of no avail! So, before the Lord closed all
the doors to grant his prayers, he thought of a smart
idea! He immediately proposed an easier option to
the Lord thinking that it will be a win-win situation
for both– “Lord, I understand, you are so very tired
that you cannot move at all. That's fine, Lord. In that
case, please roll a bit, and I will swiftly move
inside.”
He had full confidence that this formula
would work. But, poor Govinda! The Lord wasn't
ready to give in at all today! The Lord gave him
a staring glance, and literally scolded him this
time, “Listen Govinda! Enough of it! I have no
strength to even roll, you understand! Now do not
disturb me.”
Govinda begged, “Lord, please... how will I...
I cannot walk over You, O Master...”
Mahaprabhu, “Do whatever you want... But do
not say to me anything again.” And saying thus,
Mahaprabhu slept.
Now there was no other way out left for
Govinda. He spread the cloth he was carrying on his
shoulder, on Mahaprabhu's torso. Then, he carefully
jumped over the Master and got inside the room.
Without delaying any further, he was at his service
of massaging the Master's feet and legs. As the Lord
was sleeping on his side, he carefully massaged his
back too, thinking that the Master is awfully tired
today and will get relief with that.
It was almost going to be an hour. The Lord
continued to (pretend to) sleep, while Govinda sat
near his feet, with folded hands, cherishing the
divine moments of beholding his Master
uninterruptedly. He had stopped massaging after
finding the Lord deep asleep, with the thought of
not disturbing him. Suddenly, the Lord opened his
eyes and looked at Govinda. Govinda immediately
glued his eyes to the feet of the Master. The next
moment, an angry voice hit his ears, “What are you
doing here till now? Every day, after massaging me,
you go and have food. Then, why didn't you go
today?”
Govinda's reply came, without any fear or
hesitation, “How could I go, Master? You have
blocked the entire passage... And, how could I jump
over you?”
Mahaprabhu instantly said, “You could have
gone the same way as you came inside...”
Govinda didn't say anything. But, his heart's
voice reached his Mahaprabhu, which confessed,
“Lord, your service, your relief is everything to me. I
could not see you lying down in so much pain. For
the sake of your comfort and to serve you Master, I
can commit thousands of offenses. Even if the Lord
will punish me for this sin, I am ready to suffer. I will
willingly go to hell, if He sends me there for my
entire life or for births together! ...But, for my own
sake, I cannot disrespect you, O Master! I would
prefer to starve and die in that case!”
Mahaprabhu heard what Govinda didn't speak.
He embraced his beloved disciple and said,
“O Govinda! Not punishment or hell, but you will be
bountifully rewarded in the Lord's domain for this
“sin” of yours. The Lord adores such “sinful” acts and
wishes to see all devotees doing them!” ||JULY 2019 AKHAND GYANETERNAL WISDOM 27