The Super Emperor
Suka (a foremost sage) was unattached to the world around him. He was aware of the immanent Brahman from the very moment of his birth, and he was steadily fixed in that awareness throughout life. He can be said to be the greatest jnani (spiritualist) in history. Yet, he declared that the story of the leelas (divine sport) of (Lord) Krishna, the saguna (the form with divine qualities) incarnation of the divine principle, gave him inexhaustible joy. He said that the Krishna‑principle was beyond the ken of his analysis; it could only be experienced and tasted. No words can spell out to another the rasa (sweet essence) that is the true characteristic of the Divine. He tastes inexplicably sweet, including everything related to Him, and concerned with Him. That is the reason why Sri Ramakrishna (a well-known saint) declared that he did not desire to merge in the Divine; he was content to taste the sweetness of the Divine.
This is the path of bhakti (devotion). Listening to the glories of the Lord, you become avid to praise Him, serve Him and His devotees, worship Him as if He is present before you, and be in His company all your life with no other thought other than that joy. For such dedicated seekers, all else will seem bitter and unattractive.
Sincere devotees receive darshan
Once there was a Sultan (a Muslim king) who ruled over the region of Mathura, Brindavan, and other places on the river Yamuna (in India). During his reign, the Emperor of Vijayanagar came on a pilgrimage and stayed at Brindavan for some days. He paid homage to (Lord) Krishna in the temple. The Sultan contended that he must have come so far only to pay respects to someone greater than himself. He was determined to see that one, come what may. So he went late one night and called out before the closed doors of the temple. “Who is inside?” He heard a voice that gave the reply, “Govind Maharaj and Radha Rani.”
The Sultan was now sure that there were two living persons inside, a super‑emperor and his super‑empress. He was filled with an agonising yearning to see the distinguished occupants of the temple. He waited outside the door, without moving, without food or drink for three full days. He was overcome with hunger and thirst; but he did not stir, for he was afraid the imperial couple may emerge any moment, and he might miss the darshan (sight).
That night, when the town was asleep, just before midnight Govinda Maharaj and Radha Rani emerged from the temple. They signalled to him to follow them. They were magnificently dressed and had elaborately bejewelled headgear, necklaces, wristlets, and ornaments on their hands and feet. They proceeded to the banks of the Yamuna (river), where thousands of gopas (cowherd boys) and gopis (cowherd girls) were gathered to welcome them. There was music and dance in the bright moonlight. Heavenly joy shone on every face.
At 4 a.m., they returned to the temple, and before they passed through the closed door, they gave the kankanas (bracelets) from their wrists to the Sultan for safekeeping. Before he could say anything to them, they left the scene.
Implicit faith gives bliss
A party of priests came along at that time and questioned the Sultan about his presence there and the bracelets he was holding in his hands. They had come to unlock the doors and initiate the ceremonials of the day with suprabhatam (awakening hymn) and nagarasankirtan (walking choirs). The Sultan replied, “Govinda Maharaj and Radha Rani have just gone in; I was with them at the banks of the Yamuna from midnight until now. They gave me these kankanas for safekeeping. I don’t know why.”
They concluded that he was a thief caught in the act and, therefore, was spinning a yarn. So they bound him and beat him. However, to their surprise,they found that the locks of the temple had not been tampered with and everything was intact except for the gold bracelets on the hands of Krishna’s idol. Convinced that the man outside was a great bhakta (devotee) of Lord Krishna who had the unique vision of the lord, they honoured him and pleaded to be forgiven for their behavior. Such is the reward for sincere yearning; unlimited ananda (bliss) can be earned through implicit faith in God.
Source: Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 8
