suddhabhakti

  The Story of Dhaneshwar Adapted from Padma Purāṇa, Sixth Canto, Chapters 113–114 Lord Krishna tells a story to His wife Satyabhama Devi to illustrate some of the glories of following Kārttika-vrata, specific vows performed for the pleasure of Lord Vishnu during the month of Kārttika. Previously, there was a Brahmin named Dhaneshwar who lived in the city of Avanti. He had fallen from the status of a Brahmin, was addicted to sins, and was very wicked. He sold liquor, blankets, hides of animals, and behaved falsely. His mind was addicted to stealing, prostitutes, drinking, and gambling. Once, while traveling about to sell his wares, Dhaneshwar arrived in the city of Mahismati on the bank of the sin-destroying Narmada River. Dhaneshwar stayed there for one month. During that time, he observed many men who had come from different directions to stay in Mahismati to follow vows for the month of Kārttika. While daily walking on the bank of the Narmada selling his goods, Dhaneshwar saw Br...

  The Mouse, the Lamp and the Queen A Puranic History Srila Jiva Goswami writes in Bhakti-sandarbha , anuccheda 153: astu tāvat śuddha-bhakty-ābhāsasya vārtā, aparādhatvena dṛśyamāno 'py asau mahā-prabhāvo dṛśyate. It is seen that the activities of pure bhakti when performed even without a devotional attitude are still very powerful. Srila Jiva Goswami then cites an example from the Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa of an ordinary mouse who became a devotee and a queen due to some superficial contact with the Lord. A similar story is also found in the Padma Purāṇa . In the Viṣṇudharmottara (1. 167), Markandeya Rishi relates the following to King Vajra. In the country of Vidarbha there lived a king named Chitraratha. He had one hundred and fifteen sons, but only one daughter, whose name was Lalitika. She was endowed with all good qualities and possessed matchless beauty. Her father gave her in marriage to the righteous king of Kashi. That law-abiding king of Kashi had three hundred wi...