Shree Krishna is self-satisfied and does not need anything,
but out of His grace, He accepts our offerings of love and devotion.
पत्रं
पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति I
तदहं
भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि
प्रयतात्मनः II
In Bhagwad Gita Shree Krishna tells Arjuna, “If one offers to
Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even water, I delightfully
partake of that article offered with love by my devotee in pure consciousness.”
(Bhagavad-gita 9.26) (Shreemad Bhagvatam 10.81.4)
How wonderful it is that the Supreme master of unlimited
universes, whose glorious qualities and virtues are amazing beyond description,
and by whose mere thought, multitudes of universes come into existence, accepts
even the most humble offering of His devotee that is given with genuine love.Out
of His causeless mercy, Krishna accepts even the smallest token of our faith—even a little water or a Tulasi
leaf—if it is offered with love and devotion. When Krishna asks us to make such
an offering, He is really inviting us to reawaken our eternal, blissful
relationship with Him. The only thing to keep in mind is that the key
ingredients in the offering process are devotion and love.
Krishna exhibits His divine pastime regarding His statement :
Krishna does not always accept what is offered to Him. Before
the Mahabharat war, Shree Krishna went to Hastinapura as a peace
messenger on behalf of the Pandavas before the Battle of Kurukshetra. When
Krishna arrived, Duryodhana invited Him to a grand feast with an intention of
to bribe Him. Duryodhana’s feast
featured many delicious dishes and that also served in the golden and silver vessels, but Krishna
refused to accept an offering motivated by self-interest and arrogance, rather
than love. He clearly told Duryodhan that one should accept the food only in
two conditions: if one is in need (hungry), or if it is offered with love.Neither
I am hungry nor you are offering it to me with love.”
Duryodhan worked hard to conceal his fury. "You must
eat somewhere, Krishna. Come. I have prepared many delicacies and sweets for
you."
"Oh no," Krishna said. "I will go to my
friend Vidur's house instead," and he walked away.
On coming to know that Shree Krishna would be coming to his
house, Vidur rushed to the market to purchase food stuffs for Him. However,
Krishna reached before Vidur could return, and began to knocking on the door.
It's me!"Krishna
replied.
There was the Supreme Lord, leaning against a pillar,
grinning at her.
Vidurani was
overwhelmed with happiness. She'd never imagined that the Lord himself would deign
to come to her humble hut. She'd never
thought that her home would have such a divine presence inside it, that it
would become a holy place.
"Aren't you going to let me in?" Krishna asked with
smile. He knew that Vidurani had been longing deeply for the opportunity to
serve her beloved Lord.
"Of course!" Vidurani moved aside and welcomed Krishna
into house. Despite his high post in Hastinapur's court, Vidur had simple needs
and tastes. His home was very small and simple. Vidurani offered a seat to
Krishna. Desiring to feed Shree Krishna with her own hands, she went to the
kitchen and brought a bunch of bananas. However, she was so deeply absorbed in
devotional thoughts and loving sentiments that she began dropping the fruit and
putting the banana peel in Shree Krishna’s mouth.Neverthless, seeing her
devotion, Krishna calmly and blissfully ate the peels without uttering a word,
as if they were the most delicious food in the world.This blunder was
discovered only when Vidur reached home and saw this.
Through this pastime, Shree Krishna revealed that the Lord
would accept anything offered with devotion, not just the fruits, but the peels
too!
