Pundalik heard his name being called from outside the house. While his wife wondered as to who the visitor was, Pundalik knew. How could he not recognise the voice of the one he loved with every breath of his life? When he told his wife it was Krishna, there was a little commotion inside the house as his wife ran towards the door to open it. Pundalik, though, stayed put, as he was busy massaging the legs of his parents. He had none of the usual vacillations of the mind about whether to rush to the Lord or first finish the work at hand. The parents had just gone to sleep, and he knew that stopping the massage might awaken them.
As his wife opened the door, she was mesmerised by the vision of Krishna. However, she had the shock of her life when, instead of rushing outside as anyone would have done, Pundalik merely smiled at Krishna. He then did something that was unthinkable for his wife. He tossed a brick that landed near where Krishna was standing. ‘Lord wait, while I ensure that my parents are fast asleep.’
Pundalik’s wife feared Krishna’s response. Like a traditionalist, she found the action extremely unseemly, almost sure of invoking Krishna’s ire. What happened next surprised her further. Instead of getting angry, Krishna continued with his smiling demeanour as he calmly climbed on the brick and waited. When Pundalik finally came to Krishna, the latter blessed him. On Pundalik’s request, Krishna stayed at Pandarpur in the form of Vithoba, accompanied by Rukmini.
This anecdote has multiple learnings that can be drawn from it. While most of us strive hard to strike a balance between devotional activities as is generally known and worldly duties, Pundalik’s simple act comes as a testimony to something profound. Behind the facade of what is seen by the world as devotional service lies the true feeling. Eventually, that’s what matters. Honestly, your favourite deity doesn’t expect you to leave anything.
Instead, the divine energy wants you to feel devotion in every task you perform, similar to your inner feelings while performing prayers. By doing that, your life and its work become a prayer, as the events of your life get seamlessly connected. Then, the divine energy comes to you and not the other way round, as showcased in this story.
