Rantideva

 There is an episode of certain King Rantideva, born in the dynasty of Bharatas, in

9 th Skandha of Srimad Bhagavatam. Rantideva was born to King Nara and as brother

of Guru. While Guru succeeded his father’s province, younger brother Rantideva left

the palace, with his devot wife and children to a forest, living the life of a sage.

Though brave, knowledgeable and generous, heHe was never greedy like rulers of

his time.

He always kept the company of Rishis, travellers and poor people who lived by

farming in a small piece of land they had. Rantideva, though left in poverty now,

never sent any person who came to his small dwelling during meal time. In fact, he

would wait for a guest to arrive, offer him some food and later partook what was left

with his wife and children. As a great devotee of Bhagavan Vasudeva, he always

prayed Lord to make people free of hunger and greed.

Once it so happened, he did not get anything to eat for 48 days. However, he fed his

wife and children with some wild fruits and vegetables and he fasted himself. He

went out in search of some food one day. Fortunately, he could get some Milk

Payasam, in a neighbouring place as it was a festival day. He brought some and

was about to feed his wife and children , while a hungry guest arrived. And he

offered him what he had brought in full to him.

The guest was fully satisfied and blessed him to have a life of prosperity. After he

left, another guest arrived who was a labourer tired and hungry after day’s hard work

in a field. He served him what was left in the vessel for feeding his family. He ate the

food offered abegging him for food to eat. nd left the place blessing Rantideva to

have more prosperity to feed more hungry people.

Suddenly, a hunter with dogs accompanying him arrived, begging him to offer some

food to eat. He said: Sir, I and my dogs are extremely hungry in this forest, we failed

to get anything to eat, and my dogs are almost starved, kindly feed us with what you

have at home.

Rantideva searched his house and found some milk, wild fruits and served them all.

He was left only with some water to drink. When he was about to quench his thirst,

another man, seemingly an outcaste arrived. He asked him to get some water to

quench his thirst, Rantideva gave him water which he was about to drink.

Rantideva now exhausted prayed Lord Vasudeva: O Swami! I am not asking you any

miracle to happen now, I don’t need any boon either. All I request from you, the

Creator is free people from miseries they have by way of hunger and sufferings of

various kinds. He was tired and was about to fall unconscious.

After a while, Vishnu, who tested his patience as Brahmana, Shiva as hunter with

dogs and Brahma as an outcaste, appeared in their real form and blessed him. 

Rantideva bowed to them, but he had no desire or boon to ask each of them! He

totally surrendred to them.

Bhagavatam has a great message to us: Nothing really belongs to you, except

Universal Love. Show uncommtted Love to those who are poor, hungry, uncared,

and offer what you have. Leave the fruits of action to Vasudeva, he will surely take

care of your burden and keep you happy in the real sense of the term.