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Service to a devotee of Krishna saved King Nṛga

iskcon August 2, 2025

King Nṛga was very charitable, yet he had to suffer for a sin which he committed unintentionally. But King Nṛga was finally saved by Krishna because he had once done service to a devotee of Krishna.

King Nṛga’s sin

Once a cow which the king had given in charity to a brahmana by mistake came back to his herd and he gave the same cow to another brahmana as charity.

When the brahmana who had got the cow initially saw this, he became angry and upset. He wanted his cow back but the other brahmana was not willing to give the cow. They both began arguing with each other claiming the cow to be their own. They went to the king to resolve the dispute.

King offered them to take one hundred thousand cows instead of that one cow, but they refused and went away. King’s mistake was unintentional but still he incurred sin for taking the cow of the brahmana which he had already given in charity.

And when he died then he had to suffer for the sin which he committed. He got the body of a lizard.

King Nṛga as lizard rescued by Krishna

But fortunately, he became a lizard in Dwarka and was rescued by Krishna. As soon as Krishna touched his body, he got free from the sins. He got a beautiful golden body like the resident of a heaven. Later a celestial plane came and took him to the higher abode.

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that although he was suffering for his sins, he was able to get the darshan of Krishna because once he had helped a devotee by giving him charity to build the temple of Lord Krishna. He had also helped the devotee to get copies of Bhagavad Gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam. The devotee was happy and satisfied by king’s gesture. He blessed the king saying, “May you have darshan (audience) of the Supreme Lord.”

It was because of that devotee’s mercy that the King as lizard was able to get darshan of the Lord Krishna.

People perform pious activities with a desire to get some benefit. But while doing so, there is a possibility that someone may commit some mistake unintentionally. And for that one has to suffer. But the service to the Supreme Lord Krishna is so glorious that one does not have to worry about committing any mistake intentionally.

Krishna always protects his devotee

Service to Krishna never goes in vain. Even if someone does something little for the Lord, Lord notes it down and reciprocate with the devotee. Not just that Lord takes care of his devotee and protect him from all dangerous situations.

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” Bhagavad Gita 2.40

King Nṛga did service to a devotee of Krishna and got saved by Krishna. Similarly, we will also be protected by Krishna when we remain under his shelter and continue serving him and his devotees.

A genuine devotee of Krishna while doing any service to Krishna, never expects anything in return. He just wants to serve the Lord; his only desire is to please the Lord. Even though the devotee does not desire anything from Krishna, he makes sure his devotee is never deprived of anything.

Three Reflections

King Nṛga’s mistake was unintentional but still he incurred sin for taking the cow of the brahmana which he had already given in charity.
King Nṛga did service to a devotee of Krishna and got saved by Krishna.
Even though a devotee does not desire anything from Krishna, he makes sure his devotee is never deprived of anything.