The Story of King Ranti Deva
During a period of devastating famine in his kingdom King Ranti Deva spent the whole of
his wealth in feeding the hungry and the distressed. Deeply pained by the sufferings of
his people and by way of atonement, the King undertook a fast for forty-eight days and did
not take any food or even water during that period. On the forty-ninth day, when he was
satisfied that almost all the hungry and the distressed in his kingdom had been well
looked after, he decided to break his fast. Just
as he was about to do so by taking a morsel of food and a cup of water he heard the
piteous cry of a person of low cast Pulkasa as he is called in the Purana, asking for
water to quench his thirst. The king was then in the midst of his ministers and
councilors. He stopped Lasting the water placed before him and ordered that Vie cup be
given to the Pulkasa. The people around him remonstrated strongly at this suicidal act on
the part of the king. It was pointed out by them that it was too much on his part to take
the risk of sacrificing his life for the sake of a Pulkasa after this long fast for nearly
forty-eight days Immediately afterwards, the king began to take the morsel of food.
Even for that food there came a guest at his doors. At this
stage, Ranti Deva made the famous pronouncement recorded in fitting terms by Vyasa: I do
not seek from the Supreme Lord the Highest Bliss attended with the eight powers or
siddhis. Nor do I care for apunarbhavam or cessation of the cycle of births and deaths.
But my only desire is to be present in all beings, undergo suffering with them and serve
them so that they may become free from misery."' |
