A friend for lunch

Once a Vaishnava invited his friend for lunch.

He served him prasadam nicely and later inquired him about his devotional service. The friend got angry and said, 

“What are you talking about? What devotional service? I don’t believe in God, so why should I do service to Him?”

After hearing this from his friend, the Vaishnava was stunned. He started lamenting in front of the deity that he had made a blunder by inviting an atheist for prasadam.

Then the Lord appeared before him and said:

“Why are you lamenting for giving prasadam to just one atheist. Look at Me, for ages I have been feeding unlimited atheists of this world. Then how much lamentation will I have. Still, I take care of everybody like a father.”

In Bhagavad Gita 9.29 the Supreme Lord Krishna states,

samo ‘ham sarva-bhutesu 

na me dvesyo ‘sti na priyah

ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya

mayi te tesu capy aham

“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.”

The Lord considers every living entity as His son and as such He provides everyone with a generous supply of the necessities of life. He is just like a cloud which pours rain all over, regardless of whether it falls on rock or land or water. He has mercifully provided the basic necessities of life – like air and water in sufficient quantities for all living entities.

But for His devotees, He gives specific attention. 

“Whoever surrenders unto Me, proportionately I take care of him.”

As obedient children of our Supreme Father, it is our utmost duty to follow His footsteps and treat everyone equally. When we serve prasadam to others we should never discriminate against them.

Irrespective of whether they are good or bad, the prasadam has the potency to purify the impurities in their hearts and sow the seed of love for God-head.

 

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