Nruga Maharaja

This is a story to illustrate that every thought, every word and every action of ours has an effect. These follows the the law of cause and effect.

King Nruga was a very kind king and believed in giving "daanam". So he gave away thousands and thousands of cows to deserving people, who were in need, who were truthful, who were selfless.

 

One day King Nruga's herd of cows ready for daanam or giving away were grazing in a field and another cow belonging to a poor Brahman joined the King's herd. Cowherd boy did not notice this and at the end of the day, led all the cows to the King's stable. He was too lazy to count the number of cows at the end of the day. Next morning was the "daanakarmam" or the actual giving away ceremony. King Nruga gave all the cows to deserving families and they were all returning home with their cows. This particular cow that belonged to the Brahman also was given away and that family was returning home with the cow. This Brahman saw his beautiful cow being taken away as a gift from King Nruga and was furiously charged at the innocent family. Complaint reached King and Brahman was very upset with the King for taking his cow and giving it as a gift to another family. That was his only source of income. King apologized and offered both of them several cows.

 

King Nruga died and after leaving his physical body here, he came to Yamaloka. Yama asked King Nruga whether he wanted to experience the results of the little sins he committed or the results of all great punyam or good actions he did. King Nruga said he would face the results of the sin first and at that moment he was born as a chameleon in a well. Because of all his good deeds in the past janma, he always remembered and meditated upon Bhagavan.

 

Lord Krishna was playing with his friends near this well and they became very thirsty. So they went to this well to fetch some water. Krishna saw the chameleon and with all his kindness touched it with his divine hands. That touch gave it "saaroopyam", meaning, that chameleon became a divine form resembling Vishnu Bhagavan. He did a saashtaang Namaskaar to Krishna and disappeared in the Divya Vimaanam and got saalookyam and  later attained saayujyam- moksham or salvation!

 

This story illustrates the fact that every action we do knowingly or unknowingly, every thought that comes to our mind, has an effect. We cannot escape that. Even though King Nruga was not directly responsible for his action, as a king and employer, he was indirectly responsible for the irresponsible behaviour of the cowherd boy. Scriptures say that surrendering to God and deriving energy from prayers will help us to have righteous thoughts and actions.