Kuchela - Krishna episode; Love of God

Be it morning or evening I am your servant An incident described in the Bhagavatham, offers an important message. Kuchela a devotee of Krishna, went to see the latter. He did not want to go empty handed and being poor, all he could take was some puffed rice which he wrapped up in a shabby piece of cloth since that was all he could manage. Krishna happily accepted the gift, opened the package and began eating what was in it, even as Kuchela watched with great embarrassment. Thoughts raced through Kuchela mind. “I am poor and all could offer was something packed in a piece of old cloth. Even so, Krishna seems to be happy with the gift and is clearly relishing the puffed rice I brought. Krishna may be happy but I have committed a serious blunder bringing such a trivial offering to the Emperor of the Universe. Even as Kuchela was thinking in this manner Rukmini the consort of Krishna rushed towards Krishna and stopped Him eating. Kuchela thought that Rukmini did what she did because the puffed rice was an inappropriate offering to an exalted one like Krishna. But Krishna knew Rukmini better. To make Kuchela understand what Rukmini was doing, Krishna asked Rukmini why she was objecting to His eating puffed rice. Rukmini replied, “Krishna, you are the servant of Kuchela while I am your servant. I should therefore get my portion of what You are eating! Please therefore, give me what is left of what you are eating. God’s vision is infinitely vast, and His Design full of grandeur. Unable to understand Cosmic Infinity, humans are often quite casual while dealing with matters Divine. God is infinitely large-hearted. No one has such a large Heart, and indeed none can have it. Slowly, Kuchela was beginning to understand what was happening. When he returned home, Kuchela was stunned to see his humble house transformed into a great mansion, while his wife and children were dressed in gorgeous clothes and wearing expensive jewellery. Kuchela’s wife ran to her husband full of joy and, catching hold of his feet plied him with questions like, “O my dear husband! How merciful and bountiful God is! Tell me, what did Krishna and you speak about? What did He say to you? How kind and compassionate God is! Truly, He is incomparable!!” Kuchela said in reply, “As soon as I sent word to Krishna through His gatekeepers about my arrival, He personally came to receive me. Rushing towards me as soon as He saw me, He came near, stood for a moment, carefully looked me over from head to toe, and then folded me in a warm embrace as if I was a long-lost soul.” Kuchela continued: “Who can comprehend the Lord’s Infinite compassion?! I poor Kuchela offered only a handful of puffed rice and He has acknowledged that humble offering by showering us with abundant wealth! Is there anyone who can describe God’s Love? All I can say is that God is Love and Love is God, and both are indescribable! God being limitless, so is His Love. Humans, on the other hand, tend to shrink and contract whatever love they are capable of. God’s love is expansive while the love of humans tends to shrink on account of narrow-mindedness.”