SRI PURI DHAM MAHATMYA-MUKTA-MALA

(20) Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya’s Taste for Prasad

Having rescued Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, Mahaprabhu engaged him in the service of the Lord.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya had a very important job at the temple of Lord Jagannath, but even though he arranged everything, he would not come to take prasad at the temple. He had no devotion, or taste, for prasad, so he would always come home to eat instead of taking Lord Jagannath’s prasad. Mahaprabhu thought, ‘I must give Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya taste for prasad! Mahaprasad is so delicious. How can he appreciate its taste if he does not even try it?’

One day, when Mahaprabhu came to the temple of Lord Jagannath for the Lord’s morning arati and the arati finished, He took some prasad from the temple and suddenly turned up at Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya’s house.

‘Sarvabhauma! Are you at home?’ Mahaprabhu cried.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya was sleeping at that time. Hearing Mahaprabhu’s voice, he quickly rose in his bed and replied,

‘Prabhu, You? At this time?…’

‘Are you awake?’

‘Yes, I am… but what are You doing here at this early hour?’

‘I have brought you some prasad of Lord Jagannath!’

‘Oh, but I have not brushed my teeth yet. I have not even washed my face…’

‘To take Lord Jagannath’s prasad, you do not have to brush your teeth or wash your face!’

‘Oh, really?…’

‘Yes! Here, take this prasad!’

What could Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya do? He had no way out – he took some prasad. When he tasted it, he was taken aback, ‘Oh! How nice it is! Never in my life could I imagine that prasad can be so delicious!’

From that day Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya got the taste for prasad.

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