Page 5 - Story of Lord Jagannath’s Appearance

Him. This is an aspect of Krishna’s great mercy and His desire to free all
the condi oned souls from bondage in this material world. Thus
Vidyapa personally witnessed the mercy of Sri Nila‐madhava.

A er Vidyapa finished his prayers, the Sabara kept him near the Deity
and went out to collect roots and forest flowers for worship. While the
Sabara was out, Vidyapa witnessed an astounding thing. A sleeping
crow fell off a branch of a tree into a nearby lake and drowned. It im‐
mediately took a four‐armed Vaikuntha (spiritual) form and started
back to the spiritual sky. Seeing this, the brahmana climbed up the tree
and was about to jump into the lake, following the liberated crow.

As he was about to jump, however, a voice in the sky said, “O brahma‐
na,since you have been able to see Sri Nila‐madhava, you should before
all else inform King Indradyumna.” Thus the brahmana climbed down
from the tree and waited.

The Sabara soon returned carrying forest flowers and roots and started
his daily worship of Lord Nila‐madhava. As he was engaged in the ser‐
vice of the Lord, the Lord spoke to him, saying, “I have for so many days
accepted the simple forest flowers and roots offered to Me by you.
Now I desire the royal service offered to Me by My devotee King In‐
dradyumna.

When the Sabara heard this, he thought, “I shall be cheated from the
service of Sri Nila‐madhava!” Therefore he bound his son?in?law
Vidyapa and kept him in his house. A er a me, however, at the re‐
peated request of his daughter, he freed the brahmana and allowed
him to go. The brahmana then immediately went to King Indradyumna
and informed him of the discovery.

The King, in great ecstasy, went forth with many people to bring back
Sri Nila‐madhava. From the mustard seeds thrown along the path by
Vidyapa , small plants had grown. So by following these plants the King
was able to trace the path to Sri Nila‐madhava. When they reached the
spot, however, they did not find Him.

Not being able to see the beau ful form of the Lord, King Indradyumna