A poor man once prayed to Lord Shiva, “Please, give me the best benediction!” Lord Shiva said, “You want the best benediction? Go see Sanatana Goswami. He will give it to you.”
The man went to Sanatana’s place, eager to get the best benediction. When he got there, he noticed a valuable touchstone (a.k.a. cintamani gem, philosopher’s stone—capable of transforming base metal into solid gold a la King Midas) sitting by the trash pile. He was thrilled. He asked if he could have it. “Sure,” Sanatana agreed. The man grabbed the stone and left, unable to believe his good fortune.
But on the way home, he thought, “Wait a minute. I prayed to Lord Shiva for the best benediction. He told me, “Go see Sanatana Goswami.” Sanatana Goswami had a touchstone sitting by his garbage pile. . . Wouldn’t the touchstone obviously be the best benediction?? So why did he keep it in the garbage, and why didn’t he care that I took it? It doesn’t add up!”
The brahmana went back to Sanatana Goswami to seek clarification.
“Oh, you want the best benediction? That’s what you want?”
“Yes! That’s why I came!”
“OK. Throw the touchstone into the Yamuna River, and I’ll give you the best benediction.”
Puzzled, the man threw the precious cintamani gem far out into the river.
Sanatana Goswami then gave the man the holy name of Krishna.
There are a number of lessons we can learn from this story. One is that the holy name of Krishna is actually the best benediction.
Another lesson is that there’s a touchstone sitting at the bottom of the Yamuna River somewhere, for anybody who wants it.
