Surrender in a night….
Ruchika Srivastava: “In this world being ruined by desire for money and sense gratification, inspirational stories such as that of Pingala, are a ray of hope. With a heartfelt prayer that people’s search for love and happiness ends up in the right direction, I dedicate this poem to all those suffering souls waiting for some illumination and direction in life. May the light of Krishna Consciousness brighten up every corner of the world in such a way that there is a celebration of happiness everyday. Hare Krishna!
Surrender in a night….
In the city of Videha,
With the name as Pingala
Ill-fated and destitute
There lived a prostitute.
She stood beautified
One night in her doorway
With her form on display
For a man she would sway
With the love that she had,
And whose price he could pay.
For all the men passing by,
She thought in the same way
Maybe this one will gratify me
Maybe that one will make my day.
As the night grew darker and no one came her way
She walked with anxiety, in and out the doorway
Frustrated and disappointed, eager to call it a day.
With her body, mind and words so to say
She engaged in the service of lusty men every day.
And while unsteadiness and disturbance
Were her companions all the way
She realized that night, all her lovers betray.
In that moment of dismay, she meditated this way….
“Who sends prosperity in this world and where does He stay,
Will real love and happiness be mine someday?”
Then, as darkness is dispelled with a beam of sun ray
In her mind, the knowledge of Supreme Lord made its way
He sits in the heart, only a loving thought away,
And rewards sincere devotion with eternal heyday!
Suffering of Pingala, lead to her enlightenment in this way
Through detachment, her false hopes and desires went away.
Happiness arose in her mind, without delay
Her disillusionment was her fortune’s birthday!
Even a destitute like Pingala can afford to purchase the Lord
By praying Him day and night with body, mind and words
Within a night, she gave up that lifestyle, sinful and odd,
Maintained herself thereafter, with whatever came, of its own accord.
(Based on Srimad Bhagavatam 11.8)
In the 11th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, Pingala the prostitute is described as one of the 24 Gurus for the Avadhuta Brahman. She was in a similar predicament. Pingala’s story begins with what would be a prostitute’s typical daily, or more precisely nightly, routine. As the evening sets in, Pingala dresses and decorates herself seductively and steps out of her house to attract one of the many men who are going along the road. Like any other woman in her profession, she is looking for a wealthy man who will pay her charges and maybe even give something extra if he turns out to be generous. Yet she is looking for more – she hopes to get not just a customer, but a lover who will give her affection and pleasure.
Evening turns to night and night to midnight, yet no one approaches her. Perplexed and disappointed and exhausted, she returns to her room to nap, but wakes up with a start and rushes out, fearing that she might miss a customer or was it her lover who just passed by. Trying desperately to attract someone, she goes further down the street, but to no avail. As her hopes of earning on that night dry, her face falls and she becomes very disappointed. She feels extremely lonely and frustrated. While deeply experiencing those feelings she has a eureka moment. A a great sense of detachment awakes within her (nirvedah paramo jajne). This detachment not only removes her anxiety, but also replaces it with great happiness (cinta-hetuh sukhaavahah). She analyzes and verbalizes her epiphany in the form of a celebrated song. Amongst various important realizations Pingala has, she laments her folly in seeking worthless lovers (asatah kaantah).We will discuss that one today.
She comes to the realization that nothing or no person in the world can fully satisfy her longing for a true relationship and fulfillment except Krishna.She considers her lovers worthless , where she contrasts them with the Lord who resides right in her own heart and who grants the supreme wealth and the ultimate pleasure. As compared to the one who is waiting to be her eternal lover, all worldly lovers are insignificant.She says
SB 11.8.31 — I am such a fool that I have given up the service of that person who, being eternally situated within my heart, is actually most dear to me. That most dear one is the Lord of the universe, who is the bestower of real love and happiness and the source of all prosperity. Although He is in my own heart, I have completely neglected Him. Instead I have ignorantly served insignificant men who can never satisfy my real desires and who have simply brought me unhappiness, fear, anxiety, lamentation and illusion.
She laments that, instead of striving to please such a wonderful Lord, she has struggled in vain to please those who are themselves tormented by lust and greed, and are therefore pitiable. Lest any attraction still remain in her heart for worldly lovers, she rejects them by asking rhetorically that even the best of them, to the level of gods, are temporary – what pleasure can they offer to their wives?