The Brahmana

a short story

Naughty Krishna holding a piece of candy

Note: This piece was inspired by a scriptural story that I have heard about but never had a chance to read.

Still, I wanted to communicate the lesson that the story imparts: that Krishna cares more about a person’s qualities and actions than about their parentage.

The following piece is not a translation or a retelling. It is completely fictional except for the essence of the lesson.

The name “Guruji” is a title of respect for the spiritual master. The word “brahmana” is the same as “brahmin” but the spelling is closer to the original Sanskrit.

The Brahmana

Rama Das slipped off his shoes,  opened the door to the ashram, and  staggered in. He dropped his backpack on the floor and sat down on a bench, his back against the wall. He rubbed his eyes.

“Damn it…” he muttered. “Of all the lousy breaks…”

He pulled off his socks and flung them under the bench. Then he reached in his pocket, pulled out a small box of lemon wafers, and threw one in his mouth.

A door opened at the far end of the room, then the sound of of a sneeze. Someone holding a lit stick of incense ambled up to a table in the dim  morning light, put the incense in a holder, and rang a little handbell. Soon the aroma of sandalwood filled the air.

“Who’s there?” Rama called out.

“Me,” answered a boy’s voice.

The boy strolled over to Rama. “Hare Krishna,” he said.

“Oh Nitai. Hare Krishna. Nice to see you.”

“You look tired,” said Nitai.

“I’ve been traveling most of the night and through the morning. “My back hurts, and my eyes are burning.”

“I’m glad you’re back. “The ceremony’s this afternoon. Guruji’s going to initiate us as brahmanas. He said I’ll be his youngest brahmana ‘cause I’m only eleven.”

He reached over and put his hand on top of Rama’s head.

“You’re all fuzzy. You ought to shave your head before the ceremony. I’ll help you.”

“I’m not going to the ceremony.

“What?”

Just then there was the creak of a door opening and the tap tap of a cane on the floor.

“It’s Guruji,” said Nitai.

Rama and Nitai prostrated themselves on the floor— a gesture of respect. Then they stood up.

“Rama,” said Guruji, “You’re back. Where did you go?”

“I went to see my mother. I asked her who my father was. I never knew him, but I wanted to know if I was qualified to be a brahmana.”

“And?”

“My mother doesn’t know which man was my father. And all these years I thought she was a widow. But she’s not.”

Guruji smiled. “Don’t think bad of your mother. Sometimes life forces us to do things.”

Rama took a deep breath.“Yeah, I know. She did the best she could. And she’ll always be my sweet old Mom. I do love her. But… but the fact remains that I am not qualified to be a brahmana or anything else.

“And I don’t want to be the bad apple that ruins your barrel, Guruji.” He took another deep breath and held it in. “So I think the best thing is that… I just leave and stop trying to be  what I cannot be.”

“Don’t,” said Nitai.

Rama glanced at Nitai, who was standing with his face downward and a hand over his eyes. Then he turned to Guruji again.

“Not so fast, Rama,” said Guruji. “You took a vow. You can’t just walk out on me.”

“But I’m of no use. I’m just a love child, a little bast—”

“No! Sit down.”

“Let me get you a chair first,” said Rama and started to walk to the far end of the room.

Nitai ran and got there first. He picked up a folding chair and ran with it back to Guruji. He opened the chair and dusted off the seat with his hand.

Guruji turned to Nitai. “Thank you,” he said and sat down.

Rama sat on the bench, and Nitai sat next to him.

Guruji pointed a finger at Rama.“ Now listen to me. Haven’t you studied the Bhagavad-Gita? Don’t you remember what Krishna says?”

Nitai moved closer to Rama.

“It’s a person’s actions and qualities that make them a brahmana. Krishna doesn’t say anything about parentage.”

“You mean… you don’t care?”

Krishna doesn’t even mention it, so why would I care about it? Why would anyone? Except maybe a certain fool that I know.”

Rama laughed and pointed a finger at himself. Nitai looked at Rama and laughed too.

“It’s the qualifications, and one of them is truthfulness. You told the truth even though it was painful, so you are a real brahmana.”

He reached over, put one hand under Rama’s, chin, and lifted Rama’s face upward. “Now stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get ready for the ceremony. And there’s still time for you to get a little sleep.”

Rama sighed a long sigh. “Thank you, Guruji. You are an ocean of mercy.” He bent over and reached down with his fingertips to touch Guruji’s feet and then his own forehead.

Nitai jumped down from the bench and squirmed into the narrow space between Rama’s legs and Guruji’s. Then he lightly touched his forehead to Guruji’s feet.

Guruji looked at his watch. “I have to go now. I’ll see you at the ceremony.”

He stood up, took up his cane and started walking toward the door with careful steps and the tapping of his cane. Rama walked behind him. Nitai ran past them and got to the door first. He opened it wide.

Guruji  walked through the doorway. Outside he slipped his feet into his shoes. Then he turned around toward Rama and smiled. “One more thing. Don’t forget to shave your head. Nitai can help you.” He turned and started walking away.

Rama put an arm around Nitai’s shoulders. “You’re a great buddy, Nitai.”

Then they both prostrated themselves.

⁓Umapati Swami, February 27, 2025

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© Umapati Swami 2024

Srila Prabhupada

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the teacher who brought Krishna Consciousness from India to the West and then to the rest of the world. He is the founder of the worldwide Hare Krishna Movement as well as the author and compiler of many works of Vedic knowledge. He left this world in 1977.

Umapati Swami

One of the first American devotees of the Hare Krishna Movement, he became Srila Prabhupada’s disciple in 1966. Since then, he has preached Krishna Consciousness in many countries and is the author of “My Days with Prabhupada,” available from Amazon. Now 87 years old, he maintains this blog to share what he has learned.