“This fellow was a thief,” said Chitragupta. “In fact, there is no conceivable sin that he has not committed. However, he performed one good deed. And such was the punya from that deed that it has more than atoned for all the sins Dandaka had committed. He cleaned some dust from the threshold of Vishnu’s temple.”

As soon as Chitragupta said this, Yama descended from his throne and worshipped Dandaka. He realised that there was no question of sending Dandaka to hell. The only place that was fit for Dandaka was Vishnu’s abode in Vishnuloka. There it was that Dandaka was sent.

Such are the wonderful effects of cleaning Vishnu’s temples.

The Rat

In treta yuga, there lived a brahmana named Vaikuntha. Vaikuntha was extremely devoted to Vishnu. He once lit a lamp in one of Vishnu’s temples. Having lit the lamp, he went home.

Clarified butter (ghrita) had been used by Vaikuntha for lighting the lamp. The smell of the clarified butter attracted a rat and the rat started to eat the ghrita. In the process, the lamp shook and the flame was brightened. It shone more clearly on Vishnu’s image and dispelled some of the darkness that was engulfing the image.

Eventually, the rat was bitten by a snake. Yama sent his messengers to bring the rat and they tied it up with nooses and ropes. But as they prepared to drag the rat to Yama’s abode, Vishnu’s messengers arrived.

“How dare you bind up this rat up?” asked Vishnu’s messengers. “Do you not know that you are not supposed to touch those who are devoted to Vishnu? This rat dispelled some of the darkness from Vishnu’s image. He is therefore one of Vishnu’s devotees. Leave him alone. He is going to go to Vishnuloka with us. All his sins have been pardoned.”

The rat was taken to Vishnuloka. He lived there happily for years and years. Subsequently, he was born as a princess.

Such are the wonderful effects of lighting up Vishnu’s image.

Shridhara

In treta yuga, there was a king named Shridhara. His wife was known as Hemaprabhavati. The king and queen were prosperous, but they were not happy. The reason for their unhappiness was that they did not have any sons.

King Shridhara once happened to meet the sage Vedavyasa.

“Why do I not have a son?” asked the king.

“I will tell you your story,” replied the sage.