The Logic of the Blind Man Holding the Cow's Tail

[krsna]

The Logic of the Blind Man Holding the Cow's Tail ("andha o

gopuccha-nyaya")

 

By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur (from Upakhyane Upadesa)

 

Once upon a time a blind person was going to his father-in-law's

house, finding his way with the help of his walking stick. While

passing through a field he came across a cowherd boy and asked, "O

brother, would you please do me a favor by leading me to my

father-in-law's house?" The cowherd replied, "I am busy tending so

many cows. If I take you to your father-in-law's house, all of the

cows will run away. I can do one thing for you. I can lend you a very

docile and faithful cow of mine, you can safely catch hold of her tail

and she can smoothly lead you to your in-law's house." Thus advised by

the cowherd, the blind traveler firmly caught hold of the cow's tail.

The cow began walking with the blind man trailing behind. After a

short time, however, the blind man's strong pulling on her tail

frightened the cow. She became frantic and started running, dragging

the blind person very roughly down the road and through thorny bushes

all the while giving him frequent hard kicks with her hind legs. As a

result, the blind man's body was severely injured and his garments

were all torn apart. He finally arrived at his in-law's house in the

dead of night. He was in a very wretched condition with cuts and

bruises all over and he was totally naked. His in-law's servants

mistook him to be a cattle thief and punched and slapped him in order

to get him to let go of the cow's tail. Thus the blind man suffered

unlimitedly.

 

PURPORT

 

Those who have ulterior motives take shelter of so-called gurus

instead of a truly bona-fide spiritual master (sad-guru), and

ultimately suffer very badly like the blind man in this story. Any and

every person cannot lead one to the supreme abode of godhead, and no

unauthorized representative can guide us to our true welfare. It is,

therefore, obligatory that without any hesitation one should take

shelter of a krishna-tattvavit-sad-guru - a bona-fide

Krishna-conscious guru.