GITA - Glorification of Chapter Six

Lord Vishnu then recited the glories of the sixth chapter of the 

Bhagavad-gita. 

In a beautiful town named Pratishthanapura on the bank of the Godavari River there ruled a popular king named Janashruti. He had many good qualities, and he daily performed an opulent fire sacrifice and many other pious acts: he gave charity, dug wells and lakes, and so on.

Once some demigods went to the king’s residence in the form of swans. As they flew above his palace, the demigod Bhadrashva heard several swans mention Janashruti’s greatness, but Bhadrashva laughed and asked, “Is Janashruti Maharaja as powerful as the great sage Raikva.”

The king happened to hear the swans’ conversation from the roof of his high palace, and then went down in a happy mood and ordered his charioteer to go out and find Raikva. Thus ordered, the charioteer departed for holy places. Upon arriving in Kashmir, he saw the sage sitting on a small cart near the door of a temple.

The charioteer fell at Raikva’s feet and asked him where he lived, what his full name was, and why he was sitting there. Raikva thought for some time and replied, “I am fully satisfied. I do not require anything.” The charioteer understood and returned at once to Pratishthanapura. When he arrived, he offered his respects to the king and informed him of all that had taken place. The king then decided to visit the great sage Raikva. Seated on a beautiful chariot filled with valuable gifts, he left for Kashmir.

When the king finally met Raikva and had fallen at his feet, he placed many silks and jewels before the sage. The sage, however, became angry and said, “You foolish king! Take these useless things away. Put them on your chariot and leave this place at once.” With great devotion the king fell at Raikva’s feet again and begged to be forgiven. He asked, “O sage, how have you attained such a level of renunciation and devotion to the Lord?”

Pleased by the king’s submissive attitude, Raikva replied that he had daily recited the sixth chapter of the Bhagavad-gita. There-after, King Janashruti also began to recite it daily. After some time a flower airplane appeared and took the king to 

Vaikuntha. 

Raikva, in the meantime, had also gone to Vaikuntha, where he engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord.

source: ISKCON