PLATE THREE

Once, after the exalted King Rantideva spent forty-eight days fasting,
not even drinking water, excellent food made with ghee was brought to
him, but when he was about to eat it, a brdhmana guest appeared.
Rantideva, therefore, did not eat the food, but instead immediately
offered a portion of it to the bradhmana. When the brdhmana left and
Rantideva was just about to eat the remnants of the food, a Sidra ap-
peared. Rantideva therefore divided the remnants between the sidra and
himself. Again, when he was just about to eat the remnants of the food,
another guest appeared. Rantideva therefore gave the rest of the food to
the new guest and was about to content himself with drinking some
water to quench his thirst, but this also was precluded, for a thirsty guest
came and Rantideva gave him the water. This was all ordained by the
Supreme Personality of Godhead just to glorify King Rantideva—to show
how tolerant a devotee is and how readily he foregoes his own satisfaction
for the benefit of others. (pp. 123-129)
