Duty First, Devotion Next

“Would you like this religious book on Maa Durga?” I asked a young man sitting on the pillion seat of a motorcycle. He had a tuft of hair like a pandit and was wearing a Blinkit jacket. He ignored me completely, almost as if I did not exist. I thought to myself that these delivery workers were always in a hurry to complete their orders and could hardly spare even a second for anything else. Every moment was precious to them, as they had to deliver orders on time.

Before Navratri begins, I distribute books on Maa NavDurga to genuine seekers. Some people cannot afford to buy religious books, some do not know how to order them online, and others are so occupied with their daily responsibilities that they never get around to buying them. I try to reach such people and place these books in their hands, hoping that someone who needs them will find them at the right time. After the young man ignored my offer, I walked a few steps forward and noticed that his motorcycle had stopped near the tower where I live. I hurried towards it, hoping to meet him, but both he and his companion had already disappeared inside the building.

After distributing the books, I took the lift to return home. It stopped at the sixth floor, and when the doors opened, I saw the same young man standing there, waiting for the lift. The moment he saw me, he said, “Madam, please give me now.” I was surprised and smiled to myself. He had not forgotten my offer; he had simply wanted to finish his duty first. Only after completing his work had he allowed himself to think about anything else. I took a few steps forward, handed him the book and asked if he would like any other book. Looking at the divine picture of Maa Durga on the cover, he replied, “That is enough.”

I stepped back into the lift, and as the doors were closing, I saw him standing there, completely absorbed in the book. He had opened it and begun reading while waiting for another lift to take him downstairs. The sight touched my heart. A few moments earlier, I had mistaken his silence for indifference, but now I understood that he had simply been sincere about his work. He had fulfilled his responsibility first, and then turned his attention to his spiritual interest. His actions reminded me of the famous saying often attributed to Swami Vivekananda: “They alone live who live for others.” Perhaps sincerity in one's work and sincerity in one's devotion are not so different after all. One teaches us to fulfil our duties honestly, while the other draws our hearts towards the Divine. As I returned home, I felt happy that a small book had found its way into the hands of someone who genuinely wished to read it. I had set out to distribute a religious book, but in that brief encounter, I received a gentle reminder not to judge people too quickly. Sometimes, a sincere worker and a sincere devotee are the very same person.