It is noon. There is a knock at the door. Daya gets up to open the door. What does she see? A poor, old, shrunken widow! “Mother!” asks Daya, “what may I do for you?”
“I am thirsty,” says the widow, “and I have hungered the whole day: and I have not a piece of cloth to cover my half-naked body.” Daya enters her kitchen and prepares meals. Daya opens her box and takes out a garment given her by her mother some days ago and intended to be worn by her on special occasions. Daya places the meals and the garment at the feet of the old woman.
Then Daya goes to fetch water. She returns. “Mother!” she says, “here is water!” And she presses the cup to the widow’s lips. When, lo, the widow is not there! Nor her little cottage! A beautiful house suddenly rises to view. Shining lights are there. And music floods the place. And in the house is seated Krishna playing upon the flute!
Daya falls at His feet. Krishna blesses her and says, “That poor old widow was my rupam (form). “I was thirsty, and thou didst give me water to drink. I was hungry and thou didst feed me. I was naked, and thou didst clothe me. My vision is thy reward.”
Is this story a parable? Who knocks at India’s door with a pale face and hungry eyes? Behold! Thirsty and hungry and naked stands Krishna, the comrade of the poor!