Long ago, in a small village lived a bright young boy named Bula Mishra. His father hoped Bula would grow up to be a great scholar. So, he brought a teacher to teach Bula. But something surprising happened. Before even beginning the lessons, the teacher asked for money. Bula did not like this at all. He got upset and left. His father became very angry. But Bula made up his mind. “I’m going to Benares to learn,” he said, and walked away from home.
His father thought Bula would return after a while. But Bula did not turn back. He begged for food along the way and finally reached the big city of Benares. There, he found a kind teacher and began his studies. For three long years, Bula worked hard and begged for his food. But no matter how much he tried, he just couldn’t learn to read.
One day, his teacher said, “Bula, maybe learning is not meant for you. You’ve tried hard, but nothing is working. Maybe you should try something else.”
Bula felt very sad. He decided to go to the bank of the Ganga river and pray to the Goddess Sarasvati, who gives knowledge. He sat there with no food or water, and for three days, he kept chanting her name again and again.
On the third day, something magical happened. Bula heard the voice of Goddess Sarasvati coming from the sacred river. She said, “Why are you trying to leave this world while chanting my name? Don’t you know I follow the wishes of Shri Krishna? If He wants, even someone who has never studied can become wise. If He doesn’t want, even a learned Brahmin won’t understand anything. So if you want true knowledge, pray to Shri Krishna. Only He can give it.”
Hearing this, Bula’s heart changed. He began to chant Shri Krishna’s name with every breath, day and night, without stopping.
Seeing his deep love, Shri Krishna spoke to Goddess Sarasvati and said, “He is ready now. Go and give him knowledge. Also tell him to eat something.”
So Goddess Sarasvati returned to Bula and said, “Now you will have full knowledge. Please eat and drink.”
Bula was surprised. He asked, “Earlier you said I wouldn’t gain any knowledge. Why are you saying the opposite now?”
She smiled and said, “Because Shri Krishna now wishes to bless you with it. Your steady chanting has removed all blocks in your heart.”
Then Bula said something beautiful. “Even more wonderful than the Lord is His name. Even more precious than knowledge is the Lord’s name. I don’t want knowledge anymore. I just want to see Him.”
When Shri Krishna heard this, He was happy. He said, “Ask me for anything.”
Bula replied, “I only wish to see You.”
The Lord said, “When you become a disciple of Shri Mahaprabhuji, I will appear before you.”
Bula asked again, “Please let me see You now. What if I lose my way while going to Shri Mahaprabhuji? After I see You, no illusion will be able to confuse me.”
Shri Krishna was pleased. He appeared before Bula in His beautiful four-armed form. He smiled and said, “Now that you have seen Me, the power of confusion will never touch you again.” Then Shri Krishna disappeared.
Bula now set out happily to meet Shri Mahaprabhuji. He found Him in the town of Adel. As soon as Bula arrived, he bowed low with respect. Shri Mahaprabhuji welcomed him with joy and said, “You are a strong-hearted soul. You pleased the Lord with your deep devotion.”
Bula asked for Shri Mahaprabhuji’s blessings and wanted to become His disciple. Shri Mahaprabhuji said, “But you have already seen Shri Krishna. Why do you need a guru now?”
Bula humbly answered, “Yes, I saw Him, but I did not feel the full joy of being with Him. Only you can give me that sweetness of devotion. Shri Krishna Himself told me to come to you.”
Seeing Bula’s true humility even after meeting Shri Krishna, Shri Mahaprabhuji lovingly accepted him as a disciple. He began to teach Bula a special truth known as “Krishnashraya”—the path of taking complete shelter in Shri Krishna.
Shri Mahaprabhuji explained:
“In this age, many paths to grow spiritually have become blocked. Hypocrisy is everywhere. That is why I only take shelter in Shri Krishna.
Even holy places are filled with worldly desires. People who are innocent are often troubled. I take shelter only in Shri Krishna.
Even the sacred rivers are losing their purity. Even good people are becoming proud and follow the wrong ways. Most people only want fame or wealth. But I turn only to Shri Krishna.
Mantras and fasting don’t work as they used to. So I take full shelter in Shri Krishna.
There are too many different ideas. People don’t know what is right. I only trust Shri Krishna.
The Deities and the form of God without a body are not as sweet as the joy Shri Krishna gives. So I take shelter only in Him.
People are weak and easily drawn to sin. I take shelter only in Shri Krishna.
O Shri Krishna, You help everyone who calls out to You. You are my only hope and joy.”
Shri Mahaprabhuji taught these words to Bula. Hearing them filled Bula’s heart with happiness. He began to see Shri Krishna’s divine pastimes in his heart. Shri Mahaprabhuji blessed him with deep wisdom and the ability to think always of the Lord.
After some days, Shri Mahaprabhuji asked Bula to return to his village. He told Bula, “Your company will help many people.” Even though Bula wanted to stay longer, he obeyed.
Back at home, his parents were overjoyed to see their son again. Bula lived a pure and kind life. Every day, he would prepare food, offer it to Shri Krishna in his heart, and then give it to his parents, a cow, and anyone hungry. Only after that would he eat. He followed all of Shri Mahaprabhuji’s teachings and became a true Vaishnav.
One day, a Kshatriya man who often came to Bula asked for a favor. “My wife cannot have a child,” he said. “Please read the Harivamsa Purana for us. Maybe that will bless us with a child.”
Bula smiled and said, “I am busy now. Maybe later.”
In his heart, Bula thought, “Only Shri Krishna can decide who gets children. I should not try to change His plan.”
But Shri Krishna thought differently. He said, “A devotee’s promise should never go empty. Help him.”
Later, Bula went to the man’s house and read just one special passage from the Purana. Then he said, “Those who hear about Shri Krishna’s great stories are truly lucky. From even one verse, blessings can come.”
He looked at the older wife and said, “You will have a child.”
The Kshatriya was surprised. “Why her? She cannot have children.”
Bula softly replied, “If Shri Krishna wishes, He can bless anyone, even the older wife.”
The man then asked, “Please stay and read more of the scripture.”
But Bula replied, “You asked to hear it only to have a son. Now that you will get one, what more do you need?”
That blessing worked. The older wife gave birth to a very special boy. He later became a great saint and brought spiritual light to the whole family.
Through Bula Mishra’s life, we learn the power of Shri Krishna’s name, the kindness of a true guru, and the joy of walking the path of devotion with humility and love.
Poem: The Boy Who Found the Lord
Tags: vaishnav bedtime story, 84 vaishnav stories for kids, pushtimarg for children, shri mahaprabhuji stories, krishna bhakti for kids, hindu devotional stories, vaishnav values for families, sanatan dharma for children, spiritual stories for parents, guru bhakti stories for bedtime, vaishnav teachings simplified, pushtimarg history for young readers, storytimelover kids hindu stories, child-friendly shri krishna stories