A long time ago in the land of Bundelkhand, there lived a young boy named Ramdas Chauhan. He was just twelve years old, but his heart was already full of love for Shri Krishna. His father worked for the king and wanted Ramdasji to also work in the royal court.
But Ramdasji gently told his father, “I do not want to serve any king. I only want to serve the Supreme Lord. He is the one who takes care of everyone.”
His father was surprised. He couldn’t understand why his son didn’t want a job in the palace. “How will you live if you don’t work for the king?” he asked.
Ramdasji smiled and said, “It is not the king who gives us food or shelter. It is Shri Krishna who takes care of everything.”
His father became worried. He thought that some saint must have filled Ramdasji’s mind with such ideas. He didn’t want his son to become more spiritual, so he locked him inside the house and asked a guard to keep watch, making sure that no saint could visit him.
But Ramdasji was calm and happy. He sat quietly and kept chanting the name of the Lord.
One day, the king heard about this boy who refused to serve him. He ordered Ramdasji’s father to bring the child to the palace. Ramdasji’s father bowed before the king and said, “My son does not listen to me anymore. He only wants to live a holy life. Please forgive us and give him some time.”
The king became angry and warned him, “Bring your son tomorrow, or I will have him thrown into jail.”
When his father came home and told him, Ramdasji replied peacefully, “If Shri Krishna wants me to go to jail, I will go. I am not afraid. I will not go just to salute a king.”
The next day, the king called Ramdasji again. When he didn’t come, ten royal guards were sent to bring him. The brave young boy told them, “I have nothing to do with kings. I will not come.”
The guards tied Ramdasji and took him to the palace. The king was very angry. “Put him in jail! Do not give him food! He must learn to bow before me!” he shouted.
Ramdasji was locked up and treated very badly. But he never became upset. He quietly accepted everything as Shri Krishna’s wish and kept chanting the holy name.
The queen came to know about this and told the king, “He is just a child. Why are you punishing him for not saluting you? Let him go. Otherwise, something bad may happen.”
The king didn’t listen. But very soon, his kingdom was attacked by a strong army from the south. In the battle that followed, the king was killed, and the town was captured.
Ramdasji’s father ran away from the city. The prison gates were opened, and all the prisoners ran free. Ramdasji was now truly free too.
He made his way to Mathura and visited all the holy places there. Then, he went to Govardhan Hill and found a quiet cave to live in. Every day, he worshipped Shri Krishna with love. At night, he would go into town and ask for some food to eat.
Ramdasji spent his days in joy, singing Shri Krishna’s name and living a life full of peace and devotion.
One day, Shri Krishna became very pleased with Ramdasji’s pure love and told him in a dream, “Go and become the disciple of Shri Mahaprabhuji. You will serve Me in a very special way.”
Ramdasji went to see Shri Mahaprabhuji and bowed down with great respect. Shri Mahaprabhuji smiled with love and accepted him as a disciple.
Shri Mahaprabhuji said, “From today, you will serve Shri Krishna. Whatever the people of the village give you—milk, butter, or curd—offer it to the Lord with love. This will be your service and your way of living.”
The villagers were very kind and gave him whatever they could. Ramdasji offered everything with devotion to Shri Krishna.
At that time, Shri Nathji’s temple on Govardhan Hill was just a small hut made of grass. Great devotees like Sadu Pande and Kumbhandasji helped take care of the temple. Ramdasji felt very blessed to live there and serve the Lord.
Later, a big stone temple was built by a man named Puranamal. When the grand temple was ready, Ramdasji had already spent many joyful years serving Shri Nathji. His heart was full. His life’s purpose was complete. And one day, peacefully, he left his body and went to live forever with the Lord.
After Ramdasji left the world, Shri Nathji wanted even more beautiful service. Since the local people couldn’t give much time to the temple anymore, Shri Mahaprabhuji called some Bengali devotees from Radha Kund to help. They served until later, when other Brahmins were brought in to continue the seva.
Ramdasji’s whole life was a gift of love to Shri Krishna. He had no job, no riches, and no fame. But his heart was full of joy because all he ever wanted was to serve his Lord.
Poem: The Brave Devotee
Tags: Ramdas Chauhan story, Shri Mahaprabhuji, Shri Krishna devotion, 84 Vaishnav, Pushtimarg for kids, Hindu stories for children, Vaishnav bedtime stories, spiritual stories for kids, Govardhan Hill, Nathdwara, devotional parenting, stories of faith, Sanatan Dharma for kids, bhakti stories, temple seva, Indian saint stories for kids