CAST: Narrator, King, Servant, Storekeeper, Genie.

Narrator: Once, a long time ago, there was a King. One day he decided to be very charitable.

King: Servant, go to all of the stores and buy everything that is in them. I want to give charity to all the poor people today.

Servant: Yes, Your Majesty. (walks around) Oh, no! All of the stores are closed! What will I do? But wait, I see one store over there that is open. Let's see what is inside it. (Servant goes into the store) Mataji, I have been ordered by the King to buy everything in all of the stores.

Mataji: You may buy everything in here except this bottle.

Servant: But, the King told me to buy everything here!

Mataji: Well, this bottle is very old, black and dusty; you will not want to buy it.

Servant: Alright, I will not take it. I will buy everything else. (Servant returns to the King)

King: My servant, you've returned so soon!

Servant: All of the stores were closed except for one; I bought almost every single thing in that store!

King: I told you to buy everything in the store! Go back and buy whatever is left!

Servant: But the storekeeper told me that you would not like the dusty, old, black bottle!

King: So, we can give it to some really poor person. I'm sure they will like it. (Servant goes back to the store)

Servant: Mataji, the King has ordered me to buy that bottle you have.

Mataji: Alright, but the condition is that you cannot open it.

Servant: Oh, very well, whatever you say. (Servant runs to King) My King, I have the bottle! (King grabs the bottle) But you may not open it!

King: Who cares if I open it! (King opens it and Genie comes out)

Genie: (bellows) What will you have me do, master?

King: Oh, you do not have to do anything for me.

Genie: You must keep me engaged, or else I will chop your head off with my deadly sword!

King: Very well, I want you to make all of the roads in the country paved with solid gold.

Genie: Thank you, my King. Remember, while I am gone, to think of something else for me to do, or else I will have to use my sword! (Genie goes off stage)

King: Servant, I do not think that the Genie will be able to do that, because where would he be able to get all that pure gold? I will not give him any.

Genie: (quickly appears) Done! Done! What shall I do now?

King: You could not have done that already!

Genie: Look out from this balcony — all of the roads are made of pure gold.

King: Now I want you to paint every leaf in this country all the different colors of the rainbow.

Genie: Yes, master! (he runs off)

King: Well, we won't be seeing him for many weeks, I'm sure.

Genie: (quickly appears) Done! Done!

King: (looking out) Why, it's beautiful... breathtaking! What more could a kingdom want? I am totally satisfied with your service, as I am with myself. I advise that you also become self-satisfied and concentrate on perfecting your life through devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

Genie: Master, I burn with impatience! What is the greatest service that I can do, that which will never be finished?

King: Meditate upon and declare to everyone the unlimited glories of the name, fame and character of Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Ananta Shesha, who is Himself an incarnation of the Supreme Lord's energy, has been describing the Lord's glories with His thousands of mouths since the beginning of time without once repeating Himself. So, surely, if you take up this service to Lord Krishna, which is recommended by all scriptures as that which pleases Lord Krishna the most, then you will purify yourself and become liberated from this world of hankering and lamenting! Because everything about Lord Krishna is eternal and unlimited, you will never be able to finish this glorification. Furthermore, upon once again developing your eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you will leave this temporary material world and go Back to Home to live with Him forever! Now, go!

Genie: Yes, thank you, O wise King, I will accomplish what you say and never have to come back here or to any other material place again. Thank you!

Narrator: This ends our little play for today, based upon a story told to us by Srila Prabhupada. We hope that you will do as we are doing and take up the glorification of Lord Krishna by serving Him, reading about Him in the books translated by Srila Prabhupada and chanting Krishna's holy names, which are non-different from Himself. Thank you very much.

The End