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12-A Rishi And A Beggar
This story appears in Chhaandogya Upanishad.
Once
there were two sages (Rishi) who lived in a hermitage located in a
forest. They spent most of their time worshipping Vaayu Dev, the wind god.
One afternoon, as the sages were beginning their meal, a Brahmchaaree (an
unmarried monk) beggar arrived holding his begging bowl. The Brahmchaaree
pleaded to the sages - "Pardon me respectful sages, could
I beg for a part of your excess meal?"
"Sorry young man, we cannot spare you any food," sourly replied one of the
sages. The persistent young monk continued, "May I ask you most humbly,
which Dev (God) do you worship?"
"We worship Vaayu Dev, the wind god" answered the sage with pride. "He is
also know as Praan, the breath of life." "Ah! Then you must know that
Praan pervades the whole universe." said the young Brahmchaaree. The sages
were getting impatient, "Yes, yes, we know all that young man."
The beggar then asked firmly - "Oh honorable sages, could you tell me to
whom did you make this food-offering?" "Praan, the life, who else?" said
the irritated sage.
The young monk smiled and retorted - "If life pervades the Universe, then
it pervades me too. Am I not a part of that universe?" "Yes, that's right"
replied the sage, in a puzzled state of mind. "It is Praan, or life, that
pulsates in me too, as this hungry body of mine stands before you and speaks,"
appealed the beggar. The sages were trapped in the argument and admitted
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"You speak the truth." The beggar then made his final appeal, "Then Oh
revered Rishi (sages), In denying me food, are you not denying Praan for whom
you have prepared this food?"
The Rishi had no answer. They realized that merely the reading of
scriptures can not assure them of their assimilation and true
understanding. Ashamed at their ignorance, the sages gladly shared their
food with the young Brahmchaaree.
["Khokhalee Pustak Baanchnaa" or just collecting and reading of Books,
Shaastra etc is not enough, unless one puts this in practice. There are
millions of books to read, but Life is just one, so stop reading much, and
start practicing.]
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