Upakhyan (Anecdote)
A king was going alone through a forest. On the way came a hamlet of thieves. While
he was passing, a parrot in the village shouted, "Grab him, hit, run. He has ornaments
on him." Hearing the parrot's voice, the thieves followed him but luckily could not catch the king.
Next on the way was a hermitage of saints. As he stepped inside a gurukul, a parrot
sitting on the tree started saying, "Come King! A guest has arrived. Please bring a carpet." While talking to the saint, the king wondered about the difference in character of the two birds of same species. And the saint resolved the dilemma with a single word 'company'.
Hrudaysparshi Katha [Story, that touches our heart]
True Atonement Lies in Refinement
Bappa Rawal has been a very illustrious king of Mewar. He once wished to appoint a new head-priest in his court, one who could lead others by example and establish the importance of Vedic culture among his subjects. And he knew that there was no other place in Mewar to search for such a person other than his mentor Maharshi Harit's hermitage. He sent a message to Maharshi.
When the message reached the hermitage, all the residents became very curious and excited to know who would Maharshi nominate. The next morning Maharshi announced, "I nominate Acharya Abhay to the post of head-priest of Mewar." This was a big surprise to all. Though Acharya Abhay was extremely talented and intelligent, he was not like any other resident. He had arrived in the hermitage only a few days back in the dark of night in a extremely pathetic state. He had sought refuge under Maharshi though he had a portly, terrorizing demenaour. No one knew his true identity other than Maharshi. Abhay fell to Mahrashi's feet and began to cry for he knew who he was- the most infamous and dreaded dacoit of Mewar. In a recent encounter with royal guards he barely managed to escape and took refuge at Maharshi's feet. Influence of the soothing atmosphere of the hermitage, and boundless love and compassion of Maharshi Harit had changed him forever. Maharshi blessed him and said, "The atonement for all your misdeeds lies in refinement. Go and lead all those following the path of guilt and misfortune to the righteous direction."
As Acharya Abhay reached Chittore, he saw King Bappa Rawal and Queen at the castle door to welcome him. As Bappa were to bow down for Acharya's blessings, he spoke ashamed, "O king! I am no noble saint. Do you not recognize me? I am Abhay the most dreaded dacoit of Mewar. I am full of remorse, punish me severely for my misdeeds." King Bappa calmly replied, "I could reognize you in the first glance. But o great man! You are now pure gold as you have been touched by a touch-stone - my guru. You are being made the head-priest to let you atone for your misdeeds." Acharya Abhay was now beginning to understand Maharshi's statement: true atonement is in refinement. He knew that all the disorder and evil that prevailed in the kingdom was created by his followers. His true atonement did not lie in punishment but in mending ways and refining and cleansing the evil from the minds and thoughts of people in the kingdom. He bowed down to his Guru and accepted to be the head-priest.
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