Upakhyan (Anecdote)
There once was a rich man. He had all the luxuries in the world and yet he was very unhappy. He had so many tensions and worries that he could not sleep in the nights. All the great doctors and physicians tried but could not bring any comfort to him. Someone suggested, "If we could find the most happy man in the city and offer his shirt to the rich man, his happiness would return." All family men and servants thought it was good idea and they decided to give it a try. Everyone set out to search for the most happy man.
After a lot of effort they located a man who was free from all worries. They persuaded him and took him to the grand house. The rich man was delighted to see the most happy man in town and exclaimed, "Sir, where is your shirt? Give it to me, may be I will also be able to get rid of my worries and unhappiness." The happy man laughed, "You ask me for my shirt? Can you not see I do not even have a cloth to wrap myself! My life is as fixated as flowing water." The rich man understood that happiness lies not in hoarding but in benevolence.
Hrudaysparshi Katha [Story, that touches our heart]
A King's Dilemma
King Suradhu was a very gentle and noble hearted king of Hemjata clan living in the Kailash mountain range. He was very benevolent, just and kind. But being a king he had to deal with criminals and give them harsh punishments. Inflicting pain and suffering on others was totally against his nature and so having to give harsh punishments to others used to fill Suradhu with great pain. One day he had to punish a thief for stealing gold from state treasury. This filled him with remorse. Wasn't the state treasury itself filled with wealth collected from his subjects? Wasn't he himself a thief? Then what right did he have to punish another? He was so disturbed that he left his palace and began to live in a quiet hermitage in a forest. He began his penance and in a few days his mind turned quiet and at peace again.
Several birds and animals used to live around in the forest, some gentle and others cruel and violent. One morning Suradhu heard a great clamor. He saw a heartless eagle holding a baby parrot in its claws and it was about to eat it. The baby bird was making sharp noise, wailing for mercy. Suradhu's heart was filled with compassion and pity for the baby and in rage he picked a stone nearby and hurled at the eagle. The stone hit the eagle and the injured bird fell to the ground and died. The baby parrot escaped from its claws, flew and reunited with its mother. Death had come to take the baby parrot but Suradhu changed its course and it took with it the eagle.
Seeing the eagle killed by his hands, the gentle king's heart was filled with severe grief again. How could he commit violence and kill a living being in such a sacred and pristine place? What he had left the palace and all its comforts for he was forced to commit even in his hermitage. Tears began to flow from his eyes uncontrolled and his life felt so meaningless to him. Just then Sage Mandavya happened to pass by. He saw the grieving king and asked him what the problem was. Suradhu narrated his entire story in great detail and asked for a solution. The sage replied, "O King! If justice is not meted out and punishments not given, unruly and wicked men begin to disturb peaceful and innocent people. So establishing a just rule is also lending a helping hand to God's management. If one carries out all one's actions without selfish motives and as God's wish, then even harsh actions and punishments would not be sins and would not disturb your inner peace." The king now found the right solution to his problem and he returned to his kingdom to serve his people.
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