A story

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Pardon me for posting a story in this very serious group. I was

writing stories for Indian children for my web site

www.geocities.com/ramya475/

and when I completed this strory which I have heard as a child, I

thought, that I should post it here.

Sharma the proud

 

Once upon a time there lived a man called Sharma near to the town of

Patali puthra. Sharma was a very religious man and wanted to become

a saint. He had a wife and three children. He decided to leave them

in the town and do Tapas. All of them cried and told him that they

would not get any food and starve, if he goes to do Tapas. For to

do Tapas, you have to go to the forest, close your eyes and meditate

on God. Sharma went to the nearby forest. Then daily he used to

close his eyes and meditate upon God. One day when he was doing

Tapas like this, a bird flew over his head. It was carrying a fish

in its beak. It dropped this fish on the head of Sharma. Naturally

Sharma opened his eyes and stared at the bird. To his surprise, the

bird was burnt to ashes. This made Sharma think that he was a saint

and had magical powers. So he left the forest and came to Patali

puthra.

He dressed himself in ochre cloths and carried a staff with

him. Since he became hungry, he stood before a big house and

shouted, "Bhiksham Dehi" meaning, "Give me alms". The lady of the

house, who was busy, told him, that she was looking after her child.

As soon as her job is over, she would give him alms. This made

Sharma very angry. So as soon as the lady came out, he stared at

her. She told Sharma, "Do you think, I will be burnt like that bird

of the forest?" Sharma was terribly surprised that she knew that a

bird was burnt by his stare. She further told him, "Your anger and

stare will not do anything to me. Because I was late because I was

doing my duty." Sharma asked for her excuse and asked her, "I am

sorry that I stared at you. Do you know any great saint in this

town?" The lady replied, "Definitely. You go to the house of Shankar

the wood cutter, He is a great saint."

Sharma then went to the house of Shankar the woodcutter. He

reached the house of the woodcutter, early in the morning. He

shouted, "Bhiksham Dehi". Shankar came out and told him, " Please be

seated. I am very busy. If you wait for sometime, I would give you

whatever I can."

Then Shankar went in side the house. His very old parents had

just woken up. He slowly gave them break fast. Then he helped them

take their bath. Later he cooked and gave them food. Then he made

them take rest. He then went to the forest and cut some wood. He

brought the wood and sold it in the town. With whatever money he

got, he again purchased some food for himself and his parents. He

then came home. Sharma was waiting all this time. Shankar then gave

him some food. Then Sharma asked him, "Yesterday I met a lady and

she told me that you are a great saint. But so far, You have not

even called the name of God once. I thought sages were supposed to

meditate on him." Shankar replied, "A man becomes a sage by doing

the duties allotted to him sincerely and not necessarily by doing

Tapas. The duty of the lady whom, you met yesterday was to look

after her baby. My duty is to look after my parents. We both are

sages even though we do not do any Tapas. Your duty is to look after

your wife and children."

Sharma realized what Shankar was telling was correct and went

to his home. He looked after his wife and children sincerely and

became well known as a sage.

 

RAmachander

[Guest guest]

praNAms

Hare Krishna

 

This story is in mahAbhArata...*dharma vyAdha* was a butcher not wood

cutter...rest of the things same what you have written.

 

Hari Hari Hari Bol!!!

bhaskar