Sri Sathya Sai Baba Stories and Parables 49 - Remember Him

[Guest guest]

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Stories and Parables

Source: Chinna Katha

http://www.saibaba.ws/stories/storiesparables.htm

 

49 - Remember Him

 

The Pandavas during the time of their exile once walked into the

forest of Romarishi. Romarishi was a sage whose body was covered with

hair and his beard was so long that it spread like a carpet into the

entire area of the forest.

 

There was a sacred tree in that forest yielding a very special type

of fruit which, once tasted by a person, would relieve him of hunger

and thirst for years and years. But the fruit was not to be plucked,

it was to be eaten only when it fell down on its own.

 

One day Dharmaraja and Draupadi chanced to come near the tree.

Draupadi was very much tempted to taste that luscious big fruit

hanging from the tree. She said: " Can we not take that fruit? We can

all share it. " Dharmaraja shot an arrow and the fruit fell on the

ground. He went to take the fruit with his hand. It was so heavy that

he could not move it. Dharmaraja tried to lift it with all his

strength using both his hands but he could not lift it. Draupadi also

tried but in vain. In the meantime, Arjuna arrived at that place. He

tried to lift the fruit but could not succeed. All the three tried to

lift the fruit but it would not move. The two younger brothers came

and tried to lift the fruit but they too could not succeed.

 

Finally came the mighty hero, Bhima. He asked the others to keep away

and said: " I will lift it. But even Bhima failed. "

 

Meanwhile the hair of Romarishi which had spread all over the area,

began to stir because when these six people were trampling about to

lift the fruit, the strands of hair were being trodden and pulled. He

realised that some one must be trying to steal the fruit. He had

become furious. His long hairs started coming together and coiling

round the Pandavas to tie them up.

 

Draupadi realised the danger and immediately prayed to Lord Krishna.

Krishna appeared before them. Draupadi fell at his feet and prayed to

Him for help. Krishna said: " Sister, I am helpless. Romarishi is a

great sage. I reside in his heart. How can I do anything against the

wishes of my devotees? " Draupadi once again pleaded: " You alone can

save us, you can do anything if you wish to. " Krishna said: " I will

help you, but all of you should be totally silent whatever may be the

situation and do exactly as I tell you. " Draupadi and Pandavas

promised to obey his orders. Krishna went towards Romarishi's ashram

and instructed them to follow him after sometime.

 

In the meantime, Romarishi was so much enraged that he had actually

started to walk towards the tree to curse the poachers. Just then

Krishna entered the ashram. Romarishi fell at the Lotus Feet of the

Lord. He was overjoyed to see Him. He said, " How fortunate am I to

have you as my guest. Oh Lord! What can I do for you? " Krishna

engaged him in discussing certain spiritual matters till the Pandavas

arrived.

As soon as the Pandavas along with Draupadi reached the ashram,

Krishna hurried towards them and fell at their feet. The Pandavas

were feeling embarrassed but remembering the Lord's command, kept

quiet. Seeing Krishna fall at the feet of the Pandavas, Romarishi

also fell at the feet of those visitors. Then Krishna asked them to

come into the ashram. He introduced them to Romarishi. He praised the

virtuous Dharmaraja, valiant Arjuna and Bhima and the intelligent

Nakul and Sahadeva, and above all, the devout Draupadi. Romarishi by

that time totally forgot about the fruit and the poachers. Krishna

informed Romarishi that the Pandavas were the people who were tempted

to taste the fruit being unaware of the unique nature of the fruit.

Romarishi desired to please those who could please the Lord Himself.

He said: " Let them take the fruit. I would like them to have it. " By

eating the fruit the Pandavas were able to live without hunger for a

long time.

 

It is difficult to understand the ways of the Divine. All that we can

do is to always remember Him with love and pray with faith for His

matchless grace.