CHINNA KATHA FROM BHAGAVAN’S DISCOURSE. No. 32.

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32 - Beaten by a Brahmin

 

Once, a dog came to Sri Rama bleeding from blows. Lakshmana was sent to

inquire why it had to receive such blows. The dog said: " I was beaten by

a brahmin with a stick. " The brahmin was questioned. He said that the

dog always was annoying him by coming across his path. Rama asked the

dog: " Well, how do you want to punish the brahmin? " The dog said: " Make

him a manager of a temple. " Rama replied with wonder: " That would be a

reward not a punishment. " The dog said: " No, I was a manager of a temple

in my previous birth. It was impossible not to mishandle or misuse or

misappropriate some fraction of God's money. When he is that manager, he

too will get like me this canine birth and perhaps get beaten too in his

subsequent birth. "

 

In fact not only the dog or the brahmin but every one of us are lining

off the property of God, for does not all this belong to Him? What do we

do in return for all benefits we derive from the property of the Lord?

We should not simply eat and sit quiet. We have to render service to the

poor and the helpless in a manner suitable to us.