The Pickpocket’s Legacy
Once there was a skilled pickpocket who frequented temples, knowing that many devotees gathered there. As soon as the devotees bowed down in reverence to Dwarkadesh, their necklaces would come free, and the pickpocket would seize them along with their wallets.
In a short period, he accumulated significant wealth and began wondering what to do next. He decided to find a woman who was also a pickpocket, thinking they could do business together. Eventually, he found a suitable partner, and together they amassed even more riches.
After six months of success, they contemplated their future and decided to have a child. They prayed to Krishna in the temple, asking that their child become the greatest pickpocket ever, to continue their tradition.
A year later, a baby was born, but to their surprise, the child had one hand tightly closed. The parents were disturbed, wondering how their child could pickpocket with a closed hand. They sought out the best doctor in India, but even he couldn’t open the child’s hand.
The doctor suggested they see a psychiatrist, who might know a trick to open the hand. Upon visiting the psychiatrist, he deduced their profession and advised them, “You are both pickpockets, so it’s likely your child inherited this trait. Prepare a very attractive necklace adorned with rubies, diamonds, and other valuable stones. When the child sees it, he will open his hand to grab it.”
Following the psychiatrist’s advice, the parents created a beautiful necklace and brought it before the child’s eyes. As expected, the child immediately opened his hand to grab the necklace. But what they saw next astonished them.
The reason the child’s hand had been closed so tightly was that he had taken a ring from the nurse who delivered him. The moment his hand opened, the ring fell out. The child had instinctively continued the pickpocketing tradition from birth.
Moral of the Story:
This story highlights the power of ingrained habits and the influence of parental actions on children. It also subtly points out the humorous and unexpected ways in which traits can manifest.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share these moral/instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefited by hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees.
