The Encounter with the Beggar
Once, Lord Shiva and His consort, Parvati, were passing through a town disguised as ordinary villagers. As they walked through the streets, a beggar approached them, pleading for a donation. Lord Shiva, in His humility, told the beggar that He had nothing to give.
However, Parvati, full of compassion, urged Lord Shiva to offer something to the poor man. “This poor man is begging, so why don’t you give him something?” Parvati gently insisted.
Lord Shiva, aware of the beggar’s misfortune, responded, “Even if I give him something, he will not be able to enjoy it. He is so unfortunate.” Despite this, Parvati’s compassionate request moved Him, and He consented to give the beggar something. “Take this,” Lord Shiva said, handing the man a watermelon filled with a great treasure of gold and jewels.
The Beggar’s Misfortune
The beggar, however, was not very satisfied with the gift because he did not like watermelon. “What shall I do with this?” he thought. Despite his lack of enthusiasm, he took the watermelon, thinking he could at least get something for it in the village.
The beggar eventually found someone willing to give him a few paise for the watermelon, and he sold it without a second thought. When the person who bought the watermelon cut it open, they were astonished to find it filled with priceless jewels. The beggar, unaware of the great value of what he had been given, had practically given it away for nothing.
Lesson to Be Learned
This story reminds us that we are often as unfortunate as this beggar. Krishna, in His infinite mercy, gives us great treasures such as His holy names, the Srimad Bhagavatam, the association of devotees, and many other priceless gifts in life. However, due to our ignorance or lack of understanding, we fail to recognize their true value and often do not use them properly for our spiritual advancement.
Prayer
“O Lord Krishna, help us to recognize the priceless treasures You have bestowed upon us, such as Your holy names and the association of devotees. Grant us the wisdom to value and use these gifts for our spiritual growth and not to squander them due to ignorance. May we always remain grateful for Your boundless mercy and strive to make the best use of the blessings You have given us. Hare Krishna.”
