Once there lived a poor Brahmin with his wife Shandili. He
used to beg for alms for livelihood.
One day, the Brahmin told his wife, 'Tomorrow there is a
grand celebration. People shall donate in name of God. I will go to the town
tomorrow. I hope to receive lot of alms'.
The Brahmin was virtuous. Though he was poor, he believed in
charity as a good deed. So he asked his wife to invite a Brahmin to their home
and donate food, clothes; etc. But Shandili argued, 'We have limited means. And
I cannot afford to give away the little we have'.
The Brahmin reiterated the need for charity and explained,’ a
sage at door is guise of God. Even if we have handful grain to eat, it our
religious duty to share it'.
After much perusal and homily, Shandili agreed. She though of
the sesame seeds she stored for festivity.
Next day, after the Brahmin left, Shandili thrashed and
dehusked the sesame seeds. She washed them with water and left them to dry
outside.
Soon after, a stray dog came and spoiled the seeds. Shandili
saw this and burst into tears, 'This was only food I had to serve the Brahmin.
Fate is too hard'.
Suddenly, she blinked with a thought. She rose immediately
and went to the neighbor with the sesame seeds.
Shandili offered the lady the sesame seeds in exchange for
husked seeds. The lady was delighted to receive dehusked seeds as dehusking
takes times and effort. She was carried away and unquestionably took the
dehusked seeds. She gave Shandili some additional seeds in exchange.
When Shandili was about to leave, the neighbor's son who had
been listening to them appeared. He asked his mother not to accept the seeds
offered by Shandili.
'Mother, think again. Why would anyone offer dehusked seeds
for husked ones? he said to his mother.
The lady was now suspicious and returned the seeds back to
Shandili. Shandili was sad. She returned home with the dirtied seeds.
Moral: Do not get carried away by what things appear on face.
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