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DISCOURSE 52
55 FIRST BECOME WORTHY : AND THEN SEEK FOR A WORTHY REFUGE
A man should be worthy if he should attain a proper refuge. If you deceive the man who gives you refuge; and if you try to undermine the refuge itself, then you are devoid of the ordinary principles of the grihastadharma; and you are not naturally fit to act according to the special principles. The following incident took place in Rajastan. There was a young man. He was a graduate but he was not employed. A friend of a relative of his was a wealthy merchant in Bombay. That relative of his sent him to the merchant to be employed in his establishment. The merchant reposed a great trust in the young man, because he was educated, because he spoke in a very sweet and appealing manner; and because he was capable. Gradually, the Seth reposed an absolute trust in him. He also showed him his diary containing all the details of his secret business. Sometimes, he also gave him the keys of his iron-safe.
The young man entertained evil thoughts and designs. He planned to blackmail the Seth. Taking the diary of the Seth's secret business, he went away to his village. The Seth searched for him in Bombay; and he came to know that he was in his native place in Rajasthan. The poor Seth filled with fear and worry went to that village in Rajasthan. He met his friend who had recommended the young man and told him all that had happened. With the help of that friend of his, the Seth got back his diary; and he returned to Bombay, greatly relieved.
You should never cheat the person who gives you refuge, with whom you live, under whom you earn money and with whose help you are carrying on your existence. You should never betray the trust reposed in you. Those who deceive the person who gives them refuge, actually harm themselves. Their axe cuts their own feet. Such men cannot attain fulfilment as grihastas. They cannot also carry out any special austerities. Such people only cause harm to themselves and to others; and will experience grief at the end.
You must find the right refuge and you must do your duty in respect of that refuge. This is a very important duty of a
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