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The Story of Dhannya
Once in his arms, as amongst the trees, the goddess of wealth freely played.
There, though formerly very rich, a family which was reduced to poverty through the whim of fate, through shame, had come from another town; their son Varuna, by nature modest and always prone to charity supported the family by taking to profession of grazing the calves of the people.
Once there was a great festival, and all the citizens went to the public park, taking with them various dishes. Seeing them, the son, too, thought of enjoying a holiday, and, leaving the calves ( in his charge ) at the outskirts of the city, he came back to the house, and said to his mother: “ Please observe this festival, or I shall not be myself." On hearing this, she was reminded of her former wealth, She was choked with emotion and began to cry pitiably." There is probably no other strength in women, than crying.”
Hearing her pitiful lament, her neighbours asked her what was the cause, She told them the reason for her weeping. They were much moved and gave her rice, sugar and milk, with which she prepared a dish to the satisfaction of her son. She put the dish of milk and sugar in a plate and offered it to her son, who put it in front of him but thought it better to wait, as it was hot.
At this moment there came along the Sadhu who had conquered parishahas rigidly controlled senses and had a body shining with austerity indicating his asceticism. He had come there for alms. He appeared like a mass of calmness incarnate. The son saw him coming at the door and thought to himself: “ Oh! verily I am blessed ! Assuredly I am a man of great merit since this saint has come here. By giving him this dish, great saint as he is, a layman may well gain that merit on earth which arises from giving food to a monk. '
So the monk was supplied with the dish of ghee, sugar by him with great pleaaure. He by the merit earned by giving alms to a monk achieved the Karma of a good man's life. Meanwhile when the Sun descended
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[ Shree Atmaramji
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