Book Title: Practice of Karma Yoga
Author(s): Swami Sivananda
Publisher: Divine Life Society

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 319
________________ INSPIRING STORIES ate this and yet he remained unsatisfied The wife of the son said: 'O venerable father-in-law, you have all performed the greatest self-sacrifice I must also join in this Yajna Kindly give him my portion too.' The guest ate this portion and was fully satisfied. He then blessed the poor Brahmin and his family and departed in great joy. These four persons died of starvation the same day. A few grains of rice were found on the ground I rolled myself on those particles. Half of my body became golden Since then I have been travelling all over the world to find out another Yajna like that. Nowhere have I found one Nowhere have I been able to convert the other half of my body into gold. This sacrifice of Yudhisthira has not turned the other half of the body into gold That is the reason why I say that this is no sacrifice at all. Have you understood mny point well Do not become angry. Truth can never hurt the feeling of others” The priests and others who enjoyed the Yajna of Raja Yudhisthira were put to shame They hung down their heads in shame They realized now what true sacrifice was, that it should be free from pride and vanity Mark here the glory of the poor Brahmin and his remarkable spirit of self-sacrifice! He was an ideal householder. He was an ideal Karma Yogi. He reached the same state of Kaivalya as that of a Brahma Jnani or a Raja Yogi May you all shine as this poor Brahmin! 315

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329