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Rays of Dharma
(Sanctified offering). She also thought that she could give five grains from the storage when the father-in-law called for them.
The third had high regard for the father-in-law and knew that what he did must have had some significance. She therefore decided to keep the paddies in safe custody so that she could give the same back whenever he called for. As such, she placed the five grains in a silk cloth, made a neat knot and put it in her jewelry box.
The youngest had utmost regard for the father-in-law and knew that he would not do anything without a purpose. She remembered that he had asked for taking the best care of the paddies. What can be better care thereof except sowing them? She therefore sent the grains to her father and requested him to sow them in a carefully prepared bed. At the end of the season there came out five paddy stalks with several ears, each bearing many grains. She sent the message to sow all of them in a hedged garden. At the end of another season, there came about 500 stalks bearing too many paddies. All of them were sown in a large field that yielded tons of paddy grains.
When Dhanya came back, he asked the daughters-in-law to return the paddy grains. The eldest went into storage, picked up five grains of paddy and handed over to him. When Dhanya asked whether they were the same five grains, she confessed that she had thrown them away and had brought the five grains from the storage. Dhanya named her Ujjilaki and entrusted her with the task of keeping the household clean.
Then he called the second one, who also brought the grains from the store and confessed it to the father-in-law. Dhanya termed her Bhakshikä and entrusted her with the kitchen work.
He then asked for the grains from the third one. She went to her treasure chest, opened the jewelry box, untied the knot and handed over the carefully preserved grains. When Dhanya asked, she said that they were the same five grains that he had given to her. Dhanya was pleased with her concern for keeping the grains in safety. He
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