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DISCOURSE 71
313
The beggar obtained wheat-cakes from a house. When he went to another house, the mistress of the house offered him millet-cakes. The beggar refused the millet-cakes. The woman asked him why he had refused the cakes. The beggar explained to her the reason. She was greatly impressed by what he said. She, then, gave him enough vegetable-preparation. The beggar was not well. He needed only a little food. He got it, and he ate it. In this manner, he began obtaining alms, every day. The women of the town showed sympathy for him. Gradually, he began to get enough food from one house each day. That means, he did not have to go to several houses. As time passed. people offered food in their houses and made him eat the food in their houses. His diseases disappeared. He also used to do some work in the houses where he ate food. The women liked him all the more. His fortune took a new turn. One day, he ate his food in a certain house. The head of the family said to him, “To-day, you should come to my shop. There is some work to be done. You do it and I will pay you some money". The beggar went to his shop. He did the work assigned to him and sat down in a corner. On that evening when the Seth checked his accounts, he was greatly surprised and delighted to find that he had got more profit than he had expected. He thought, "How have I got so much profit to-day? I am sure that I have got the profit because of this beggar who has been working and sitting here throughout the day. I feel that his fortune is in the ascendant. The wheel of fortune in the life of a man, goes on turning. Adversity succeeds prosperity and prosperity succeeds adversity. In the life of this noble man, the days of sorrow are over and the days of happiness have begun. It only means that he has got all this fruit of happiness as a result of his austere observance of his vow. Even to-day he firmly and austerely observes his vow and he is always honest. Why should I not make him a partner in my business? He is a good man".
Do you realise how inspiring and exemplary these thoughts of the Seth are ? When he earned more profit, he did not think that it was the result of the efficacy of his punya (merit) but he thought that it was the result of the beggar's punya (merit). He must have thought thus, "I am to-day what I was yesterday.
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