________________
DISCOURSE 96
315
story. It took place during the time of Sant Tulsidas a great Hindi poet. He wrote the Ramayana in Hindi. His work is essentially poetic and is famous under the title, The Ramacharitmanas. Tulsidas himself used to read his Ramayana every day. People of various places invited Tulsidas to read the Ramayana. They took him to their places and he read the Ramayana and explained it to them.
WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT ? NOSE OR RING ?
In one village, there lived a merchant. He had a small shop. He and his wife lived happily. One day, Tulsidas went to the village and read the Ramayana. In that small village on such occasions, all the people of the village gathered to hear the recitation. Since the Ramayana was read in the evenings, it was convenient for all people to gather there and to listen to the recitation. During the day-time they would go to work in their fields or to work as labourers. So, during the day time, they could not attend discourses or recitations.
Tulsidas was a master of the art of narrating a story. He had his own incomparable style. Hearing the story, all were greatly delighted. The merchant and his wife also had gone to hear the discourse. After returning home, his wife said to the merchant, “My desire is that we should invite Tulsidasji to deliver a discourse in our house. What is your idea ?” The merchant said, “We will think of it after putting together some money".
But after having put by some money, the merchant went to the town and brought a gold nose-ring for his wife. It cost him seven hundred rupees. His wife was extremely delighted to wear it on her nose. In those days, that is, about five hundred years ago, seven hundred rupees was a large sum.
The merchant's wife wore the nose-ring and looked into the mirror. She was very happy. She desired that she must exhibit the nose-ring to the women of the neighbourhood. She went to every house and showed the nose-ring to the women. The women were full of praise for her nose-ring. She said to everyone,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
