Stories from Vedanta

Retold by N K Srinivasan

1 Gopala-the Friend

In a small village, there lived a

boy ,called Govinda. Govinda had lost his

father and his mother , Devaki, a poor

widow, brought up the boy with loving

kindness. There was no school in that

village. Devaki wanted to send Govinda to a

school in a nearby village,but he had to

cross a big forest everyday to reach the

school.

Govinda told his mother that he was afraid

of walking alone in the forest to reach the

school. His mother told him: " Govinda,

don't worry. When you enter the forest ,

call "Gopala"...a young boy with flute in

hand will come and hold your hand and walk

with you to the school. Do the same thing

in the evening while returning from the

school."

Govinda did as his mother told him. He will

enter the forest and call out as his mother

told. Gopala, a young boy with flute in

hand would appear, hold Govinda's hand and

walk nicely and then disappear after

reaching the school.Again Gopala will

appear and hold Govinda's hand on the

return trip from the school to the home.

Sometimes Govinda will ask Gopala for

snacks to eat on the way and Gopal would

give him some puffed rice. Both will eat

the rice on the way to school.

Towards the end of the year, the school had

annual function. The teacher requested each

pupil to bring some snacks to the school

and offer to all the kids, after prayer.

Govinda told his mother that he had to take

some snacks to the school. His mother told

that she had no money to buy or make

snacks. "Why don't you ask Gopala to give

you snacks ?" she told Govinda.

Govinda anxiously waited for Gopal to meet

in the forest. When Gopala came, Govinda

told him: "Gopala, there is a function at

the school and I need some sweet snacks to

carry". Gopala immediately said that he

would provide on the next day--the day of

the function.True to his word, Gopala gave

a large packet of milk sweets to Govinda.

Govinda carried the packet and gave it to

his master. The teacher was thrilled and

tasted the sweet which was delicious. The

teacher asked Govinda whether his mother

prepared them . He knew that Govinda's

mother was a poor widow and could not

afford to make these sweets. Govinda

replied that the sweets were given by his

friend Gopala in the forest. The teacher

was puzzled and asked Govinda: "Who is your

friend Gopala in the forest?". Govinda

replied that he is a small boy who escorts

him everyday to the school. The teacher was

further intrigued. He could not believe

that any such boy lived in the forest. It

must be some wild imagination on the part

of Govinda. Govinda told that Gopala is a

very rich boy who can give him many things.

The teacher asked curiously: " Govinda, can

you show me your friend Gopala in the

forest?"

Govinda replied : "Yes, come with me Sir, I

will show him."

The teacher wanted to test Govinda about

his friend. Next day he gathered a few more

teachers. They all set out to the forest to

meet Gopala if he was there.

The small group---the teachers, Gopala and

a few students --walked towards the forest.

On entering the forest, Govinda cried out :

"Gopala, come here, my teachers have come".

There was no reply. Gopala did not appear.

Govinda started crying : " Gopala, why are

you hiding? I want you to come here". Again

there was no response and no one was seen.

Govinda cried louder and called: "

Gopala ,you should come;otherwise my

teacher will think I am a liar and scold

me. I will lose my honor. Gopala, you

should uphold my honor." At that time there

was a clap of thunder. A voice was heard

from the sky: "Govinda, I appear only for

those who believe in Me and are pure in

heart. I cannot appear before these

persons." The teachers and the other

students were astounded and knew that Lord

Krishna himself was escorting Govinda all

these days and gave the sweets too.

God appears to those who believe and are

pure-hearted.

Story 2 The Value of Karma Yoga

There was a great yogi who used to meditate

under a tree, with full concentration on

Brahman and soon attained many supernatural

powers called 'Siddhis'.The yogi, whom we

would call "Yogeshwar' for this story, was

soon puffed with pride. He knew that he had

attained a high state of yogic perfection.

He was also short tempered---would become

angry .

One day when he was meditating or doing

'tapas' under the peepul tree, a crane

perched on a branch of the tree and was

making noise. Yogeshwar got irritated by

the noise and looked up at the bird with

stern eyes. The crane was instantly burned

to ashes and fell down as a heap of bones.

Yogeshwar was delighted with the result. He

told himself: " See how with my yogic

powers, i could burn the crane which was

disturbing my meditations."

After a few days, Yogeshwar was in his

rounds to beg for alms in a nearby village.

He would walk slowly through the streets

and clap his hands in front of any house.

The lady of the house would come out and

drop food into his begging bowl. This was

the custom in those days.

As usual, Yogeshwar stopped in front of one

of the houses and clapped his hand. There

was no response even though the door was

open. After clapping again and waiting for

some time, Yogeshwar saw the lady of the

house come out with food . Yogeshwar was

angry with her for making him wait so long.

He stared at her with a stern,angry look.

The lady immediately smiled and told the

yogi: "What Yogiraj, Do you take me for a

crane? I was delayed because I was serving

my husband who is ill...that is all".

Yogeshwar was puzzled how this lady, a

quiet woman, came to know of the incident--

the way he had burned the crane by his

look-- that took place under the tree far

away in the forest. He at once felt humbled

and realized that this woman must be a

perfected soul herself. He quickly asked

her: "Mother, Can you teach me the Divine

Knowledge which you seemed to have

acquired? ". The lady replied : " Look, I

am no Yogini or Guru. But you go to the

next village of Rampur where you will find

a cartman named Raikwa. He can teach you".

Yogeshwar was first intrigued that a

cartpuller would be enlightened enough to

teach him. But he had faith in the words of

this lady,and walked to Rampur and located

the cartman Raikwa, resting under a tree

smoking beedy.[home-made cigarette.]

Raikwa listened to the story of Yogeshwar

and told that he could not teach him

anything and there is a butcher by name

Bhairava in the market,who might help him.

Yogeshwar was still puzzled how a buthcer

could give him divine knowledge. Yet he

went to the market street and located the

meat shop.

Bhairava at once welcomed him and asked

whether Raikwa had sent him. Yogeshwar was

puzzled that Bhairava knew about his

meeting Raikwa just a short time ago.

Bhairava told him that he cannot talk to

him in the shop as he was busy with the

customers and that he should go and wait in

the front porch of his house. Bhairava

gave him directions to reach his house.

Yogeshwar then walked to Bhairava's house

and waited at the porch for Bhairava to

return from the shop.

It was almost dark when Bhairava returned

home. He again greeted Yogeshwar sitting at

the porch and told him that he had some

work inside the house and would return

after an hour to converse with him.

Yogeshwar had learned enough humility by

then. He patiently waited, recalling the

events of the day since morning and his

fate that he should wait in front of a

lowly butcher's house! [Butchers were

treated as outcastes in those days in

India.]

After about an hour, Bhairava came out and

sat by the side of Yogeshwar in the porch.

Yogeshwar asked about the work he had

earlier. Bhairava told that he had his

ailing father inside the house and he had

to nurse his wounds. Then he asked

Yogeshwar why he had come and what he

wanted. Yogeshwar narrated all the strange

things that had happened that day. He asked

Bhairava how he knew that Raikwa had sent

him in the first place. Bhairava told that

he had some intuitive thought to suggest

that Raikwa ,his friend , might have

directed Yogeshwar to his place.

Then Yogeshwar posed his question " How you

had attained Brahma Jnana--or Divine

knowledge." Bhairava replied that he knew

nothing of yoga or tapas but he did his job

of doing a butcher's duties with honesty

and faith in God and that he never avoided

his duties at home. He added: " I guess,

the so-called divine knowledge comes of its

own ,even though I am an illiterate."

Then Yogeshwar realized the value of karma

yoga.!

3 The Story of Affection for a

Deer

Bharata was a great monarch of India. In

fact India is called "Bharatavarsha" or

"Bharat" after him. He was the son of

Royal-sage or Raja-rishi Rishaba. Bharata

ruled over his subjects with love and with

fairness. He performed all tasks --even

minor ones-as service to the Lord of the

Universe.

In his old age, Bharata divided his kingdom

into five parts for his five sons and then

retired to the forest near Gandaki river in

the Himalayas to meditate .He built a small

cottage for himself and devoted all his

time to the worship of the Lord.He soon

found inner peace.Bharata spent many years

in deep contemplation.

One morning he was offering his prayers to

the Lord. He found a rustling of waters in

the river and saw a deer being followed by

a ferocious lion at some distance. In the

fright, the deer which was carrying a baby

fawn gave birth to the little one and

crossed the river. On reaching the other

side, the deer fell and died out of fright.

The little fawn was floating in the

water.Bharata was moved by this sight and

picked up the fawn.

He brought the fawn to his cottage, nursed

it with milk and fruits and soon became

fond of the fawn. Though he had renounced

all the desires and was meditating on the

Lord, his attachment for the fawn grew day

by day.He spent lot of time playing with

the fawn and grew anxious about the future

of the fawn.!

A few years passed by. Bharata grew weak

and knew his end was near. When his mind

was turned towards the deer , he breathed

his last. As a result of his karma and the

affection for the deer, and the thought of

the little deer at the time of death,

Bharata was born as a deer in the next

birth. The deer's name was Jatismara or

Jadabharata.

Though Bharata was a deer now, he listened

to the wise sayings and prayers of sages in

their ashrams.

In the subsequent birth, Jadabharata or

Jatismara was born as the youngest boy in

a rich brahmin's family.

In this life, Bharata remembered his past

lives and led a quiet life, without much

attachment. He would speak very little and

was withdrawn most of the time. His

brothers thought that he was a dim witted

boy and refused to give him any property

when his father died. The wives of his

brothers were harsh towards him . But

Jadabharata continued to lead a withdrawn

life, not speaking a word against them.

One day when the wives of his brothers were

unkind, Bharata quietly left the house and

sat under a tree in deep contemplation.

The local king , King Rahugana was passing

by in a palanquin carried by four bearers.

One of the bearers got sick and the King's

men,finding Bharata sitting quietly there

was healthy enough to carry the palanquin ,

asked him to be one of the bearers. Bharata

did not reply but carried the palanquin

along with three other bearers. But Bharata

did not carry the palanquin properly. The

king was annoyed and told him : " O Fool,

if you cannot carry properly, rest a while

and then lift the palanquin."

Then Bharata layed down the palanquin and

spoke for the first time and addressed the

king:'Whom do you call "Fool"--O King.If

you call 'you' this body, this mass of

flesh, it is the same as yours.If it is the

mind you call 'you' then it is the same as

yours--the Universal mind.If you call my

soul as 'you' . it is the same as in you---

it is the Self, the Reality---it has no

weariness, no sickness.I moved about to

avoid some insects on the ground.But my

Soul is not wearied and never carried the

pole of the palanquin."

The king Rahugana realized the mistake,

knew that this bearer was indeed a great

sage and fell at his feet and asked for

pardon. Later the king asked Bharata to

teach him Divine Knowledge.

Later Bharata ,in the new incarnation,

moved about preaching Lord's knowledge.'

4 All for a piece of Loincloth!

A great sadhu lived in a remote

village ,having renounced everything. All

his possessions were a begging bowl, a

water jug or kamandalu and two pieces of

loin cloth--about the size of a towel which

he would wrap around his waist.He would

wear one piece and wash and dry another

piece.

Soon he found that a rat was chewing the

loin cloth at night and had made numerous

holes in it. The sadhu thought that he

should put an end to this rat problem.

He wanted to shelter a pet cat to eat the

rat. So he requested a villager near by to

bring a cat to him. The villager brought a

cat and offered to give some milk to feed

the cat. The cat took care of the rat.His

loin clothes were not damaged.

To feed the cat with milk, the sadhu

thought that he should get a cow. Again he

requested a rich villager to offer a cow to

his ashram. In those days, offering a cow

to a brahmin or sadhu, called 'go-dhan"

['go' means cow and 'dhan' means charity-

offering] was considered an act of merit or

punya and many villagers would come forward

to offer a cow. So ,soon the sadhu had a

cow in his ashram.

He grew grass in a patch of land near by

for feeding the cow.He was burdened with

too much work to attend to the cow. His

puja or worship and meditations decreased.

He sought the services of a young village

girl to look after the cow.

It so happened that he ended up marrying

the girl. After about a year, the sadhu had

become a father for a child.

Thus a sadhu became a householder---all for

a piece of loin cloth!

5 Vyasa and his son Suka

Vyasa is a common name for one who

'expands' scriptures or writes/edits sacred

works. Thus we learn about Veda Vyas who

compiled and edited the Vedas. There was

one vyasa by name Krishna Dweepayana [who

was born in a island] who is considered the

28 th Vyasa in the line of such editors.

This vyasa is credited with editing Srimad

Bhagavatam which has several puranic

[mythological] stories, lives of kings and

sages and above all, life of Lord Krishna.

This book is widely regarded by all in the

devotional path.

Suka was the son of Vyasa, a scholarly and

spiritually enlightened master in his own

right. In younger days, Suka was taught by

his father much of scriptures. Suka later

taught Parikshit the whole of Bhagavatam in

a week.

Vyasa and Suka were walking through a

forest during their journey.

Vysa was walking in front followed by Suka

at some distance. It so happened that Vyasa

was passing by a small lake in which young

women were bathing in nudity. Vyasa saw

them and immediately told his son to close

his eyes while walking for some distance.

Suka who was following Vyasa closed his

eyes and slowly walked , listening to the

foot steps of his father.

After walking some distance, Vyasa told

that Suka could open his eyes...Suka was

intrigued and asked his father: "Revered

Father, why did you ask me to close the

eyes?"

Vyasa replied that there were some women

bathing in the lake on his left side

without any clothes and that Suka should

not see them. Suka replied, taking Vyasa to

be a great Jnani so far," Father ,do you

still see a woman and a man differently?"

Vyasa realized that he had not yet reached

maturity in terms of Jnana.

[The implication is that a Jnani is one who

had crossed the feelings of gender

differences and the temptations of the

sexes.]

6 Adi Shankara and the Chandala

Adi Shankara , the great Advaitic

philosopher and pontiff , lived in the

eighth century [788- 820 CE] . He traveled

throughout the length and breadth of India

three times.In one of his trips to Varanasi

[Benares or Kashi] ,the holy city, the

following incident took place.

Though Shankara was a great philosopher, he

had still caste prejudices at that time--

perhaps due to his early upbringing in

Kerala. Shankara was born in a pious

Namboodri brahmin family, steeped in caste

conventions .

Adi Shankara was walking along a narrow

lane, after bath in the Ganges, towards

Lord Viswanatha's temple. He spotted a

chandala or outcaste with his wife coming

towards him at the end of the lane.

Shankara shouted " go away, go away" at the

chandala, since if he came close to this

brahmin, pollution would occur. [Such was

the caste prejudices then and the practice

of "untouchability."]. The Chandala who had

some ropes and nets in his hands, stopped

immediately and looked at Shankara with

stern eyes and told: " Look, Revered

Brahmin, Did you say "go away' at this

body, made of flesh and produced by food,

which is same as your body. If you say 'go

away" at my consciousness which is the same

as yours , where is the question of "going

away" we are both the same.". On hearing

this, Shankara got the message that he was

wrong in identifying with the body and

considering that chandala was inferior in

birth.He knew at once that the Chandala was

none but Lord Shiva himself or Lord

Viswanatha who had come to teach

him.Shankara fell at the feet of the

Chandala and his wife and suddenly he had a

vision of "Shiva and Parvati". At

once, Shankara sang a hymn of five verses

called " Maneesha Panchakam" ---about the

knowledge of Advaita. The divine couple --

Shiva and Parvati --disappeared in a blaze

of light.

[ There are slightly different versions of

this story.One may even doubt that such an

event occurred in the life of Shankara.

Modern scholars doubt the authorship of

these works which may be due to later

saints.]

7 Emperor Shivaji and Samartha

Ramdas

Samartha Ramdas was a great Marathi

saint ,devoted to Lord Rama and the author

of "Dasbodh"-- a poetical work on Vedanta.

He was the guru of Emperor Shivaji who

fought against Moghul rulers and

established a Hindu kingdom around Pune.

Samartha Ramdas used to stay with Shivaji

for long periods in his palace. Shivaji was

building several fortresses on hills in

Maratha country to defend his kingdom.Many

of the fortresses are tourist attraction

today.

One fine morning, Samartha Ramdas was

walking along a road near a fortress,

chanting the name of Lord Rama. Shivaji

joined him and walked with him.There was a

major construction of a fort nearby, where

several stone cutters were working. Shivaji

spoke to some of them and while walking

further felt some pride that he was giving

work to so many poor workers who may

otherwise go hungry without jobs.

Ramdas who was walking closeby immediately

read the mind of Shivaji. He told Shivaji

to go near a small boulder lying on the

roadside. He asked Shivaji to get some

stone cutters to break that boulder.

Shivaji summoned some workers and asked

them to break the boulder though he did

not know why his guru Ramdas wanted him to

break the boulder.

In a short while ,the workers broke the

boulder into two halves. Inside the

boulder, there was a big hole with some

water in it. Ramdas asked Shivaji to look

closely at the hole. There was a small

lizard inside. Ramdas told Shivaji: "

Look ,Emperor, the Lord has made the lizard

not only live inside this boulder with

air,but also provided some water to drink".

Shivaji felt humbled and told: " Guruji, My

pride is gone! I know it is the Lord who

will protect and provide for all---not the

king" and then fell at the feet of Samartha

Ramdas.