Page 108 - Moral Stories Vol 6

At last, the saint came to the cottage in which the youngest brother lived. Here as well, the saint was received with great warmth. The saint was pleased with the hospitality and generosity of the youngest brother and asked him to express a wish. “O holy man, all I wish for is to be able to share whatever I have with others, to help others in their need and be able to lead a happy and contented life”. “So be it!”, said the saint.
Having given his blessings, the saint continued his journey. Quite some time passed. One day, the saint recalled the incident of his meeting with the three brothers. “Let me revisit them and see for myself what they did with the blessings I gave them”, he thought.
The saint disguised himself as a poor and needy man. He went to the house of the eldest brother. It was a prosperous place with plenty of cattle, and a lot of granaries2.
“I am very hungry, could you give me a glass of milk and a handful of rice or wheat? I have been starving since days!”, cried the saint.
That moment the eldest brother came out of the house and shouted in a shrill3 voice: “You beggars! God knows from where you turn up like this to ruin my mornings. Get away, get lost!” The saint revealed his true identity. “You do not deserve the blessing I gave you. I withdraw my blessing!” he spoke in a stern voice. The next moment the eldest brother became poor and all his prosperity was gone.
The saint then visited the second brother. He repeated his request for food and shelter disguised as a poor and needy man. The second brother came out grumbling, “Here comes one more of those beggars”, “Have I started an alms-house4, you think?” he asked with an irritated tone. The saint revealed5 his identity and withdrew the blessing given to him.
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