Monday Musings 53

I promised an entertaining story from Hitoupadesha (Beneficial Advice) in our last episode.

Once upon a time there lived an old tiger in a dense forest. As he grew older the tiger was finding it difficult to hunt.

While roaming around the forest in search of food the tiger came across a gold bangle lying on the banks of a lake in the forest. The tiger thought of a plan and decided to lure someone who passed near the lake. Soon a traveller was moving on the opposite side of the lake. 

The tiger was very happy and thought to himself, “ What a delicious meal this man will be. I need not hunt for another three or four days as this man would be sufficient for some days.”

The tiger in order to attract the man kept the bangle in his paws and called the man. The tiger said, “ Oh traveller I found a gold bangle in the forest. It is of no use to me. If you want you can come and take it.” 

The traveller on seeing the shining gold bangle became greedy and wanted to take the bangle. But he was also very scared as the tiger would kill him if he went near him. The traveler said, “ Oh beast, how can I believe you? You are a beast and I know you will kill me as soon as I come near you.”

Hearing this the tiger said, “ Don’t be afraid of me. I have become very old now. I don’t have the same stamina or energy which a young tiger has. My paws are not sharp any more, they have become blunt. Now I have taken sanyas and have given up all evil activities. I am all alone now and doing only good deeds.

The greed overtook the traveller’s mind and he believed the tige. He jumped into the lake. The lake had a marshy patch and while swimming in the lake the traveller got stuck in the marshy patch. The tiger said, “Oh my dear friend, Do not worry I am coming to help you and take you out of the marsh.” The tiger came close to the traveller and seized him.

The traveller at once realized that he was being trapped and the tiger lied to him. He realised that a beast is always a beast and his greed for gold overtook his thinking capacity. The traveller thought, “ If I had not become greedy, I could have been alive now. But it’s too late.” The tiger killed the traveller and ate him.

Greed is one of the six enemies we need to fight with and conquer as Lord Krishna said in Bhagavad Gita.  Six enemies listed by Lord Krishna are  kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobh (greed), moha (attachment), mada or ahankar (pride) and matsarya (jealousy).

Learnings from Bhagavad Gita will continue in the next episode.