Meagre

The Editor had a cell call this evening.

Reluctant though to answer the call, owing to a plethora of unexpected happenings in domestic sphere, he said, "hello.."

Hello, Sury.  U know who I am . your three decade friend from Audit days. 

Ok, I said, what is the matter ?

Is it at all wrong  for a leader to say, " Even if there is a small benefit, we should grab it.!" ?

I said, I don't understand.

Ok. I shall tell you a story from BHAGAVATHAM. That story, you know, is repeated in a few Upanishads also.

Before I could say, I AM ALREADY TIRED,/I am in hospital, he started. .

you see, there was once a sage, doing Tapasya, having fixed a definite GOAL.  He was so committed to his tapasya, he went on for years to the extent of forgetting  the needs of  his body.  One day, when  suddenly, he  realised what he sought to achieve. So unawares he was then of his own body,  he opened his eyes.  

Wisdom dawned, so was his hunger . It sprouted up .

Unable to withstand the pang of  hunger he ran for food hither and thither, in the jungle.  No fruit bearing trees, no water anywhere, he ran and ran and ran. 

And finally, he spotted a hunter who was eating some meat of some goat or pig.

Before him the sage stood and begged for food. 

Oh Sage !  I see you are very hungry. But u see the meat I eat is half-bitten. How can I give you this. You are a great man....., 

Don't say like this. If you do not give even this, I shall die soon. Please give me. I don't mind even if it is spittle and half bitten meat. 

The hunter unconvinced gave him half of what he was holding in his hands. 

Hardly had the sage bit the meat and swallowed a bit of it, there came a big hiccup from his throat. 

Unable to control the hiccup, the sage got  suffocated. The hunter immediately offered the water from the jug he kept nearby.

No. The sage said, and continued …….It is half drunk by you. I am a sage, I can't take something which  contains  your spit. 

The jungle man burst into laughter. What is it you say !! You just took the meat half eaten by me. But you refuse to take the water. I do not understand your own actions. 

The sage by now had somehow managed to control his hiccup. 

He said: My friend, I ate the half-bitten meat. It is true, no doubt. But at that time, I was in danger of losing my life itself, because of acute hunger. 

The danger is no more there.  My hunger is to some extent is pacified. Now , the water I need is luxury for me. I have to follow my Dharma, which prevents me , from drinking something which is already touched by the lips of  some other person. 

That means what ?

At a time when you face total annihilation, you may  do even things meagre  to save your life. But when your existence is no more threatened, you are bound by the rules designed for a Sage. No crossing the line, anymore. !!

The hunter  got puzzled.  


So was the Editor on hearing the story.

What do you mean by the story ?

He asked his friend.  but was not sure whether he was heard.

His friend had closed the call by then.

It was not an abrupt closing., though.

He had made his point, the Editor felt..