Stories from Upanishads
(A story from Chhandogya Upanishad)
Narrated by Grandpa and edited by
Preshona Ghose
Once there were two
sages (rishis) who lived in a hermitage
located in a forest. They spent most of their time worshipping Vayu, the wind god.
One afternoon, as the sages were beginning their meal, a Brahmachari (an
unmarried monk) beggar arrived holding his begging bowl.
The Brahmachari pleaded to the sages, "Pardon me respectful sages, could
I beg for a part of your excess meal?"
"Sorry young man, we cannot spare you any food," sourly replied one of the
sages.
The persistent young monk continued, "May I ask you most humbly, which Deva
(God) do you worship?"
"We worship Vayu, the wind god" answered the sage with pride. "He is
also know as Prana, the breath of life."
"Ah! Then you must know that Prana pervades the whole universe" said
the young Brahmachari.
The sages were getting impatient, "Yes, yes, we know all that young man."
The beggar than asked firmly, "Oh honorable sages, could you tell me to whom did
you make this food-offering?"
"Prana, the life, who else?" said the irritated sage.
The young monk smiled and retorted, "If life pervades the universe, it pervades me
too. Am I not a part of that universe?"
"Yes, that's right" replied the sage, in a puzzled state of mind.
"It is Prana, or life, that pulsates in me, as this hungry body of mine
stands before you and speaks," appealed the beggar.
The sages were trapped in the argument and admitted, "You speak the truth."
The beggar then made his final appeal, "Then Oh revered rishis (sages),
in denying me food, you are denying Prana for whom you have prepared the
food."
The rishis had no answer. They realized that merely the reading of scriptures
can not assure them of their assimilation and true understanding. Ashamed at their
ignorance, the sages gladly shared their food with the young Brahmachari.
Amar
Chitra Katha: Tales
from Upanishads
Picture
Acknowledgement: India Book House Ltd.,
Bombay, India. Amar Chitra Katha
