Once there lived a king who was very fond of conquering other countries. So
he went on fighting one war after another, and was just busy building a big
empire. Once when he was on his way back home after a war he saw a old sage
dressed in rags, sitting by the street side and meditating. Seeing him in
rags the king thought, "This old man is very poor and does not have even
proper clothes to protect him from cold. Let me gift him my shawl". Thinking
in this manner, the king approached the sage and gifted him his shawl. The
sage thanked the king for his kind gesture, but refused to accept the gift.
The sage said, "O king, there is someone more poorer than me in your kingdom
and may be you consider giving this gift to him. By mercy of Lord, I have
everything which is needed for me and so I don't want your shawl". The king
was very surprised and he asked the sage as to who was that poor man. The
sage replied, "O king, you are the poorest man in this kingdom. Because, I
see that even though you had captured so many kingdom, still your thirst for
war has not quenched. You don't feel satisfied with what you have and you
keep on wasting your valuable time in wars." Hearing the sage's words, the
king realized that indeed since the sage had taken shelter of Holy Names,
and had the wealth of satisfaction, the sage was far more richer than him.
He thanked the sage for his valuable advice and from that day onwards, the
king took shelter of Holy Names, stopped unnecessary wars, executed his
prescribed duties to the best of his ability.
In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 11.19.43-44, Lord Krishna instructs Uddhava that
gunaadhyo hyaadhya ucyate
daridro yastv asantushtah
"My dear friend Uddhava, one who is enriched with good qualities is actually
said to be rich, and one who is unsatisfied in life is actually poor."
Indeed satisfaction is the greatest wealth. We must be completely satisfied
with whatever Krishna gives us and avoid unnecessary hankerings. That is the
secret of peaceful and blissful life.
he went on fighting one war after another, and was just busy building a big
empire. Once when he was on his way back home after a war he saw a old sage
dressed in rags, sitting by the street side and meditating. Seeing him in
rags the king thought, "This old man is very poor and does not have even
proper clothes to protect him from cold. Let me gift him my shawl". Thinking
in this manner, the king approached the sage and gifted him his shawl. The
sage thanked the king for his kind gesture, but refused to accept the gift.
The sage said, "O king, there is someone more poorer than me in your kingdom
and may be you consider giving this gift to him. By mercy of Lord, I have
everything which is needed for me and so I don't want your shawl". The king
was very surprised and he asked the sage as to who was that poor man. The
sage replied, "O king, you are the poorest man in this kingdom. Because, I
see that even though you had captured so many kingdom, still your thirst for
war has not quenched. You don't feel satisfied with what you have and you
keep on wasting your valuable time in wars." Hearing the sage's words, the
king realized that indeed since the sage had taken shelter of Holy Names,
and had the wealth of satisfaction, the sage was far more richer than him.
He thanked the sage for his valuable advice and from that day onwards, the
king took shelter of Holy Names, stopped unnecessary wars, executed his
prescribed duties to the best of his ability.
In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 11.19.43-44, Lord Krishna instructs Uddhava that
gunaadhyo hyaadhya ucyate
daridro yastv asantushtah
"My dear friend Uddhava, one who is enriched with good qualities is actually
said to be rich, and one who is unsatisfied in life is actually poor."
Indeed satisfaction is the greatest wealth. We must be completely satisfied
with whatever Krishna gives us and avoid unnecessary hankerings. That is the
secret of peaceful and blissful life.
