Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Purity of heart


Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a compassionate and a generous man. He had a mellifluous behavior even towards the people who belonged to the lowest societal stratum.

There was a servant in Vidyasagar's house who used to do all the household chores. Vidyasagar always showed him affection and treated him like his family members.

One day, when Vidyasagar was descending the stairs of his house, he saw his servant sleeping on the staircase with a letter in his hand. Vidyasagar slowly took out the letter from his hand and read it and came to know about the bad news. Vidyasagar saw that the servant had a streak of tears on his face, perhaps he sobbed himself to sleep. Seeing his servant in this condition the feeling of sympathy evoked in Vidyasagar's heart. He went inside the room and brought a hand fan and started fanning his servant so that he could sleep comfortably.

At the same time, one of Vidyasagar's friend came there and seeing such a situation said astoundingly, "You are too much! How can you be engaged in the service of a servant whose salary is hardly seven-eight bucks?" 

Vidyasagar said, "My father also used to earn seven-eight bucks in a month. I remember one day while my father was returning home he felt unconscious and fell on the road, and a passerby helped him with water. In my servant, I can see the image of my late father."

Moral: Purity of heart is not only reflected through sweet words but also through the conduct. An affectionate behavior towards one and all underscores generosity and dignity. Therefore, we must be kind and generous towards everyone.

-- Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA)

"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"