The Foolish Sage
Once upon a time, in the outskirts of a bustling town, lived a sage named Deva Sharma. He was widely respected, and people visited him regularly, offering gifts, food, money, and garments in exchange for his blessings. Although he accepted these offerings graciously, he trusted no one and kept all his wealth in a bag, which he carried under his arm at all times.
One day, a cunning swindler observed the sage and noticed how possessively he clung to his bag. Convinced that it contained great riches, he devised a plan to steal it. Since the temple was well-guarded and breaking in was impossible, he decided to win the sage’s trust by pretending to be a devoted disciple.
The swindler approached the sage with folded hands and bowed, saying, “Om Namah Shivaya! O revered Guruji, I seek the path of enlightenment. I am weary of worldly life and wish to serve you.”
The sage, pleased with his devotion, replied, “You are fortunate to seek wisdom at a young age. I shall guide you.”
With feigned humility, the swindler requested, “Please accept me as your disciple. I will serve you in every way.”
The sage agreed but laid down a condition, “At night, I must meditate in solitude, so you will sleep in a hut outside the temple.”
The swindler agreed readily, knowing that patience was key to his plan. He performed all his duties diligently, massaging the sage’s feet, cleaning the temple, and attending to rituals. Yet, the sage never let go of his bag, frustrating the swindler’s efforts.
After several days, the swindler grew impatient. “I must act now,” he thought. “If I cannot steal the bag, I may have to kill him.” As he schemed, a young boy arrived at the temple to invite the sage to a sacred thread ceremony.
“Guruji, please grace our home with your presence,” the boy requested.
The sage accepted and set off for town with his disciple. As they reached a riverbank, the sage wished to relieve himself. He folded his robe around the bag and entrusted it to the disciple, saying, “Look after this until I return.”
The swindler’s eyes gleamed with opportunity. As soon as the sage disappeared behind the bushes, he grabbed the bag and fled.
When the sage returned, he found only his empty robe on the ground. Realization struck him like lightning. “Oh no! I have been deceived!” he lamented.
He tried to track the thief’s footprints, but they led to the town’s bustling streets, where all traces vanished. Devastated, he spent the night in town before returning to his temple empty-handed.