Once there lived a miser who had lots of money and property. Yet he desired to acquire more wealth.
One day he met the king and requested him to give him some more land. The king thought for a while and said-
“Come here at sun rise tomorrow. Walk as far as you can. Before sunset you should return to the point from where you started your journey. Then all the land you traversed shall become yours.”
Next morning, before sunrise, the miser reached the place indicated by the king. He did not even eat properly as he did not want to lose any time. At sunrise, he began to run as he wanted to cover maximum distance without wasting any time. By noon the miser had covered a great distance.
If the miser had to gain the land, he had to return to the starting place by sunset. He was very tired, thirsty and hungry. He was in great pain, yet did not stop anywhere. At sunset, he somehow struggled hard and reached the starting point. Upon reaching, exhausted by his arduous journey, he fell down unconscious and died.
The king looked at him in pity and told his servants-
“Bury him. He needs only 3 X 6 feet land.”
Like the miser, without realising how much we need, we too keep on working endlessly to accumulate wealth and property. Finally, in the end, along with wealth, we also accumulate unwanted diseases and distress. Before we acquire anything, if we reflect if it is really necessary, we can reduce many problems in life.
Translated by : Dr. Sharada Jayagovind
