A wandering ascetic- a truly holy man- reached the outskirts of a village. Weary and aching after his long trek, he sat down to rest under a tree.
A villager came running up to him and demanded, "Give me the stone, the precious stone!"
"Who are you, my friend?" asked the ascetic. "What stone do you seek?"
"Last night, God appeared to me in a dream," the villager explained to him. "He told me that a sanyasin would meet me on the outskirts of my village, and that he would give me a precious stone just for the asking and I would be the wealthiest man in the world!"
The man continued in great excitement, "It has happened just as the Lord said it would! Here you are. Please give me the stone!"
The holy man picked up a stone from his side. "Is this the one?" he asked. "You can have it with my blessings."
The villager gazed at the stone in wonder. It was a diamond- probably the largest one in the land!
He took the diamond and went home, saying to himself, "The Lord has kept His promise to me! I shall surely be the wealthiest, happiest man in the world!"
The next morning, he was back before the holy man, and he seemed none the happier for his new-found wealth.
"How are you, my friend?" inquired the holy man. "What brings you here this morning?"
"Swamiji, I could not sleep a wink last night," confessed the man. "I tossed and turned, and did not have a moment's peace. I have come to return the diamond to you. Give me your wealth, in its place."
"My wealth?" said the holy man laughing. "Why, I have none to speak of!"
"Oh yes, you do," said the villager. "Give me that wealth which made you give away the diamond so easily!"
A similar story is a pastime in the life of Sanatana Gosvami
It is said that once a poor brahmana worshiped Lord Siva for a benediction, and Lord Siva advised the devotee to go to see Sanatana Gosvami. The devotee went to Sanatana Gosvami and informed him that Lord Siva had advised him to seek out the best benediction from him (Sanatana). Sanatana had a touchstone with him, which he kept with the garbage. On the request of the poor brahmana, Sanatana Gosvami gave him the touchstone, and the brahmana was very happy to have it. He now could get as much gold as he desired simply by touching the touchstone to iron. But after he left Sanatana, he thought, "If a touchstone is the best benediction, why has Sanatana Gosvami kept it with the garbage?" He therefore returned and asked Sanatana Gosvami, "Sir, if this is the best benediction, why did you keep it with the garbage?" Sanatana Gosvami then informed him, "Actually, this is not the best benediction. But are you prepared to take the best benediction from me?" The brahmana said, "Yes, sir. Lord Siva has sent me to you for the best benediction." Then Sanatana Gosvami asked him to throw the touchstone in the water nearby and then come back. The poor brahmana did so, and when he returned, Sanatana Gosvami initiated him with the Hare Krsna mantra. Thus by the benediction of Lord Siva the brahmana got the association of the best devotee of Lord Krsna and was thus initiated in the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
SB 4.7.6
By
HDG A.C Bhativedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
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