பொய்யாமை யன்ன புகழில்லை எய்யாமை
எல்லா அறமுந் தரும்
Once a king was curious to know how a person make use of the luck that comes to him. To investigate this, he got two rotis and stuffed one with precious diamonds.
Then, he gave two rotis to a labourer at the palace, and said, “Pay attention and listen carefully. Give this valuable roti to a person who is deserving and virtuous. Give an ordinary roti to a common beggar,” the ordered.
With great patience and an attentive demeanor, the man handed the roti with diamonds, to a person who resembled a sage. He then gave the other one to a common beggar.
The king inspected all these activities from balcony of his palace, which overlooked the courtyard. The person who received the roti with diamonds, resembling a sage, closely examined the roti he had received.
Thinking it was not baked well as it weighed high than the normal roti, he approached the beggar nearby and said, “Friend, the roti I received appears to be big and fluffy. I am not hungry to this extent. Therefore, you take this and give me yours,” he said.
Immediately, both of them exchanged their rotis.
Upon witnessing this, the king exclaimed, “Ah! What a divine revelation! When a yogi has no need for wealth, the roti with the valuable diamonds went to the beggar.”
Immediately,the king ordered his persons to follow both the sage-like person and the beggar.
Later in the evening, he received information about these two individuals. The man like the sage, who had acted wisely returned to his home, took off his tattered clothes, removed his beards which were just attached and not real, ate the roti and slept well. After waking up again he dressed up with the beggar’s rags, and went to the marketplace. He then proceeded to beg for alms just like the beggar.
The beggar, went to his house and started to eat the roti with his wife, she noticed the diamonds within it. Her face lit up with joy. But the begger told that God desired to examine him by sending these diamonds.
He said that these diamonds should be handed over to the workers at the palace, if they have given the roti with diamonds unknowingly. However, if they were already aware of the truth and had deliberately given them away, then this roti with the diamonds should be handed over to the sage as this roti was actually given to him. That is the justice,” he explained.
Recognizing the beggar’s integrity and his noble heart, the king invited him to his palace and presented him with the diamonds along with many other precious gifts.
By God’s grace, the diamonds didn’t reach the sage without being tainted, while an honest beggar received wealth. The king was overjoyed at this outcome, as was the beggar. The beggar sold the diamonds and started business with the money, living a happy life. If one stays truthful he will be rewarded.
