In a tiny village Chandu, a farmer lives with his mother. So Chandu works from dawn to dusk on their farm and lives in comfort with his mother. One day, Chandu’s mother says, “The Purushotham Maas begins from tomorrow, Chandu. Let us eat once a day like we always do during this auspicious month.”
Chandu does not understand his mother’s beliefs but does not question her about them. From the next day onwards, Chandu’s mother makes two big thick rotis and some sabji every day. She eats one roti with a little sabji and then carries the other roti and sabji to their farm. Chandu enjoys eating even this frugal meal because he loves the simple and delicious food that his mother cooks.
One day, Chandu’s mother meets a poor old man when she is on her way to their farm. The man says, “O good woman, I haven’t eaten anything for the past two days. I’ll be grateful to you if you can share your food with me.”
Chandu’s mother says, “O Sire, I am sorry. But my son and I are fasting during the auspicious Purushotham Maas. We eat only one frugal meal in a day. If I give you the food that I am carrying with me, my son will have to go hungry till noon tomorrow.” The old man feebly says, “Please give me half of what you have O mother. For I cannot walk any further out of hunger.”
Chandu’s mother feels very sorry for the old man. So she gives the old man half of the roti and some sabji that she had reserved for Chandu. She feels happy when she sees him eating the roti with relish and quickly makes her way to their farm.
Chandu is very disappointed when he hears about the old man. He feels hungry. So he looks at his mother sullenly and says, “Tell me O mother. How is your Purushotham Bhagawan going to reward me for giving up half my food to a poor man? You ask me to fast on all the days of the Purushotham Maas. I want to know the exact reward I will get for giving up half of my roti today. Until then I will not eat anything.”
Chandu’s mother softly says, “I can’t answer such questions, Chandu. All I know is that God blesses us in many ways. And we don’t always understand his ways. That’s all.”
Chandu angrily says, “I will go to the temple in the next town and ask the priest my question then. I am determined to know more about this and I’ll remain hungry till I get a specific answer to my question.” Chandu then walks out of his farm in a huff.
He meets a fruit seller on the outskirts of his town when he rests for a while. Chandu narrates his experience to the fruit seller and tells him about his intentions. The fruit seller says, “When you meet the temple priest in the next town, please ask him why no one buys my fruits. My fruits are the best in town. Yet people buy fruits only from other shops. I end up giving them away to my farm hands every week.” Chandu agrees to do so.
Chandu then meets a sad lonely looking Brahmin along his way. When Chandu discusses his tale with the Brahmin, the Brahmin too says, “Yes, I too have the same question for God. My knowledge is beyond compare. Yet the villagers prefer sending their children to that friendly scholar who knows next to nothing. Please discuss my predicament too with the temple priest and let me know the answer on your way back home.”
Chandu nods in assent. He has not eaten anything for almost a week now. But he is curious to get the answers to all these questions now. When Chandu finally meets the temple priest, he looks at Chandu in surprise, gives a loud hearty laugh and says, “Why young man, who can ever answer any question on God with complete knowledge? How can anyone explain intangible things like faith? But I respect your curiosity because a curious mind discovers things that elude others. I was looking for a man like you for my daughter. Will you marry her? My daughter will dispel all your doubts after you marry her. I must say this for her – she is an extremely intelligent woman.”
When Chandu sees the priest’s daughter, Sharada, he is instantly impressed by her demeanour. She was knowledgeable but there was no trace of arrogance in her. Chandu agrees to marry her and in no time, both Chandu and Sharada are on their way home.
But Chandu had not yet got the answer to his question. So he remains hungry. When Chandu and Sharada meet the Brahmin, Sharada immediately sizes up the situation and says, “O learned one, share your knowledge freely and willingly. Don’t hoard it. Don’t focus on the fees that you get from your students. And more importantly – don’t ridicule them. For they are not as knowledgeable as you are. Make them understand things patiently.”
The Brahmin realizes the truth of Sharada’s words and says, “You are right O learned lady. Pride had indeed clouded my vision. Let me impart all the knowledge I have about the Purushotham Maas before you move on.”
So Chandu and Sharada listen to all that the Brahmin has to say that day and continue on their journey back home. When they meet the fruit seller on the outskirts of their village, Sharada says, “O merchant, I can see that you do have the best fruits in town. I’m sure you take very good care of your orchard too. But do you pay your farm hands a fair salary for all their hard work? You are the selling the fruits of their labour, isn’t it?”
The fruit seller wonders how Sharada knew all this but he realizes the worth of her words. He promises to correct his mistake immediately and gives Chandu and Sharada a big basket of his best fruits as a token of appreciation.
Chandu’s mother is overjoyed when she sees Chandu and welcomes Sharada warmly. However, Chandu refuses to eat the meal that his mother prepares for him. He is adamant. He had not yet got the answer to his question. He wanted to know the exact reward that Purushotham Bhagawan would give him for giving up half his roti. And that was that.”
Chandu’s mother says, “O naïve son, today is the last day of Purushotham maas. Purushotham Bhagawan has already answered your question. He has blessed you with an intelligent humble wife, the Brahmin’s immense knowledge and a big basket of the most delicious fruits – all in return for half of your roti.
God does not keep count of things like us, Chandu. He will not give you one roti in exchange for the half roti you gave up. We have to do whatever we can for Him willingly and He will bless us with whatever we truly deserve at the right time. That is what faith is all about. Question Him if you must. But he will answer you in His own way. Now appreciate His blessings instead of taking things for granted.”Chandu realizes the wisdom of his mother’s words and decides to observe all the other fasts too from then on.
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