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Story of the week - The Thief

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Story of the weekChinna Katha, 52 stories from Discourses, by Prof. N.

KasturiSaturday, July 10, 2004

 

The Thief

Sri Krishna Chaitanya was the pioneer of the movement of Nagarsamkeertan. He

used to get himself immersed in the contemplation of the Lord while singing His

glory and used to be oblivious of the external world.

Once he was conducting Nagarsamkeertan in Navadweep. Several leaders of the town

too joined him in his bhajan. They were all ecstatically singing bhajans and

walking along the streets. A thief also joined this group. He thought it would

be an opportunity for him to pick the pockets of rich devotees who would be

lost in singing and dancing. But when he actually participated in it he began

singing with more zeal than others. All of them had come to a temple and were

seated. He sat near Chaitanya, while those sitting in front were listening to

his discourse. Many had left the temple precincts by then. He held Chaitanya's

both feet and said: "Swami, you are giving so much advice to so many people.

Kindly impart to me some sacred "manthra". Chaitanya looked at him and said:

"Tell me first of all who you are and what you do". The thief said: "Swami! How

can I lie to you? I am a thief. I have been a thief all my life. My name is

Rama, people call me 'Rama' - the thief."

Chaitanya said: "Oh what a pity. I shall give you a name or a message but what

will you give me as guru dakshina?" The thief at once said without any

hesitation: "I shall give you a share in the booty I get from my theft."

Chaitanya said: "I have no need for any money. All that I insist is that you

should give up stealing." The thief said: "Swami, that is my profession, how

else can I earn a living, when I do not have any other skill?Well," said

Chaitanya, "I shall give you a sacred name on one condition, when you go for

thieving, you must first recite the sacred name I give you 1008 times."

Chaitanya whispered into his ear: "Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya".

Transformation even by then had taken place in the thief because of the touch

of the holy person. He was also freed from the sin of his past deeds because of

the conversation with Chaitanya. The thief went back a refined person.

One day many wealthy house-holders had locked their houses and had gone for the

darshan of Sri Krishna Chaitanya. The thief did not want to lose this

opportunity to break into a house. He went to the house of the richest man of

the town. He broke into the house and entered the room where the iron safe was

kept. He opened it and saw valuable gems and jewels of gold. He resolved not to

touch anything until he had finished reciting 1008 times the manthra given to

him. Before he completed the number, the master of the house arrived along with

the familiy. The lady of the house wanted to remove all the jewels she had worn

before she left the house and keep them back in the safe. She saw a stranger

lost in the recitation of the sacred manthra "Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya."

She thought he must be a great sage who had come to their house to bless them.

She called her husband. The thief was lost in his meditation. The entire

familiy sat round him with folded hands. They thought he must

be a saintly soul like Chaitanya.

The thief opened his eyes after the completion of 1008 times the manthra. He was

surprised to find a group of people sitting reverentially before him. The master

of the house asked him, "Oh Sir! May we know who you are and may we request you

to honour us by accepting to take food with us today so that we shall be

redeemed of our sins." The thief said to himself: "If the mere recitation of

the Lord's name, now and then can bring me such honour, what greater things

cannot happen to me if I sincerely make it my daily habit of reciting the name

continuously. I may certainly win the grace of the Lord." He decided to give up

thieving. He prostrated before the master of the house and his wife and said,

"Mother, let me tell you the truth. I am a thief. Let me go to the forest. I

shall spend the rest of my life in the contemplation of God." All were

surprised at his words but were very happy.

He stayed with them as their guest that night. The news of this event spread

fast around in the morning. As a result, the whole neighbourhood came to see

him. They took him in a palanquin round the town and left him in the forest

where he wanted to do his tapas. Later, once again, he came to Chaitanya and

received his blessings so that he may blossom into a real sage.

— Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Source: Chinna Katha II, 130http://beaskund.helloyou.ws/askbaba/stories/s1027.html

 

 

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