Equal to a Thousand

Ramdas was poor, but he worked hard. He owned a small plot of land, and whatever he produced was just enough for him to make ends meet. He ate and spent as little as possible, saving as much as he could. This was his routine for years.

With the money he saved—which was not much—he bought coconuts from his fellow villagers, loaded them onto a cart, and carried them to town, selling them for a small profit. As months went by, he increased his purchases, hired two carts, and continued to earn greater profits by selling more coconuts. Each time, however, he spent not a paisa of his earnings on himself, wearing tattered clothes and never eating anything better than coarse rice.

The True Intentions

To the outside world, he seemed like a great miser, but only he knew the truth. His frugality stemmed from a cherished dream: to feed a thousand worthy souls on the birthday of Krishna. Eventually, he realized that he had gathered enough money to fulfill this dream. As Krishna’s birthday approached, he consulted the village chief priest about how to find a thousand worthy souls.
“There’s no difficulty in finding a thousand worthy souls,” the priest replied. “To start, I’m one, my five sons and fifteen grandsons make twenty more. The other Brahmins of this village and nearby villages can fill the rest.”
“Fine. I will meet each one of them personally and invite them to my house for Krishna’s birthday,” Ramdas replied.

Preparations Begin

With the help of his friends among the poor, Ramdas cleared the ground in front of his house and erected a thatch. He arranged for skilled Brahmins to cook for the grand celebration.

On the sacred day, Ramdas’s house wore a festive look. The cooks arrived on time and began their preparations, assisted by villagers. However, just before midday, a large number of guests appeared at the local landlord’s home, and when he sent for some cooks, they were all already engaged by Ramdas.
“What did you say? Poor Ramdas is feeding a thousand Brahmins? Are you drunk?” the landlord exclaimed. “Feeding a thousand Brahmins is no easy task.” The servant replied, “It’s true, sir. So far, only you and your ancestors have dared to feed a thousand Brahmins.”

The Landlord’s Challenge

The landlord fumed, perceiving Ramdas as a rival. “What does Ramdas think of himself? A landlord?” he scoffed. “I don’t believe he thinks of himself as a landlord now, standing under a mere thatch,” the servant mischievously replied.

When the landlord’s manager commented, “If anyone should be feeding a thousand Brahmins, it should be our noble landlord,” it fueled the landlord’s determination. “We too will celebrate Krishna’s birthday and feed a thousand Brahmins. Summon the cooks and ask the Brahmins to eat at my house, not at Ramdas’s,” he commanded.

Disappointment and Discovery

The cooks Ramdas had engaged had no choice but to rush to the landlord’s house. Several messengers were sent throughout the village to inform the Brahmins not to dine at Ramdas’s. Meeting the landlord, Ramdas pleaded, “Sir, I’ve prepared the rice and cut the vegetables for a thousand.”
“That’s no problem,” the landlord interrupted. “I will ensure it’s not wasted.” Following the landlord’s orders, Ramdas’s prepared food was transported to the landlord’s house. “Remember, Ramdas, if you feed anyone today, you will regret it for the rest of your life,” the landlord warned.

Left alone on his empty veranda, Ramdas wondered in despair, “Am I such a sinner, Krishna, that my long-cherished dream must be shattered?” To overcome his disappointment, he tried to make light of his situation. “Well, I won’t starve on Krishna’s birthday,” he thought, and gathered a handful of scattered rice and pulses to cook.

A Magical Feast

As he was about to eat, a little boy appeared and exclaimed, “What! You’re not going to throw a feast? I went hungry all day just to enjoy what you would offer!” Ramdas, touched by the boy’s eagerness, served the little food he had prepared on a banana leaf.

As the boy began to eat, Ramdas shared the entire story. “It matters not if you couldn’t feed a thousand,” the boy said. “You are feeding me, and that is enough.” Ramdas chuckled, “You think you are equal to a thousand?”
“Yes, if not more,” the boy replied calmly. Ramdas laughed heartily at the boy’s confidence before sitting down to eat what was left on the leaf.

The Landlord’s Fury

Meanwhile, the landlord had sent a servant to spy on Ramdas to ensure he did not feed anyone. When the servant reported that Ramdas had at least one guest, the infuriated landlord marched towards Ramdas’s house. Ramdas was savoring each bite of food, relishing the unexpected delight.
“Look at me, Ramdas!” shouted the landlord, but Ramdas was too engrossed in his meal to notice. “Snatch and throw away the leaf!” he ordered one of his servants. Despite the leaf being taken, Ramdas continued to eat, as there was another leaf before him.

This cycle continued—the landlord’s anger grew as his servants kept removing leaf after leaf, yet there always remained food for Ramdas. Onlookers gathered in amazement as the landlord gestured wildly in disbelief.

A Lesson Learned

Finally, after countless leaves had been taken, Ramdas looked up to see the crowd and asked what was happening. When he learned of the miracle unfolding before his eyes, he smiled and declared, “The boy was right; he is indeed equal to a thousand, if not more!” The landlord, overhearing this, lost his composure entirely, realizing that true worth and abundance lay not in wealth, but in the kindness and selflessness exemplified by Ramdas.