Lord! Lord!

The Arrival of the Hermit

Long ago, there lived a hermit who wandered from place to place. One day, while caught in a heavy downpour, he sought shelter under the portico of a wealthy merchant’s house. The merchant noticed him and shouted angrily, “Go away, and don’t defile my house! I don’t like beggars.” The hermit simply murmured, “Lord, Lord,” and left.

A Welcoming Cottage

The hermit soon arrived at the humble cottage of a poor farmer named Hari. Knocking on the door, he was warmly welcomed by Hari, who offered him shelter from the rain. Hari provided the hermit with torn but clean clothes and a tattered mat to sleep on. Murmuring his chant of ‘Lord, Lord,’ the hermit spent the night in the modest hut.

A Surprising Gift

As morning broke, the hermit prepared to leave. Just then, Hari and his wife brought out their meager savings from a tin box and offered some money to the hermit. However, the hermit politely declined, saying, “Brother, I never take money from anyone.” With another chant of ‘Lord, Lord,’ he went on his way.

Unexpected Wealth

After the hermit vanished, Hari opened the tin box to return the money and was astonished to find it filled with shiny new gold coins. Everything the hermit had touched seemed to have turned to gold. Overjoyed, he and his wife lived comfortably from that day forward, lacking for nothing.

The Merchant’s Envy

When news of Hari’s sudden riches reached the wealthy merchant, his envy was boundless. Curious about how this transformation occurred, he learned of the hermit’s visit and regretted his harsh treatment. He resolved to treat the hermit better if he ever encountered him again. Time passed, and the merchant kept watch from his rooftop for the hermit’s return.

A Change of Heart

Eventually, when the next monsoon arrived, the hermit returned on a rainy night. Instead of seeking shelter at the merchant’s house, he headed towards Hari’s cottage. The merchant, seeing him, rushed out and said, “Holy Sir, why do you go about wet to the skin? Come and stay with us for the night.”

A Distasteful Welcome

Inviting the hermit inside, the merchant quickly fetched the most tattered clothes he could find for him and served him a pale, stinking gruel. After the hermit reluctantly consumed the unappetizing meal, the merchant offered him a worn-out mat to sleep on.

The Consequences of Greed

The next morning, as the hermit donned his own robes and prepared to leave, the merchant presented him with a jar full of nickel coins, saying, “Holy Sir, take some for your expenses on the way.” The hermit declined with a gentle murmur of ‘Lord, Lord,’ and departed.

The Merchant’s Downfall

After the hermit left, the merchant hurried to check the rags worn by the hermit and the tattered mat, hoping for a miracle. To his dismay, everything in his house appeared dull and lifeless, lacking any shine. His possessions turned gray and dirty, and his house began to crumble, slowly reduced to dust. In his greed, he lost everything he had, while Hari, who was generous and kind, reaped the rewards of his goodness.