The Miser of the Village
In a bustling village known for its merchants and temples, lived a man whose heart was dry with greed. Though his home was filled with wealth—gold coins, land deeds, chests of jewels—he never gave a single coin in charity. Not to beggars, not to brāhmaṇas, not even to the Deities.
His name was known, not in admiration, but in hushed whispers. “He has everything,” they said, “but gives nothing.”
Even the local temple priest sighed, “Not a grain of rice has ever come from his hands for the Lord.”
A Sudden Change
Then, one morning, to everyone’s shock, the miser was seen walking toward the temple.
He held something wrapped in cloth—his hands trembling, his eyes darting. The villagers watched silently as he entered the temple and approached the altar. There, without a word, he placed the object on the floor before the Deity and bowed.
It was the temple bell—an ancient, sacred item he had somehow acquired years ago in a land dispute, and selfishly kept for himself.
The Lord Accepts
That evening, a sweet, melodious ringing echoed through the village. The temple bell had returned. Devotees rejoiced. The priest, astonished, asked the miser, “Why now? After so many years, what changed?”
The miser replied quietly, “Last night, I had a dream. The Lord appeared. He said nothing—He just stood before me with eyes full of longing, not for gold, but for love.”
He paused.
“In that gaze, I felt ashamed. My entire life passed before me—wealth untouched, hearts neglected, the Lord ignored. I awoke with one desire: to give back, to serve, to change.”
Transformation Begins with Surrender
From that day forward, the miser became a giver—not just of objects, but of attention, time, and care. He swept the temple floor. He lit lamps. He offered bananas and tulasī leaves. And each act, however small, was filled with devotion.
His home remained modest, but his heart grew vast.
A Lesson in Letting Go
This story reminds us that even the hardest hearts can melt in the presence of the Lord’s glance. A single moment of divine grace can awaken lifetimes of dormant bhakti.
We all have “temple bells” hidden in our lives—things we’ve withheld from Kṛṣṇa out of fear, pride, or selfishness. But when we surrender even one of them, we invite the Lord into our lives in a powerful way.
A Verse to Remember
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me“Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me, and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.”
— Bhagavad-gītā 18.65
