5 - Preference For Simple Food

It so happened one day. Shakuba was getting ready in the morning to go to work. Narayan also got ready. Shakuba tried to explain, ‘Narayan, everyday I try to convince you. Please do not join me to work. Children of your age play wonderful games. You also join them’. Narayan refused, ‘Ma, in the evening I will join them, when we come back from work. I am young. So I am able to help you very little. When I grow up, you wouldn’t have to work. I will do all the work.’ Shakuba felt so much affection for young Narayan. Both of them together went to work. In the evening, they returned. Narayan had a wash. He told his mother, ‘Ma, I am feeling very hungry. Please give me something to eat.’ Shakuba said, ‘I will give you in a minute. Today you have worked hard. You must be tired.’ Shakuba’s eyes were tearful while serving the food. Narayan asked, ‘Ma, what is wrong? Why are you crying?’ Shakuba replied, ‘Son! Abjibapashri mentioned that you are an Anadimukta. You have appeared to liberate innumerable souls. You have no constraints.’ Narayan gazed at mother. Shakuba clarified, ‘Oh Narayan! why have you appeared in a poor family like ours? You could have appeared in a rich family and carried out your work to liberate the souls. I am not even able to offer you good food. Forget about good food! I am not even able to provide full meal. Today only buttermilk and chapatis are there to eat’. And Shakuba broke down into tears.

Narayan sat down next to Shakuba. He consoled Shakuba, ‘Ma, who told you that I am not happy here? I relish buttermilk with chapatis. Simple food is very helpful in worshipping God.’ Shakuba said, ‘Son! you are trying to console me. Nobody enjoys just buttermilk and chapatis.’ Narayan explained, ‘Ma, richness makes you of Raja's nature. By having tasty food every day, we become addicted to it. We do not enjoy worshiping God. Any object which is not helpful in worshiping God is useless. I really enjoy buttermilk and chapatis. Please, do not feel sad about it. Ma, you are the best mother on this Earth. Therefore, I have appeared as your son.’ Shakuba was grateful and considered herself the most fortunate by having such a virtuous son.

Difficult words:
Constraints - Limitations, restrictions
Innumerable - A number of
Virtuous - Having good qualities

Points to ponder:
- Muktaraj teaches us that we must help our parents as per our capacity.
- An Anadimukta goes through financial difficulties just to set an example.
- So called hardships of this world never create obstacles in worshipping God.
- We must enjoy our food with remembrance of God considering it God’s will.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Why was shakuba crying?
2. What did Narayan explain Shakuba about simple food?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Richness makes you of __________ nature.
2. By having ___________ food everyday, we become ________ to it.
3. Any object which is not helpful in worshipping _________ is useless.
4. You are the _______ mother on this ______.