पुरुषार्थं और पुण्यहीन
Summary
The PDF contains two stories. The first story is about a boy named Subodh, an orphan living in an orphanage. He is a proud and hardworking student who, to avoid having his school fees waived, works daily in a village, doing jobs like gardening for a gardener named Devram and helping Sister Jyoti at a hospital. He saves money to pay his own fees. When he brings the fees to school, his classmates suspect he stole the money and report him to the principal. The principal accuses him of theft. Subodh calmly denies it and suggests the principal call Devram and Sister Jyoti. They confirm his honest work, clearing his name. The principal, feeling ashamed, offers to create a fund for Subodh's expenses, but Subodh refuses, asking only for blessings to continue his hard work and integrity. The second story is about a poor, unfortunate farmer. He borrows a pair of oxen from a friend to plow his field. After returning them to the friend's pen, the friend later claims the oxen are missing and accuses the farmer of betrayal, taking him to the king's court. On the way, a horseman falls from his horse and asks the farmer to stop it. The farmer hits the horse with a stick, accidentally killing it. The horseman also demands justice. They all spend the night under a tree. The farmer, feeling hopeless, tries to hang himself from the tree, but the cloth tears, and he falls on a sleeping acrobat leader, killing him. The acrobats also demand justice. In the king's court, the king delivers unusual judgments. He tells the friend to give his eyes to the farmer in exchange for the oxen, and the horseman to give his tongue in exchange for the horse. He tells the acrobats to have their new leader hang himself from the tree while the farmer sleeps below. Unable to comply, all parties leave, and the farmer is freed.
Conclusion
This story highlights the profound outcomes of integrity and self-reliance. Subodh’s unwavering honesty, proven through hard work, not only cleared his name but also transformed suspicion into admiration and a community’s desire to support him. His refusal of charity in favor of continued effort underscores a powerful lesson in self-respect. Similarly, the tale of the unfortunate farmer demonstrates that justice, though delayed and arrived at through a series of tragic coincidences, ultimately prevails through a wise ruler’s unconventional judgment. The implications are clear: a life of honest labor, even in the face of false accusations or relentless misfortune, builds an unshakeable character. The ultimate outcome is not merely the resolution of a crisis, but the establishment of a moral order where truth and perseverance are vindicated, offering a path to genuine peace and societal respect.