Pranaam yatri,
Padmini lived with her husband Shankar and son on the outskirts of Suryagadh.
This is her story.
But before that….
What decision did you make after last week’s Hastākshar?
The Kothari had honesty in his business dealings. What do you have?
Which area of your life has 100% integrity?
Irrespective of what it is, you should know: you can never evaluate anyone else’s integrity.
Just your own. Here’s how.
Once the famine ended and the rains started, all waterbodies filled up.
The Plaavam river, in particular, started overflowing.
While most people were happy to see water after 6 long years, it presented a problem for Padmini.
You see, Shankar’s elder brother had taken sanyaas.
And he lived in the forest on the opposite bank of Plaavam.
She used to take some food daily to do the sanyaasi’s bhakti.
But with a flooded river, no boatman would agree to take her to the other end.
And if the boat couldn’t get there, she wouldn’t get to do a monk’s bhakti.
Seeing the sadness on her face, Shankar asked her what he could do to make her feel better.
He heard her out patiently and consoled her.
Thinking about the Kothari and how his integrity bent nature’s will, he spoke softly but firmly to Padmini.
“Don’t worry at all. You will not miss the bhakti even for a single day. Do as I say.
Once you get to the river, announce to the Plaavam, ‘If my husband is a staunch brahmachari, I request you to calm down.’ And it will.”
Padmini was shocked. She had been married to Shankar for over six years. They had a 3-year-old son.
How could he be a brahmachari?
But she knew better than to doubt him.
As per her schedule, Padmini walked to the river; carrying a packed meal.
On reaching the bank, she prayed to the Plaavam ‘If my husband is a staunch brahmachari, I request you to calm down.’
She waited with joined hands. Within minutes, the rapids calmed down. The waters receded.
And the Plaavam was safe to cross.
With moist eyes, Padmini thanked her husband and the river god, making her way to the other side.
Once she crossed over, the flood returned.
She hurried into the forest, moving towards the sanyaasi.
He was shocked to see her. “How could you cross the river, despite the flood?” He asked.
When Padmini narrated the surprising turn of events, he only smiled, proud of his brother.
Once she gave him food and water to eat for the day, she turned to leave.
“Wait a minute Padmini ji,” he said, “How are you planning to cross the river back?”
She froze. Her husband had only told her how to get through once.
She could try it again. But what if it didn’t work?
The rain was intensifying, and she had to reach home before dark.
How could she?
How will she?
Looks like we’ll have to wait one week to find out.
Until then, let’s take care and focus on our zero-to-one journey.
