The Priests’ Predicament
By Lokanath Mishra
In a small, bustling town, lived two young, unmarried priests, one a devout follower of Prabhu Vishnu( Shrikrishna ) and the other, a fervent disciple of Prabhu Shiva (Mahadev) . Each Sunday, after their morning puja and rituals, they would meet for a simple vegetarian meal at a small eatery before heading off to their respective temples ( Mathas) . They’d often ride their bicycles, a humble convenience that aided their spiritual duties.
One Sunday, the Vishnu priest arrived on his bicycle, but the Shiva priest came on foot, his face etched with a mix of frustration and resignation.
“Brother, where is your bicycle?” the Vishnu priest asked, concern filling his voice.
“I believe a devotee of my temple ( Matha) has stolen it,” the Shiva priest replied, sighing.
“That is truly a misfortune, brother. But I know what we must do! I shall help you retrieve your bicycle. Tonight, when you stand before the devotees after arati in your temple , forget your planned sermon. Instead, you must preach on the Ten Principles.”
The Shiva priest looked puzzled. “The Ten Principles, brother?” “Yes! I want you to speak of the Yamas and Niyamas, our sacred code of conduct. I want you to make them feel the weight of their own actions and the consequences of their deeds. When you get to Asteya—the principle of non-stealing—I want you to speak with all your conviction. Whoever has taken your bicycle will surely feel the guilt and return it.”
“Alright, brother. I can do that,” the Shiva priest agreed, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
They finished their meal and parted ways, each with a renewed sense of purpose. The following Sunday, the Vishnu priest waited eagerly at their usual spot. To his delight, the Shiva priest rode up on his own bicycle, a wide grin on his face.
“A miracle has occurred, brother! Did you follow my counsel? Did you preach on the Ten Principles as I advised?” the Vishnu priest exclaimed, his heart full of joy.
“Indeed, I did, brother!” the Shiva priest beamed.
“And did you make them feel the weight of their actions and the consequences of their deeds?”
“I did my best, brother!”
“And when you got to Asteya, did you speak with all your conviction, so that the thief felt remorse and returned your bicycle?”
“Not exactly, brother.”
The Vishnu priest’s smile faltered. “Do tell, brother!”
“Well, when I stood before the devotees , I did preach on the Ten Principles. And I did my best to make them feel the weight of their actions. But before I even got to Asteya, I began to speak of Satya—the principle of truthfulness—and I remembered where I had left my bicycle.”
This story, woven with elements of Hindu tradition, carries a valuable social message about the importance of introspection and self-reflection. The Shiva priest’s predicament was not caused by another’s wrongdoing but by his own forgetfulness. His initial assumption that he was a victim of theft, a common human tendency to blame others, was a moment of weakness.
However, through the act of recalling and preaching the core values of his faith, specifically the principle of truthfulness (Satya), he was forced to confront his own actions.
The story highlights that true solutions often lie within ourselves rather than in external blame or complex strategies. Before we accuse or condemn others, we must first look inward and ensure we have not contributed to our own problems. This timeless lesson encourages us to practice honesty, not just with others, but most importantly, with ourselves.
