Stories - SOMILAK, THE WEAVER
Once upon a time there lived a weaver, named Somilak. He used to make garments, dyed in various patterns for wealthy people. For all his efforts, he could earn enough money for only food and clothes. He saw that other weavers were wealthy even when they made coarse fabrics.
One day he said to his wife
Somilak: “My dear, Look at these fellows. They make poor stuff but they earn lot of money. This city does not offer me decent living. I am going to another city.”
Wife: “It is a mistake to say that money comes to those who travel. Perhaps it is our destiny to remain poor. We are just reaping the fruits of our past lives. So it is better to stay here and be happy with your job.”
Somilak: “You are mistaken, my dear. No deed reaps the fruits with out effort. I must go to another city.”
So he went to a city named, Vardhamanpur. He stayed for three years and earned three hundred gold coins. He then decided to return home.
He had to cross a forest to go home. The sun set and it became dark before he could cross the forest. So he climbed a tree and slept on the branch of a big banyan tree. In the middle of the night, he saw two human like figures arguing.
Karman: “O, Kartah! You know that this fellow Somilak is not allowed to have money beyond food and clothes. Why did you give him three hundred gold coins?”
Kartah: “O, Karman! It is my duty to give wealth to a hard working person. The final result is your duty. Take it from him yourself.”
On hearing this Somilak awoke and looked for his bag of gold.
When he found it empty, he thought
Somilak: “Oh, dear! I worked so hard to earn the money and it vanished in a second. All my hard work has become useless. I do not have anything with me. How can I show my face to my wife and friends? I am going to go back to the city and earn more money.”
So he went back to the city and with in a year earned five hundred gold coins. He started to go home again by a different path.
When the sun set, he came upon the very same banyan tree, and he thought:
Somilak: “Oh, oh, oh! What is fate up to!! Here is the same cruel old banyan tree.”
He dozed off on a branch and saw the same two figures.
Karman: “Kartah, why did you give this fellow Somilak five hundred gold coins? Don’t you know that he doesn’t get a thing beyond food and clothes?”
Kartah: “Friend Karman, I am forced to give to the hard working. The final result is your business. So why blame me?”
When poor Somilak heard this, he looked for his bag of gold and found it empty. He became very sad and thought
Somilak: “Oh, dear! What good is life to me if I lose my money? I will hang myself from this banyan tree and end my life.”
When he was about to hang himself, one of the figures appeared in the sky and said
Karman: “Do not end your life, friend Somilak. I am the one who takes your money and who does not allow you anything beyond food and clothes. Now go home. But, since you have seen me, you may ask a boon.”
Somilak: “Please give me plenty of money.”
Karman: “My good fellow, what will you do with money which you cannot enjoy or give away? You have no use of money beyond food and clothes.”
Somilak: “I still want it even if I have no use of it. A wealthy man though ugly and miser is honored in this world. Anybody rich is always served. So give me plenty of money.”
Karman: “Alright, go back to Vardhamanpur. There you can meet two sons of a merchant, Guptadan and Upabhuktadan. Observe their conduct and then you may ask for yourself one of their natures.”
Somilak returned to Vardhamanpur and went to Guptadan’s house. His wife, children and others misbehaved with him. At dinner time he was given some food but there were no kind words from Guptadan.
At night, he saw the same two figures.
Karman: “O, Kartah! Why are you creating extra expenses for Guptadan? He had to feed Somilak. Now how will he recover his losses?”
Kartah: “Friend Karman! I am not at fault. It is my duty to attend to benefits and losses. But the end result is in your hand.”
When Guptadan woke up next morning, he had to fast few days because he had stomach problems. This way he recovered his expenses.
Somilak left his house and went to Upabhuktadan’s house. Upabhuktadan invited him cordially. He showed him lot of respect and gave him food and dinner.
At night, he saw the same two figures.
Karman: “O, Kartah! Upabhuktadan spent a lot today on Somilak. Now how will he repay that debt?”
Kartah: “Friend Karma! I had to do it. But the end result is in your hand.”
The next morning, the king’s envoy arrived with money and gave it all to Upabhuktadan.
When Somilak saw this, he thought:
Somilak: “Upabhuktadan, though poor is a better person than Guptadan. Right conduct is always important. So may the blessed lord make me a person like Upabhuktadan. I see no good in Guptadan”.
Somilak was granted his wish making him that kind of a person. He lived happily ever after.
MORAL: Be content with what you have.
Good deeds are always remembered.
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(Story by Padmaja Gudipati adapted from Mitrabhedamu of Panchatantra)