Page 118 - Kailaspati: Paramhans Hansdevji Avadhoot

Baba told through a story, how the habit of telling lies can have an evil impact on one.
Once a young man, while looking for a job, went to a rich merchant. The merchant said, “Do you need any salary or remu- neration?” The young man replied, “i need no salary but i have a prayer.”
“Tell me, please”, said the merchant. The young man said, “i will tell lies only twice a year, and for that you can neither blame me nor scold me.”
The merchant thought to himself that he himself told lies in the course of conducting business transactions. since the man would like to tell lies only twice a year, it would be no mistake or crime at all. he agreed to the proposal of the job-seeker and appointed him as his attendant.
The merchant had no son. he had his devoted wife. The atten- dant devoted himself to serving the couple, and within a short span of time he won their love and affection. With every passing day, both of them were so impressed at the service, rendered by their attendant that they forgot that he was their attendant. in the process, one year passed. and in course of that year, the attendant told no lies.
in the second year, the merchant and his wife, on being impressed by his service, managed to forget on what condition the young man was appointed. When the second year was about to end, the attendant putting on a sad look came to the wife of the merchant. at the very sight of his sad face, her heart melted. Out of love and affection, she said, “Dear boy, what is wrong with you?”
“Dear mother, how to express that sad news to you? so forgive me,” said he.
“You have to tell me, dear boy,” said she.
“My heart is going to be split and i cannot tell you that,” he said. The more the attendant tried to hide his words, the more her
curiosity grew. On repetitive insistence, the attendant said, “Dear mother, i have heard that father is going to remarry and that everything has been duly arranged. The moment i heard the news, i did not have a feeling of respite.”
96 Kailashpati