Stories From The Bhagawatham - Krishna Avatar - A 'Handful' Of Gifts!

 

Once Krishna was playing in the courtyard when he heard someone calling out, “Jambul fruits! Does anyone want Jambul fruits?”

Krishna ran towards the door of his house and saw a lady outside, carrying a basket full of Jambul (Aranyaka) fruits. They looked very temptingly fresh.

“These fruits look very fresh.” Krishna said to the lady. “Can you give me some?”

The lady smiled. “Yes, I can give you some fruits. But you have to pay for them.”

“What do you mean?” Krishna asked innocently.

“You have to give me something in return for the fruits.” The lady explained.

Krishna thought for a while. “I can give you some cereal grains. Will you give me fruits in exchange?”

“Yes, I will give. You bring the grains.” The lady said and placed the basket on the ground while Krishna ran inside. He went to the storage room where grains had been kept inside sacks. Folding both his palms together, Krishna collected as much grains as he could in his small hands and ran towards the fruit-seller. As he ran, the grains slipped through the gap in his fingers. By the time he reached the fruit-seller, most of the grains had fallen down.

“Here, have some grains. Now give me the fruit.” Krishna said, offering whatever little was left in his hands.

The fruit-seller looked at the grains that had fallen all the way to the ground. She looked at Krishna’s small and infinitely beautiful hands. Taking both his hands in hers, she filled Krishna’s palms with some of the best fruits in her basket. She realized that no amount of money would have made her as happy as holding the child’s soft hands.

She slowly walked to her home, feeling elated for no reason. She had held her basket over her head, not feeling any weight as her basket was almost empty. However, when she reached home, she felt that the basket had grown heavier. When she kept it on the ground and looked at it, she was shocked.

The basket of fruits was filled with precious gems!

She sat in silence, wondering how this came to be.

Krishna, the Supreme Giver who has the whole Universe to Himself, asked for a handful of fruits and in return, gave the fruit-seller the wealth that she could only aspire for in her dreams!

Om Namo Narayana! Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaaya!