Baba's Storytime - The Discontented Man is as Bad as Lost

Resist the temptation to satisfy the senses, to acquire what the world can give, to accumulate material gains. Set limits to your wants. 

There was a pupil once, in the kingdom of Raghu, who asked his preceptor at the conclusion of his studies, what dakshina he will accept from him. Dakshina means offering made in gratitude for service rendered. The Guru told him that he needed no other dakshina than his gratitude; it was enough if he lived according to his teachings and brought honor to his preceptor thereby. But the pupil insisted that he must indicate his need and tell him some sum of money or gifts that he would accept. 

So just to ward him off and get rid of him, the Guru named an impossible sum of money: "You learnt sixteen Vidyâs (knowledge of soul or of spiritual truth) from me, well, bring me sixteen lakhs of gold nishkas (coins)". 

At this, the pupil went off to collect the sum. He went to Emperor Raghu, and got from him the promise that he will fulfil his every desire. Then he placed his petition for sixteen lakhs of gold nishkas before him. Emperor Raghu was rendered desperate by the vast sum needed, though an Emperor, he was too deep in austerity to have the sum on hand. Still, in order to keep his plighted word, he invaded the realm of Kuvera, the God of wealth, and brought back as booty enormous stocks of gold. 

"Take all this and give your Preceptor what he has asked for, keep the balance for yourself," the king said. But the pupil refused to take a coin more than what he had to offer as dakshina to his Guru. "I have brought them for you, it is all yours, take," insisted Rahgu. But the young man resisted the temptation and stood his ground. 

That is real heroism. 'Asanthushtah dvijonashtah' - the discontented man is as bad as lost. Rely on the Lord and accept whatever is your lot, He is in you, with you. He knows best what to give and when. He is full of Prema.

(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)