Four Daughters-in-law

Read the children's telling free

Long ago in Rajgruhi lived a merchant named Dhanya. He had four sons, and each son had a wife. As Dhanya grew old, he wondered, who will look after this family when I am gone?

So he made a plan. He held a big feast, and in front of everyone he gave each daughter-in-law five grains of rice. "Keep these safe for me," he said, "and give them back when I ask."

The eldest, Ujjhika, thought, we have plenty of rice in the storeroom, and she threw the grains away. The second, Bhogavati, thought, it is only rice, and she ate them. The third, Rakshika, tied the five grains in a clean cloth, put them in her jewel box, and checked on them every day.

The youngest, Rohini, thought the longest. A grain of rice is a seed, she said to herself. If I plant it, it can grow. She sent the grains to her parents' home and asked them to plant them, and plant again each season. Five grains became a handful. A handful became a basket, and the basket became a cartload. In five years, the rice filled big storehouses.

Five years later, Dhanya held another feast and asked for his grains. Ujjhika brought five from the storeroom, and then admitted she had thrown his away. Bhogavati said sorry, for she had eaten hers. Rakshika gave back the very same five grains, safe in their cloth.

Then Rohini smiled. "Father, I cannot carry them in my hands. You will need to send carts!" The carts went out and came back again and again, full of rice. Everyone was amazed.

Dhanya gave each one a job that suited her. Ujjhika would keep the house clean, Bhogavati would look after the kitchen, and Rakshika would keep the keys of the treasure. And Rohini would care for the whole family.

Bhagwan Mahavir told this story and said the five grains are like the five great vows: not hurting, telling the truth, not stealing, purity, and not holding on to too much. Some people throw them away. Some use them up. Some keep them safe. And a few, like Rohini, help them grow into a big, happy harvest of goodness.