Lay Followers
Jagdusha and the Famine
जगडूशा और अकाल · જગડૂશા અને દુકાળ
A merchant fills his storehouses with grain, and when hunger comes, he opens every door
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
A wise monk warns the merchant Jagdusha of Kutch that hard years are coming. Jagdusha listens, and when the rains fail and even kings run out of grain, he has an answer ready.
What it teaches Generosity Compassion Foresight Non-possessiveness
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in a town by the sea in Kutch, lived a kind man named Jagdusha. He was a trader with big ships, and he was very rich.
One day a wise monk said to him, Jagdusha, the rain will not come for a long time. People will be hungry. Please save lots of grain, and when the hungry times come, share it.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
A full storehouse is a blessing only when its doors are open.
To talk about together
Jagdusha said the grain was not his. What do you think he meant?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.