Lay Followers
Sagar Sheth and Greed
सागर सेठ और लोभ · સાગર શેઠ અને લોભ
A flying log, a land of golden bricks, and a merchant who could not stop at enough
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
- Shvetambar telling
Sagar is the richest and stingiest merchant in his city, and his family lives in fear of him. When his son stumbles on a secret journey to a land of golden bricks and comes home with only a few, Sagar decides to go himself.
What it teaches Greed Contentment Non-possessiveness
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago lived a very rich man named Sagar. He had piles and piles of gold. But he never shared any of it, not even a single coin. He always wanted more. His doors were always shut, and his house was never happy.
Sagar had a son named Devila. One night Devila found a magic flying log. He hid inside it, and it flew him far away to a land where there were bricks made of shining gold. The log flew over hills and rivers and the wide, dark sea.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Knowing when we have enough keeps the heart light.
To talk about together
Devila took a little and stopped. How do we know when we have enough?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.