Skip to the content

Vasaram Tarawadi was child Ghanshyam’s maternal uncle. He planted cucumis in his field. As soon as the fruits of cucumis were ripened, he had a wish to taste it. So he selected a good one and ate it. But no sooner did he place the first slice in his mouth, then he had to spit it out. It was very bitter. Vasaram went to Bhaktimata’s house and said, “Sister, the fruits of cucumis are bitter. If they had been sweet, I would have taken Ghanshyam to the field to eat. He likes the fruits of cucumis, doesn’t he?”
“The fruits of cucumis for Ghanshyam can never be bitter,” said Bhaktimata.

“But they are really bitter,” said Vasaram. There came Ghanshyam galloping and said, “How sweet the fruit of cucumis is!”
Vasaram inquired, “Which one?” “The one which I brought form your field,” said Ghanshyam, “Taste it.” Vasaram tasted it and found it very sweet. “Is it from my field?” inquired Vasaram, “but all the fruits of cucumis are bitter in my field.” “No, they are not bitter, they are very sweet,” said Ghanshyam, “Let us go there and I will show you.” They went to the field. Vasaram cut some two to five fruits of cucumis and they turned out to be sweet, as sweet as honey. He was very much astonished: “How is it? Within a short time they have become sweet?” Ghanshyam said, “Uncle, if you had taken out God’s share a first, all fruits would have been sweet.”

So, bear in mind, that in every thing, God’s share should be taken out first of all. Where ever there is God’s share, that will be sweet and if no share for God is taken out, that thing will be bitter.

EXCERCISE

This episode stresses out one point: Never use anything before it is offered to God first.

Can you answer the following questions

(a) Why did the fruit of cucumis taste bitter to Vasaram?

(b) Which mistake did Vasaram commit in eating the fruit of cucumis?

(c) Why was the fruit of cucumis that Vasaram cut on Ghanshyam’s saying taste sweet?