The Wise Words Of The Sannyasin

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Swami Satchidananda Saraswati, an aged monk was once passing through the streets of Madura. A merchant who was arrogant sought to poke fun at him. He asked the Swami, "Swami please tell me which is superior, your beard or the tuft of hair on the tail of a donkey ?" The Swami kept mum and walked his way.

Five years rolled by and the swami was dying of typhoid fever. He sent one of his disciples to fetch the mischevious merchant. When the merchant arrived, the Swami said, "Its definitely my beard which is more superior than the tuft of hair on the tail of a donkey!" The merchant then asked the monk as to why he had not answered him earlier. The Sannyasin replied, "Since my pranas are about to depart from my body, there is no chance of me commiting a wrong action or having a downfall. I have lived a pure life until now and that I can now boldly state that my beard is definitely superior than the tuft of hair on a donkey's tail!

The merchant was astonished by the wise words of the the sannyasi and humbly prostrated to him.

Temptations do not spare even Sannyasins and a life lived without yeilding to them is the definition of a pure life.