Gopayya’s Honesty

Long time ago, near Brundaavanam, there used to be village by name Girivrajam. In Girivrajam, Devayya and his arthaangi, Girijamma, used to do Go-poshana and lead there life. Girijamma was a great Shri Krishna Bhakta. After a long time, they got a putra by name Gopayya. However one of Gopayya’s leg was not proper, hence he used to limp. Girijamma from childhood told many many nice Kathas from the Puraanas to the kid and thus put him in the path of Dharma.

Gopayya grew big. He was not good at other studies, but because of his Maata’s up-bringing, he had great Samskaaram. Every day he used to wake-up before the Sun, do namaskaaram to Maata-pita and Daivam. Then he used to take Gomaatas (cows) out for feeding and return in the evening. Since the Paramaartham of Vidya is to learn Sat-pravartana, Sat-buddhi and Bhagavat-Bhakti, Devayya and Girijamma were very happy with Gopayya, though he was not able to study any Shaastras etc. The only thing there were worried about was that Gopayya was handicapped.

Devayya and Girijamma became old. Who can escape Jaraa-maranam? Seeing the ashakta (weak) Maata-pita, Gopayya used to feel very sad. He himself used to take help of them because of his physical inability. Now how will he do seva to them? He used to think if he got some money, then he can somehow manage to do better seva to them. He used to tell his duhkham to Krishna Swamy and ask to save himself. He used to express his grief to his Maata-pita too.

On listening to him, they used to say “O Putra! For our sukham please dont do any dushkaaryam. Dont take any pains too. As usual do Go-poshana. For everything Paramaatma is there. He will only show some way. Everybody has to some time or the other experience the result of their Paapam and Punyam”.

One day as usual Gopayya took the Gomaatas. He kept on thinking how to do dhana-aarjana? The Sun started to set, the Gomaatas returned, but Gopayya was still thinking. Girijamma started to worry. Gopayya thought “Shri Krishna! Today somehow You must show me the way. Else I am not going from here”.

Meanwhile a robber-gang came near the Vruksham where Gopayya was there. They looted some Dhanika Vartaka’s house in the Girivrajam and came there. They started fighting among themselves, not able to decide how to share the looted-money. Gopayya was observing all this from behind the bushes.