Once upon a time there was a weaver named Somilaka. Although he was an expert in his craft and he used to make exquisite garments that would be fit for the royalty, yet he was very poor. Managing the daily bread for his family was also difficult for him. While at the same time, other weavers who used to produce clothes of inferior quality were also wealthier than him. So one day he told his wife, “Look at these fellows. Their quality is worse than mine, yet they are rolling in riches. People in this city do not appreciate my work. We need to move elsewhere.
“Oh, my dear,” said his wife, “moving from here would not solve our problems. It is our Karma that we are in this situation. No one gets more than what he is destined for. Just like light and shadow, the Doer and his Karma are inseparable.”
“That’s not quite right,” Somilaka replied, “one cannot achieve anything without effort. Nothing happens on its own. Even if you have a royal buffet in front of you, you have to move your hands to eat. No deer would walk down the lion’s throat if he simply sleeps. Only after doing everything within a person’s capacity should he resign to his fate.”
“I must go to another city.” So he went to Vardhamanapuram, worked hard for three years, and started home with savings of three hundred gold coins.
At dusk he found himself in the middle of a forest. He climbed a banyan tree and went to sleep on a big branch. In the middle of the night, he dreamt of two people having a heated argument. The first of them, Karma, was saying: “Come now, Doer! Somilaka is not destined to have any money beyond bare necessities. Why did you give him three hundred gold coins?” Doer replied, “Listen, Karma! I have to reward a person in proportion to their efforts. Whether he can keep it or not is up to you.” Dreaming this, Somilaka awoke and searched for his bag of gold.
His bag was empty. Feeling dejected he thought of going back to Vardhamanapuram to earn again. This time he worked extra hard and saved up five hundred gold coins within a year. Again he started for his home with his savings tucked safely in a bag.
In the middle of his journey, he came upon the same old banyan tree and climbed a branch to sleep. Again he dreamt of the same two figures arguing. The same conversation repeated with Karma saying that Somilaka doesn’t deserve this wealth. He woke up, checked his bag and again found the gold missing. Depressed, he thought, “Oh, dear! What good is life to me if I keep losing my money? I will just hang myself from this banyan tree and say goodbye to life.” He wove a rope of spear-grass and was about to end his life, when Karma appeared in the sky and said: “Hold on Somilaka. I am the one who takes your money, who does not allow you one cowrie beyond food and clothes. But I am pleased with your efforts. Ask me what do you want and I shall grant that.”
“In that case,” said Somilaka, “make me rich.” Karma replied, “O Somilaka! What will you do with so much money? There is only a limited amount that you can spend on food and clothes.”
Somilaka continued, “Just like the bull enjoyed the attention of the jackals for fifteen years without giving them anything, my riches would also help me in getting respect from my friends and family.”
“If this is your desire,” said Karma, “go back to Vardhamanapuram, where two wealthy merchants, Guptadhana and Upabhuktadhana live. Study them well, and then tell me who you want to become – Guptadhana, the man who earns a lot of money but does not spend a cent of it or Upabhuktadhana, the man who earns but also enjoys his wealth.” With this he vanished, and Somilaka returned to Vardhamanapuram.
By the time he travelled all the way back, it was evening and he was very tired. Somehow he found Guptadhana’s house and entered the courtyard in spite of resistance from the merchant’s family. Then at dinner-time he received food but no kind word, suggesting that he was an unwanted guest. The weaver found a corner in the house to finally sleep. Again he dreamt of the same two figures arguing. Karma told Doer, “Why have you made Guptadhana give food to Somilaka.” Doer replied, “Friend Karma, it’s not my fault. I had to ensure that Somilaka was fed. It is for you to decide the final consequences.” Next day, Guptadhana had an attack of cholera and Somilaka did not get any more food.
So Somilaka left that house and visited Upabhuktadhana, who welcomed him with honour, greeted him cordially and provided food and a change of clothes. Somilaka had a good meal and slept in a comfortable bed. Again he dreamt of the same two figures talking. Karma said, “The host has spent a lot to entertain his guest. How will he repay the money that he has borrowed for this?” Doer replied, “Friend Karma, I had to do what Upabhuktadhana wanted. If he has crossed any limits in entertaining his guest then it is up to you to decide the final consequences.”
Next day, a royal messenger came to Upabhuktadhana and gave him a big sum of money as a favour from the King himself. Somilaka thought, “Upabhuktadhana is better than the miser Guptadhana. Just like reading hundreds of books is useless without using the knowledge; merely having lots of money is no good if one does not use it in helping others and living a good life. I will better be Upabhuktadhana.”
So the Lord Almighty took him at his word, and blessed him with the wealth that he needed to enjoy life.
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