The Equal Value of All

In a small town, there lived a man named Govinda. He was a potter by trade. His pottery was simple but strong. One day, a rich merchant named Ramesh visited Govinda’s shop. He wanted pots for his daughter’s grand wedding.

Ramesh looked at Govinda’s shop and frowned. 'Your pots look plain,' he said. 'Can you make them shiny and decorative?' Govinda humbly replied, 'I make pots for daily use. They are not fancy, but they serve their purpose.'

Ramesh laughed. 'These won’t suit my needs,' he said. 'I’ll find someone better.' He turned to leave but then noticed an elderly woman buying a pot. She handed Govinda a few coins and thanked him with folded hands. Govinda bowed in respect and said, 'May this pot serve you well.'

Ramesh was curious. He stopped and watched. A poor farmer entered next. He had no money but needed a pot to carry water. Govinda gave him a pot and said, 'Pay when you can.' The farmer touched Govinda’s feet and left with tears in his eyes.

The merchant asked Govinda, 'Why do you treat everyone the same? The rich pay you well, but the poor give you nothing.' Govinda replied, 'Every person deserves respect. Whether rich or poor, we all need kindness and dignity. A pot holds water the same way for everyone.'

Ramesh was silent. He bought the plain pots and said, 'You have taught me something valuable today.'

This story reflects the teachings of our scriptures. The Bhagavad Gita says in Chapter 5, Verse 18:

'Vidya vinaya sampanne brahmane gavi hastini,
Shuni chaiva shvapaake cha panditah sama-darshinah.'

It means a wise person sees all beings equally, whether a scholar, a cow, an elephant, a dog, or a beggar.

Respect for human dignity is a divine quality. It is not based on wealth or power but on recognizing the divine presence in all. Govinda’s actions remind us of these timeless teachings. Respecting others, no matter their status, is indeed one of the noblest feelings.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi