One rainy afternoon, 14-year-old Aarav sat cross-legged on the verandah, staring at the grey clouds. His grandmother was inside, chanting softly from the Bhagavad Gita. Aarav sighed.
“Krishna never speaks to me. People say you can talk to Him… but I never hear anything back,” he mumbled.
Just then, his grandma appeared with a cup of warm tea and a smile.
“Beta, come sit. Let me tell you a story.”
🌿 The Tale She Told
Long ago in a small village, lived a boy named Tanuj. He was troubled. His father lost his job, and his mother fell sick. Everyone said, “Pray to Krishna. He listens.” So, Tanuj did. Every day. But all he heard was silence.
One morning, fed up, he walked to the old temple and shouted,
“Krishna! Are you even there? Or am I talking to myself?”
Suddenly, an old man sitting nearby said, “Why are you angry, child?”
“I talk to Krishna, but He never answers,” Tanuj said.
The man smiled. “Are you talking to Krishna or with Krishna?”
Tanuj was confused. “What’s the difference?”
The old man replied,
“Talking to someone means you don’t expect a reply. Talking with means you pause… you listen… you notice.”
He gave Tanuj a small lump of fresh butter. “Offer this tomorrow. But don’t speak. Just feel.”
The next day, as Tanuj quietly placed the butter before the deity and sat still… he felt something different. A peace, a warmth, as if someone smiled inside him.
From that day, Tanuj didn’t just talk — he listened with his heart.
Aarav looked up.
“Did Krishna speak to him?”
Grandma chuckled, “He didn’t need words, beta. He spoke through silence. Through the heart.”
Aarav picked up the Gita that night, not to read — but to listen.
🌟 Moral of the Story:
True prayer is not only about speaking; it’s about listening. When your mind is quiet, your heart becomes Krishna’s temple.
📖 Vocabulary Words:
Verandah – An open porch or balcony, usually with a roof.
Chanting – Singing or saying words in a rhythmic way, often during prayer.
Deity – A god or divine being.
Confused – Not able to understand something clearly.
Lump – A small, shapeless mass of something (like butter or clay).
📘 Glossary:
- Bhagavad Gita – A sacred Hindu scripture where Krishna shares spiritual wisdom.
- Beta – A Hindi word for “child” or “son”, used affectionately.
- Krishna – A Hindu god known for wisdom, love, and guidance.
- Temple – A place of worship.
