Karna Generosity - Sandalwood Story

Dadi: "Beta Guddu, remember I promised to tell you about Karna's generosity? Tonight I'll tell you why he was called "Daanveer" - the greatest giver who ever lived!"

Guddu: "Yes, Dadi! You said he was so generous even though people were mean to him."

Dadi: "That's right, beta. Now, one day Lord Krishna and Arjuna were talking. Krishna said, "No one in this world is as generous as Karna." Arjuna was surprised! He said, "But my brother Yudhishthira is very generous too!""

Guddu: "Was Krishna wrong, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Krishna is never wrong, beta! He said, "Let me show you the difference." He disguised himself and Arjuna as poor saints and said, "We'll test both of them.""

Guddu: "Like a secret mission!"

Dadi: "Exactly! It was the rainy season - rain pouring down like someone had opened a tap in the sky. The two disguised saints first went to Yudhishthira and asked for dried sandalwood for a sacred fire ritual."

Guddu: "Did he give it to them?"

Dadi: "Yudhishthira looked troubled. "I'm so sorry," he said. "All my sandalwood is soaked because of the rain. Please come back after the monsoon ends, and I'll happily give you as much as you need.""

Guddu: "That seems reasonable, Dadi."

Dadi: "It does, doesn't it? Now listen to what happened at Karna's house. They made the same request - dried sandalwood in the middle of the monsoon. Karna welcomed them warmly and said, "Please rest and eat while I arrange this.""

Guddu: "But his wood must have been wet too!"

Dadi: "Of course it was! His servants came back and told him all the sandalwood was soaked. So you know what Karna did?"

Guddu: "What?"

Dadi: "He went inside and didn't come out for a long time. Curious, Krishna and Arjuna went to find him. And there was Karna... (pauses) cutting up his own bed!"

Guddu: "His BED?!"

Dadi: "His beautiful sandalwood bed, his doors, his furniture - all made of precious sandalwood! He was cutting them into pieces for the saints' sacred fire."

Guddu: "But those must have been so expensive!"

Dadi: "When they asked him why, Karna smiled and said, "Furniture can be made again. But I cannot bear the pain of sending away someone who asked for my help.""

Guddu: "Wow... Yudhishthira waited for convenient weather, but Karna broke his own furniture!"

Dadi: "Now you understand, beta! Krishna explained it to Arjuna: "Yudhishthira gives because duty says to give. Karna gives because giving IS who he is. It's like asking why the river flows - it flows because that's its nature.""

Guddu: "Dadi, I want to be like Karna. But I don't think Mummy will let me break my bed!"

Dadi: "(laughing) No, no, beta! The lesson isn't to break furniture. The lesson is this: true generosity isn't about what's convenient. It's about finding a way to help even when it's difficult. Start small - share your toys even when you want to play with them, give your snack to a hungry friend even when you're hungry too."

Guddu: "I can do that, Dadi!"

Dadi: "And one more thing, beta - Karna never counted what he gave. He never thought, "I gave so much yesterday, today I won't give." Every day was a new day to be generous. That's why even thousands of years later, when someone is very generous, we say they have "Karna's heart.""

Guddu: "I hope I grow a heart like Karna's!"

Dadi: "You already have one, beta. Now let it shine! Goodnight, my little Daanveer."