The Hunter and the Saint

Dadi: "Guddu beta, today I'll tell you about the most dramatic transformation I know - how a cruel hunter became a saint."

Guddu: "A hunter became a saint? Is that even possible?"

Dadi: "That's exactly what makes this story so powerful. It begins with the great sage Narada Muni, who could travel between heaven and earth. One day, after visiting Lord Narayana, he was walking through a forest near Prayaga."

Guddu: "What did he see there?"

Dadi: "Something terrible, beta. First, he found a deer lying on the path, pierced by an arrow. Its legs were broken, and it was writhing in agony. But it wasn't dead - it was suffering."

Guddu: "That's awful!"

Dadi: "Narada walked further and found a boar in the same condition - wounded, broken, twisting in pain but still alive. Then a rabbit, suffering the same fate."

Guddu: "Why weren't they dead?"

Dadi: "That's what Narada wondered. Soon he found the answer. A hunter named Mrigari - which means "enemy of animals" - was nearby with his bow."

Guddu: "He was leaving them half-dead on purpose?"

Dadi: "Yes. When Narada asked why, the hunter smiled cruelly and said: "This is how my father taught me. I enjoy watching them suffer before they die.""

Guddu: "*horrified* That's so cruel!"

Dadi: "Narada's heart filled with compassion - both for the animals and for the hunter, who was creating terrible karma for himself. He asked: "Do you know what happens to people who cause unnecessary suffering?""

Guddu: "What did he say?"

Dadi: "Narada explained that the hunter would have to experience the same pain himself - being killed slowly and painfully, life after life, for every animal he had tortured. Thousands of painful deaths awaited him."

Guddu: "That scared him?"

Dadi: "Terribly! The hunter fell at Narada's feet, trembling. "I've been doing this my whole life," he cried. "I don't know any other way to live. How can I escape this karma? How can I be saved?""

Guddu: "What did Narada say?"

Dadi: "Narada said: "If you follow my instructions, I will show you the path to freedom." But he set one condition."

Guddu: "What was it?"

Dadi: ""First, break your bow.""

Guddu: "His bow? But that was his only way to survive!"

Dadi: "Exactly! The hunter hesitated. "If I break my bow, how will I feed myself and my family?""

Guddu: "That's a fair question."

Dadi: "Narada assured him: "If you trust in the Lord, He will provide for you." The hunter thought about his two options - continue on his path of cruelty and suffer for it, or trust this sage and start fresh. Finally, he broke his bow."

Guddu: "That took courage!"

Dadi: "It did. Narada then initiated him into spiritual practice. The hunter gave away his possessions, built a small cottage by a river with his wife, planted a sacred tulasi plant, and began chanting the name of Krishna constantly."

Guddu: "Did he really change?"

Dadi: "Completely, beta. His heart, once filled with cruelty, became soft with compassion. Over time, he developed such sensitivity that he wouldn't even step on ants!"

Guddu: "The same man who tortured animals?"

Dadi: "The same man. Some time later, Narada returned with another sage named Parvata Muni to see how the former hunter was doing."

Guddu: "Was he still practicing?"

Dadi: "More than that! When the hunter heard Narada was coming, he ran to meet him - but as he ran, he noticed ants on the path. He stopped, carefully stepped around them, making sure not to harm a single one."

Guddu: "Even tiny ants!"

Dadi: "When he finally reached Narada, tears were streaming down his face, his body was trembling with joy, and he was dancing in spiritual ecstasy."

Guddu: "He was transformed!"

Dadi: "Parvata Muni was amazed. He told Narada: "You are like a touchstone! Just as a touchstone turns iron into gold, your touch turned the lowest of men into an elevated saint!""

Guddu: "A touchstone?"

Dadi: "Yes - someone whose presence transforms others for the better. The quality of a spiritual teacher, Parvata said, can be measured by how many lives they've transformed."

Guddu: "Dadi, what's the lesson of this story?"

Dadi: "Several lessons, beta. First - no one is beyond redemption. No matter how cruel or fallen someone is, if they sincerely want to change and receive proper guidance, transformation is possible."

Guddu: "Even someone as bad as that hunter?"

Dadi: "Even worse! Second - association matters. Being around good people, good influences, can change us. The hunter met Narada for just a short time, but that meeting changed everything."

Guddu: "And third?"

Dadi: "Third - the path to change requires sacrifice. The hunter had to break his bow - give up his old way of life - before he could begin his new one. We have to let go of our bad habits before we can build good ones."

Guddu: "Breaking the bow was breaking his old self!"

Dadi: "Beautifully said! And finally, beta - real transformation shows in small things. The hunter's change wasn't just in big actions. It showed in how he treated ants on the path. Kindness to the smallest creatures reveals the biggest hearts."

Guddu: "I want to be kind to even the smallest creatures, Dadi."

Dadi: "*warmly* And that, my beta, makes you already on the path. The hunter took years to learn what you understand already. Now, shall we go outside and make sure the birds have water in this hot weather?"

Guddu: "Yes! Even small kindnesses matter!"

Dadi: "*beaming* Even small kindnesses matter most."