There was a man named Ramo Hati. He had many mango trees and also agriculture, yet he was earning his daily bread by hunting. Once he was wondering in the forest in search of a hunt. At that time a sadhu passed near by him. The sadhu recognised him and said, “O is it you Ramo Hati ?” Ramo also knew the sadhu and replied, “Yes O sadhu, I am Ramo Hati.” “What are you doing here?” enquired the sadhu. “O sadhu, I am here in order to earn my daily bread. I am in search of a hunt of a rabbit, if not rabbit, a bird or even a sparrow would do.” The sadhu said, “Ramo Hati, I have very much wished for long to ask you about one thing.

I want to ask you if you are willing.” “O sadhu, you may ask me,” said Ramo Hati. Sadhu said to him, “Ramo Hati, will the lion eat sweets if given by us ?” Ramo Hati found it a very trifling question. He replied, “No, he will not eat sweets.” The sadhu said, “Why ? Man is big, such an intelligent and yet how does a lion reject the food offered by man? Is not lion an animal?” Ramo Hati replied, “A lion will eat only his own food, not our (man's) food.” “Such an understanding is found even in an animal, hasn't he ?” said sadhu. “Yes, that much understanding animals do have,” replied Ramo Hati. The sadhu patiently continued, “What a strange thing it is that animals do not eat the food we men eat, whereas we eat the food that animals eat! Man is considered intelligent. Where's his intelligence in eating animals' food ?” Ramo Hati at once was startled as if burnt by a live charcoal. He could not say anything for a while.

Thinking this moment a most suitable one, the sadhu asked, “Ramo Hati, one more question.” Ramo's voice was feeble; He said, “Ask.” “What would we do when our tame animal dies, Ramo Hati?” asked the sadhu. “We dig a pit and bury the dead animal,” said Ramo Hati. “Well,” said the sadhu, “We should never store a dead animal, man knows even that much, doesn't he?” “He understands it very well,” said Ramo Hati. The sadhu went on, “O Ramo Hati, how is it that even though the man understand it, he is intelligent, yet why does he bury the dead animal in his stomach instead of ground ? ” Why does he make his stomach a burial place for animals ? ” Ramo Hati felt it like ignited on his chest.

But this time he was not startled. He replied, “Confessed, O sadhu, I followed your meaning.Man is a fool, I am also a fool ! ” “You are not a fool. You have a devotee's soul,” consoled the sadhu. Ramo Hati threw his arrows and a bow. He fell at the feet of the sadhu and said, “O kind sadhu, please put your hand on my head and bless me to be a soul of devotee.” The sadhu raised him with affection, embraced him warmly and blessed him. This sadhu was none but Gunatitanand. He had a wonderful power of telling a story.

Commandment of Shikshaptri (12)

Non - violence alone is the best form of Dharma.