4. Spiritual Wealth

4. Spiritual Wealth

      

  In the past, when the Mizo people were living by forming groups, at that time, the chief of one those of group was by the name लेरसिया. That chief of the group who was very kind used to behave equally with all. Disregarding the richness or poverty, he used to decide the greatness of the people by their kindness or goodness.

         Once, he went to a certain distant village with his colleagues.Before that he had never gone there. Before entering the village, लेरसिया wounded himself with the strokes of whip. He also smeared the pulp of some medicinal herb over his body due to which his body became swollen, ugly and pitiable like (that of) a (diseased) sick person. He also smeared mud over it, so he looked more pitiable. After that, having entered the village, with his colleagues, he went to the middle square. There they all sat on the road. The villagers living there knew only this much that the people who had arrived there were from the village of the famous लेरसिया. But nobody knew who among them was लेरसिया.

           The other people who were with लेरसिया were invited by the villagers to their home for meals. They were honoured with great hospitality and dance, songs and music. But लेरसिया was not invited by anybody because his appearance was very disgusting and inauspicious (ugly). Therefore, nobody thought of taking him home.

           In that village, there lived two brothers who were very poor but were kind-hearted and compassionate. They came to know that there was a certain man of ugly appearance in the village who was wearing torn clothes, was afflicted by hunger. No one was even conversing with him. Having approached him, one of them said,”Oh gentleman, we are indeed poor. We do not have even this much money, that we will offer you something for a meal. Then also, we wish that your respectable one should come to our old hut and experience the warmth of the fire that is lit. You may relish whatever (little) we have.”

           Saying alright and going to the hut with those two brothers, लेरसिया spent the night with both of them being happy. He happily ate even the dry food with them. Early in the morning, revealing his own identity, he introduced himself to both of them. Very soon, this news spread in the village. All the villagers were surprised and felt ashamed. They were dejected with the thought that even after this great man came to (our) village, we didn't recognize him or treat him in the manner approved by learned people or in the manner favourable to human beings. Some rich people ran towards the hut to take the chief of the people (लेरसिया) to their home. But he didn't go anywhere else leaving those two. He said, “They both are indeed my friends. They didn't even know me but even after seeing my pitiable condition, they offered me respectful treatment. They both are poor but their minds are generous. This itself is their spiritual wealth.”

    After some days, as per the invitation sent by लेरसिया, those two brothers went to his village. There, that chief offered them grand welcome. He presented them various types of gifts and many bull-like मिठुन animals also, due to which they both became wealthy. Thus, लेरसिया honoured their kindness with rewards. Thereafter, even the villagers behaved respectfully with both of them. Now, the value and strength of spiritual wealth was recognised even by them.