The Four Daughters-in-Law

A wealthy and wise Jain merchant, Dhanya, wanted to pass the keys of his vast estate to the most capable of his four daughters-in-law. To test their wisdom, he called them together and gave each of them exactly five grains of wheat. 'Keep these safe,' he instructed. 'I will ask for them back in five years.'

The first daughter-in-law thought the old man had gone crazy. She threw the grains out the window immediately, thinking she would just give him five new grains from the kitchen when he asked.

The second daughter-in-law ate the grains, thinking they were a blessing, planning to also replace them later.

The third daughter-in-law carefully wrapped the five grains in a piece of silk, placed them in a velvet box, and locked them in her safe, checking on them daily to ensure they were secure.

The youngest daughter-in-law, Rohini, understood the true nature of a seed. She went to her father's farm and planted the five grains in the soil. They grew into five stalks. She harvested them and planted those seeds. Over five years, those five grains multiplied into massive fields of golden wheat.

When the five years passed, the merchant asked for the grains. The first two admitted they had to get replacements. The third proudly brought out her velvet box, but the five grains inside had rotted and turned to dust.

Then Rohini spoke. 'Father-in-law, to give you back your five grains, you will need to send a hundred bullock carts to the farm. They have multiplied.'

The merchant smiled and gave Rohini the keys to the estate. He then gathered his family and taught the spiritual lesson: 'The Dhamma (spiritual knowledge) is like those five grains. If you ignore it, you lose it. If you lock it away in blind ritual like a museum piece, it rots. But if you plant it in the soil of daily action, it multiplies and feeds the world.'