Once there was a Brahmin. He was a great miser. He had a son whom he loved very much. When the son turned sixteen, he got very sick. The father being a miser did not send for a physician. He treated the boy himself. But the boy’s condition got worse. Now, the miser feared that people would come to see his son and also see his wealth. So, he placed his son in the courtyard for people to see him. A great sage came to see the son. He gave many sermons to the son. After some days, the son passed away. The miser mourned for his son’s loss. He used to go to the funeral ground every day and weep for his son. God was watching all this. He came down and spoke to the miser. He said, “Why do you mourn for your son? It is because of your miserliness that you lost him.” The miser realised his mistake and became very generous after that.
The Miser
