Today, on the occasion of Word Earth Day, I will tell you a story completely unrelated to it. Fanfares aside, the title of the story in Nepali is ‘धनको घमण्ड’ (dhan ko ghamanda) which literally means ’Wealth’s Vanity’ but is more close to saying ’Vanity brought by Wealth’.
This story is a GRADE 4 story and it contains elements related to Hindu Religion and mythology. Since you readers may not be acquainted with such, I will briefly tell who the characters are:
कुबेर (kuber) is the one who gets the attention here. He (his name is spelt like ‘koo-bay-r’) is portrayed as a rich god here.
गणेश (ganesh) is the Elephant-Head God (he has a head of an elephant). He is the son of Shiva and he eats a lot, especially a kind of sweet called ’laddu’. He is an important deity; he is worshipped before any grand worshipping happens… like before you worship any other god, you have to worship him first.
शङ्कर (shangkar) is one of Lord Shiva’s many different names, others being नीलकण्ठ (nilkantha), महादेव (mahadev) etc. He is one of the Trinity Gods of Hinduism; he is the destroyer. That doesn’t mean he is evil, though. After all, everything created is destroyed someday, right? Since typing shankar is easier than shangkar, I will mention him as such. He stays in deep meditation forever in Mount Kailash. You can look up for more information by using a site named Wikipedia.
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STORY
देउताहरुमा कुबेर सबैभन्दा धनी थिए । कहिलेकहिँ देउताहरू सम्पत्तिको खाँचो पर्दा उनैकहाँ पुग्थे । कुबेर पनि मदत गर्थे। बिस्तारै कुबेरलाई धनको घमण्ड चढ्दै गयो। उनको घमण्डको बारेमा देउताहरुलाई थाहा नभएको होइन तैपनि सबै चुप थिए। गणेशचाहिँ कसरी कुबेरको घमण्ड तोडौँ भन्ने मौकाको खोजीमा थिए ।
एकदिन कुबेरले ठूलो भोजको आयोजना गरे । सबै देवीदेउताहरुलाई निम्तो गरियो । भोजमा बलवान् भीमसेनदेखि रिसाहा ऋषि दुर्वासासम्म थिए । सबै जना कुबेरको ठाँटबाँट देखेर दङ्ग परे । एकछिनपछि ठूलो भुँडी हल्लाउँदै गणेश पनि त्यहीँ पुगे । कुबेरले गणेशलाई देख्नेबित्तिकै बडो सम्मानका साथ भित्र लागे । उनलाई विभिन्न प्रकारका खानेकुरा खुवाउन थालियो । गणेश आफ्ना अगाडि भएका सबै खानेकुरा खान थाले । मान्छेहरुले पनि दौडादौड गर्दै खानेकुरा ल्याए । जति खानेकुरा ल्याए पनि गणेश एकै गाँसमा सिध्याइदिन्थे। गणेशलाई खानेकुरा थप्दाथप्दा पकाएका सबै खानेकुराहरु सकिए । अझ पनि गणेशको पेट भरिएको थिएन । उता भान्सामा अरु खानेकुरा तयार पारिन्दै थियो, यता गणेश अझै खानेकुरा ल्याऊ भनी माग्दै थिए ।
खानेकुरा ल्याउन ढिलो भयो भनी गणेश आफै भान्सामा पुगे । उनी पकाउँदा पकाउँदै खानेकुरा झिकेर खान थाले । कुबेरले गणेशसँग बिन्ती गर्दै भने, “अब त नपकाएको दालचामल मात्र छ । एकछिन पर्खिनुहोस् । ” गणेश झन् गर्जेर खोइ, कहाँ राख्या छ, त्यही भने पनि ल्याऊ भन्दै भण्डारतिर लागे । भण्डारमा भएका सबै अन्नपात उनले काँचै खाए । एकैछिनमा गणेशले भण्डार रित्तो पारे । आफ्नो त्यत्रो भण्डार पनि रित्तो भएको देखी कुबेरको हंसले ठाउँ छोड्यो । कुबेर डराउँदै भन्न थाले, “ अब त भण्डार सबै थोक सकियो, एकछिन पर्खिनुहोस् । म बाहिरबाट मगाउँछु । ”
यो सुनेपछि गणेश झन् रिसाएर भन्न थाले, “तिम्रो भण्डारमा मलाई पेट भरी खुवाउने अन्नपात नभए किन डाक्यौ त? मलाई त ज्यादै भोक लागेको छ । तिमीलाई भए पनि खान्छु । ”
गणेशको यो कुरा सुनेपछि कुबेर डरले भाग्न थाले । कुबेर अघिअघि भाग्दै गए भने गणेश पछिपछि गए । धेरै बेरको दौडादौडपछि कुबेर शङ्करलाई गुहार्न कैलाशमा पुगे ।
कुबेरलाई देखेपछि शङ्करले भने, कुबेर ! तिमी किन यसरी आत्तिएका छौ ? के भयो ?“ कुबेरले हात जोड्दै भने, “प्रभु, मैले बिराएँ, मेरो ज्यान बचाउनुहोस् । मैले बित्थामा धनको घमण्ड गरेँ । ” शङ्करले गणेशलाई पनि सोधे, “गणेश, कुबेर लाई किन लखेटेको ?” गणेशले भने, “कुबेर ले मलाई निम्तो दिएर पेटभरि खान दिएनन् । यिनले मेरो अपमान गरे । त्यसैले यिनलाई लखेटेको हुँ ।”
“पेटभरि खान पाइएन भन्दैमा कुबेर जस्तो धनीलाई लखेट्नु हुन्छ त ? धनीको त मान पो गर्नुपर्छ त! कुबेरलाई नलखेट । तिमी भित्र जाऊ र आमासित मागेर पेट भरी खाऊ ।” शङ्करले गणेशलाई सम्झाएर भित्र पठाए । अब भने कुबेरलाई आफूमा घमण्ड चढेको थाहा भयो ।
कुबेर घमण्ड नगर्ने प्रतिज्ञा गरी त्यहाँबाट फर्के ।
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MEANING
देउताहरुमा कुबेर सबैभन्दा धनी थिए । (deuta`haru`ma kuber sabaibhanda dhani thie)
= Among Deities, Kuber was the richest.
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कहिलेकहिँ देउताहरू सम्पत्तिको खाँचो पर्दा उनैकहाँ पुग्थे । (kahilekahi deuta`haru sampatti`ko khacho parda unai`kaha pugthe)
= When (other) Gods used to need some wealth, they used to reach out to him (only).
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कुबेर पनि मदत गर्थे। (kuber pani madat garthe)
= Kuber also used to help (them).
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बिस्तारै कुबेरलाई धनको घमण्ड चढ्दै गयो। (bistarai kuber`lai dhan`ko ghamanda chadhdai gayo)
= Slowly the vanity brought by wealth climbed up on Kuber.
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उनको घमण्डको बारेमा देउताहरुलाई थाहा नभएको होइन तैपनि सबै चुप थिए। (un’ko ghamanda`ko bare`ma deuta`haru`lai thaha nabhaeko hoina tai`pani sabai chup thie)
= It was not that the other gods were not aware of his vanity but rather they were shut (about it).
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गणेशचाहिँ कसरी कुबेरको घमण्ड तोडौँ भन्ने मौकाको खोजीमा थिए । (ganesh`chahi kasari kuber`ko ghamanda todau bhanne mauka`ko khoji`ma thie)
= As of Ganesh, he was searching for an opportunity where he could break Kuber’s Vanity.
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एकदिन कुबेरले ठूलो भोजको आयोजना गरे । (ekdin kuber`le thulo bhoj`ko aayojana gare)
= One day Kuber organized a big Feast.
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सबै देवीदेउताहरुलाई निम्तो गरियो । (sabai devideuta`haru`lai nimto gariyo)
= Every Gods and Goddesses were invited.
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भोजमा बलवान् भीमसेनदेखि रिसाहा ऋषि दुर्वासासम्म थिए । (bhoj`ma balawan bhimsen`dekhi risaha rishi durvasa`samma thie)
= From the incredibly strong Bhimsen till the belligerent Sage Durvasa, (All was there) in the feast.
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सबैजना कुबेरको ठाँटबाँट देखेर दङ्ग परे । (sabai`jana kuber`ko thatbat dekhera danga pare)
= Everyone was astounded by Kuber’s imposingness.
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एकछिनपछि ठूलो भुँडी हल्लाउँदै गणेश पनि त्यहीँ पुगे । (ekchin`pachi thulo bhudi hallaudai ganesh pani tyahi puge)
= After a while, the big-bellied Ganesh came to that place, with his belly wiggling.
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कुबेरले गणेशलाई देख्नेबित्तिकै बडो सम्मानका साथ भित्र लागे । (kuber`le ganesh`lai dekhnebittikai bado sammaan`ka sath bhitra lage)
= As soon as Kuber saw Ganesh, he took him inside with great respect.
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उनलाई विभिन्न प्रकारका खानेकुरा खुवाउन थालियो । (un`lai bibhinna prakar`ka khanekura khuwauna thaliyo)
= He was being fed many varieties of Foodstuff(s).
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गणेश आफ्ना अगाडि भएका सबै खानेकुरा खान थाले । (ganesh aafna agadi bhaeka sabai khanekura khana thale)
= Ganesh started to eat every food in front of him.
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मान्छेहरुले पनि दौडादौड गर्दै खानेकुरा ल्याए । (manche`haru`le pani daudadaud gardai khanekura lyae)
= People too started to run here and there to bring (more) food.
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जति खानेकुरा ल्याए पनि गणेश एकै गाँसमा सिध्याइदिन्थे। (jati khanekura lyae pani ganesh ekai gaas`ma sidhyaidinthe)
= No matter how much foodstuff(s) were brought, Ganesh ate (them all) with one breath.
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गणेशलाई खानेकुरा थप्दाथप्दा पकाएका सबै खानेकुराहरु सकिए । (ganesh`lai khanekura thapdathapda pakaeka sabai khanekura`haru sakie)
= After keep re-serving (more) foodstuff(s) to Ganesh, all of the foodstuffs finished.
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अझ पनि गणेशको पेट भरिएको थिएन । (ajha pani ganesh`ko pet bharieko thiena)
= But still Ganesh’s stomach wasn’t filled.
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उता भान्सामा अरु खानेकुरा तयार पारिन्दै थियो, यता गणेश अझै खानेकुरा ल्याऊ भनी माग्दै थिए । (uta bhansa`ma aru khanekura tayaar parindai thiyo, yata ganesh ajhai khanekura lyau bhani maagdai thie)
= On one hand more food was being prepared on the Kitchen, on the other Ganesh was asking for more food.
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खानेकुरा ल्याउन ढिलो भयो भनी गणेश आफै भान्सामा पुगे । (khanekura lyauna dhilo bhayo bhani ganesh aafai bhansa`ma puge)
= By saying that the food was being brought too slowly, Ganesh himself went to the Kitchen.
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उनी पकाउँदा पकाउँदै खानेकुरा झिकेर खान थाले । (uni pakauda pakaudai khanekura jhikera khana thale)
= He started to eat the food which was cooking (at that time).
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कुबेरले गणेशसँग बिन्ती गर्दै भने, “अब त नपकाएको दालचामल मात्र छ । एकछिन पर्खिनुहोस् । ” (kuber`le ganesh`sanga binti gardai bhane, “aba ta napakaaeko daamchamal matra cha . ekchin parkhinuhos . ”)
= Kuber pleaded to Ganesh saying, “Now the only thing left is the uncooked Lentils and Rice. Please wait for sometime. ”
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गणेश झन् गर्जेर खोइ, कहाँ राख्या छ, त्यही भने पनि ल्याऊ भन्दै भण्डारतिर लागे । (ganesh jhan garjera khoi, kaha rakhya cha, tyahi bhane pani lyau bhandai bhandaar`tira laage)
= Ganesh became more infuriated, saying where, where is it kept, (even if it is that) I will eat that and then headed towards the depot.
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भण्डारमा भएका सबै अन्नपात उनले काँचै खाए । (bhadar`ma bhaeka sabai annapaat un`le kachai khae)
= He ate all the grains in the depot raw.
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एकैछिनमा गणेशले भण्डार रित्तो पारे । (ekaichin`ma ganesh`le bhandar ritto pare)
= Ganesh emptied the Depot in an instant.
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आफ्नो त्यत्रो भण्डार पनि रित्तो भएको देखी कुबेरको हंसले ठाउँ छोड्यो । (aafno tyatro bhandar pani ritto bhaeko dekhi kuber`ko hangsa`le thau chodyo)
= By seeing his that (big) depot being emptied, Kuber’s senses left place(s).
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कुबेर डराउँदै भन्न थाले, “ अब त भण्डार सबै थोक सकियो, एकछिन पर्खिनुहोस् । म बाहिरबाट मगाउँछु । ” (kuber daraudai bhanna thale, “aba ta bhandar sabai thok sakiyo, ekchin parkhinuhos. ma bahira`bata magaauchu”)
= Kuber started to say frighteningly, “Now the depot, everything is finished, please wait for sometimee. I will bring something from outside.”
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यो सुनेपछि गणेश झन् रिसाएर भन्न थाले, “तिम्रो भण्डारमा मलाई पेट भरी खुवाउने अन्नपात नभए किन डाक्यौ त? मलाई त ज्यादै भोक लागेको छ । तिमीलाई भए पनि खान्छु । ” (yo sunepachi ganesh jhan risaera bhanna thale, “timro bhandar`ma malai pet bhari khuwaune annapaat nabhae ina daakyau ta? ma`lai ta jyadai bhok laageko cha. timi`lai bhae pani khanchu”)
= After hearing this Ganesh became even more angry and started to say, “If your depot did not have enough grains to fill my Stomach then why did you invite me? I am feeling very hungry. Even if it is you, I will eat it.”
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गणेशको यो कुरा सुनेपछि कुबेर डरले भाग्न थाले । (ganesh`ko yo kura sunepachi kuber dar`le bhaagna thale)
= After hearing this dialogue of Ganesh, Kuber started to run in fear.
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कुबेर अघिअघि भाग्दै गए भने गणेश पछिपछि गए । (kuber aghiaghi bhagdai gae bhane ganesh pachipachi gae)
= While Kuber was in front, Ganesh was in the back.
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धेरै बेरको दौडादौडपछि कुबेर शङ्करलाई गुहार्न कैलाशमा पुगे । (dherai ber`ko daudadaud`pachi kuber sankar`lai guhaarna kailash`ma puge)
= After a while of Run-and-run, Kuber reached to Shankar at Kailash [a mountain].
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कुबेरलाई देखेपछि शङ्करले भने, “कुबेर ! तिमी किन यसरी आत्तिएका छौ ? के भयो ?” (kuber`lai dekhepachi shankar`le bhane,”kuber! timi kina yasari aattieka chau? ke bhayo?”)
= After seen Kuber, Sankar said, “Kuber! Why are you so bewildered? What happened?”
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कुबेरले हात जोड्दै भने, “प्रभु, मैले बिराएँ, मेरो ज्यान बचाउनुहोस् । मैले बित्थामा धनको घमण्ड गरेँ ।” ( kuber`le haat joddai bhane, “prabhu, maile birae, mero jyan bachaunuhos. maile bittha`ma dhan`ko ghamanda gare”)
= Kuber clasped his hands and said “Good lord, I have sinned, please save my life! I have inopportunely boasted of my wealth!”
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शङ्करले गणेशलाई पनि सोधे, “गणेश, कुबेरलाई किन लखेटेको ?” (shankar`le ganesh`lai pani sodhe, “ganesh, kuber`lai kina lakheteko?”)
= Sankar also asked Ganesh, “Ganesh, why are you chasing Kuber?”
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गणेशले भने, “कुबेरले मलाई निम्तो दिएर पेट भरी खान दिएनन् । यिनले मेरो अपमान गरे । त्यसैले यिनलाई लखेटेको हुँ ।” (ganesh`le bhane, “kuber`le malai nimto diera pet bhari khana dienan. yin`le mero apamaan gare. tyasaile yin`lai lakheteko hu”)
= Ganesh said, “Kuber invited me but did not give enough to fill my stomach. He insulted me. That’s why I am chasing him.”
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“पेट भरी खान पाइएन भन्दैमा कुबेर जस्तो धनीलाई लखेट्नु हुन्छ त ? धनीको त मान पो गर्नुपर्छ त! कुबेरलाई नलखेट । तिमी भित्र जाऊ र आमासित मागेर पेट भरी खाऊ ।” शङ्करले गणेशलाई सम्झाएर भित्र पठाए । (“pet bhari khana paaiena bhandai`ma kuber jasto dhani`lai lakhetnu huncha ta? dhani`ko ta maan po garnuparcha ta! kuber`lai nalakheta. timi bhitra jau ra aama`sita maagera pet bhari khau.” shankar`le ganesh`lai samjhaaera bhitra pathae)
= “Just because you did not eat enough to fill your stomach doesn’t mean that you should ‘chase’ someone rich like Kuber, right? You should ‘respect’ the rich! Don’t chase Kuber (now). You go inside and ask mother for food, then eat enough till your stomach is full” said Shankar and sent him inside.
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अब भने कुबेरलाई आफूमा घमण्ड चढेको थाहा भयो । (aba bhane kuber`lai aafu`ma ghamanda chadheko thaha bhayo)
= Now Kuber realized his Vanity that had climbed inside him.
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कुबेर घमण्ड नगर्ने प्रतिज्ञा गरी त्यहाँबाट फर्के । (kuber ghamanda nagarne pratigya gari tyaha`bata pharke)
= Kuber made a vow to never be Vain and left from there.
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VOCABULARY
देउता (deuta) = Deity; God
सम्पत्ति (sampatti) = Property; Wealth
खाँचो (khacho) = Need
मदत (madat) = Help
बिस्तारै (bistarai) = Slowly
घमण्ड (ghamanda) = Vainity
मौका (mauka) = Opportunity
भोज (bhoj) = Feast
आयोजना (aayojana) = Organize
निम्तो (nimto) = Invitation
बलवान् (balwaan) = Brute; Strong
रिसाहा (risaha) = Belligerent; Irate
ऋषि (rishi) = Sage
ठाँटबाँट (thatbhat) = Boasting; Imposingness
दङ्ग (danga) + [parnu] = [to be] Astonished
भुँडी (bhudi) = Belly; Stomach
सम्मान (samman) = Honour; Respect
गाँस (gaas) = (here) breath [like ate in one breath]
भान्सा (baansa) = Kitchen
बिन्ती (binti) = Request
दालचामल (daalchamal) = दाल (daal /lentil/ ) + चामल (chamal /rice/ )
अन्नपात (annapaat) = Grains
भण्डार (bhandar) = Storage; Godown; Depot
रित्तो (ritto) = Empty
हंस (hangsa) = Soul; Consiousness
पेट (pet) = Stomach
प्रभु (prabhu) = Lord
बित्था (bittha) = A word with meaning similar to ‘without any reason’
अपमान (apamaan) = Insult [अप (apa) = Anti- + मान (maan) = Respect]
प्रतिज्ञा (pratigya) = Vow; Commitment
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QUESTIONS
1. Correct the following spellings, which have been spelt incorrectly:
a) भन्दार b) हङ्स c) शङ्खर
2. Is the word घमण्ड (ghamanda) a noun or an adjective?
3. Kuber displayed one of the the seven deadly sins (vain/ pride). As a god, was it fit for him to show it? What really caused him to display such vanity?
4. The word रित्तो (ritto) means ‘खाली’ (khali) in Nepali. How does ‘खाली’ (khalii) differ from खालि (khali) in terms of their meanings?
5. Ganesh probably suffered from diarrhea after overeating a lot. However, as a god, he probably possessed magical powers to contain so much food, or perhaps not. If he did suffer from the condition, suggest medicines which may alleviate his condition. (will Jeevanjal be enough?)
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ANSWERS (some not provided)
1. a) भण्डार
1. b) हंस
1. c) शङ्कर
2. Noun
3. No, it is not a quality of a divine. His wealth caused him to believe that he was the most powerful (due to his financial status) and hence his vanity
4. खाली (khalii) means ‘Empty’ whereas खालि (khali) can mean ‘only; always’