Hole in a Water Pot .

- Ravi Ila Bhatt

K anji. Kanji was always full of big questions.

One day, while sitting under a shady banyan tree with his friends, he asked his teacher, Mahadevnath.

"Guruji," he began, "I have a question that puzzles me. I see people who are the same age and seem just as smart as each other. So why do 

some become successful and happy, while others end up struggling?"

Mahadevnath smiled thoughtfully. "A very important question, Kanji," he said. "Meet me by the pond tomorrow at sunrise, and I will show you the answer."

The next morning, an excited Kanji rushed to the pond. He found Mahadevnath waiting for him, holding two identical clay water pots.

"Have a look at these," the teacher said, handing them to Kanji.

Kanji studied the pots. They looked exactly the same, but then he saw it: a tiny, almost invisible hole in the bottom of one pot. He started to say something, but Mahadevnath simply smiled and took the pots back.

Gently, the teacher placed both pots into the pond.

At first, both of them floated calmly on the water's surface. The whole pot bobbed along peacefully.

But the pot with the hole wobbled. Water began to seep inside, and slowly, it started to sink. Gurgle, gurgle, plop! It vanished beneath the surface, leaving only bubbles behind.

Kanji watched, his mind racing with curiosity.

Mahadevnath turned to him. "Do you see, Kanji?" he asked kindly. "Like these pots, people can look the same on the outside. But what truly matters is their character on the inside."

He pointed to where the pot had sunk. "A small hole in our character-like a habit of telling small lies, being selfish, or acting unkind-might not seem like a big deal at first. But over time, these small flaws let trouble in, and like the pot, they can cause a person to sink."

"But a person with a strong character-who is honest, kind, and compassionate-is like the whole pot. They can face life's challenges and always stay afloat."

Kanji's eyes lit up with understanding. He folded his hands and bowed respectfully to his teacher, thankful for the unforgettable lesson.

Moral 

Your skills and appearance

are like decorations,

but your character is

your foundation.

Always protect it.