Story Time -Bal Ghanshyam's Future

	Bal Ghanshyam's Future


	Around the time when Bhagwan Swaminarayan incarnated, life in 18th century India was difficult. People earned money by whatever means they could. Most lived by farming. The poor lived by working as labourers for farmers and merchants. Brahmins usually lived by performing puja rituals for people. Bhagwan Swaminarayan's parents, Dharmadev and Bhaktimata, were Brahmins. Dharmadev was a famous pandit in Sanskrit. Rampratap, His eldest brother, was a soldier in the king's army. Dharmadev and Bhaktimata often wondered about Ghanshyam's future. Would he become a great scholar, a business merchant or a soldier? How could they find this out? There is a saying that a child's virtues can be known when he is in the cradle. So, one day, Dharmadev thought of a brilliant plan. He placed a shastra , (a Holy Scripture) a shining gold coin and a small gleaming sword on a low stool near Ghanshyam's cradle. Little Ghanshyam was watching his father with curiosity. He stared at the three objects on the stool. Then He climbed out of the cradle and toddled forward on his knees. His face beamed, mouth open. In a corner of the room stood Dharmadev and Bhaktimata, watching eagerly. As Ghanshyam reached the stool, He put His hand straight on the shastra . He tried to pick it up with His little hands. He did not even glance at the shining gold coin or sword. Dharmadev and Bhaktimata rushed forward in joy to hug Him ! Now they knew that He would become a scholar.