Narsi Mehta

In Gujarat there is a town called Junagadh. Five hundred years ago, a man named Narsi Mehta lived in that town. He was a great devotee of God Krishna. He sang bhajans in honour of God.

You have all heard the song ‘Vaishnava jana to’. Narsi wrote that song.

Narsi was a rich man. But he gave away all his money to the poor and needy. He himself became poor thereby.

Manekbai was Narsi’s wife. They had a daughter. Narsi never cared for money. Nor did he worry about his daughter’s marriage.

Manekbai one day said to Narsi: “Sethji! Our daughter is old enough to marry. We are poor. Why don’t you ask some rich people for money to marry her off?”

Narsi replied: “Listen to me, my dear. Last night God Krishna of Dwaraka came to me in my dream. He said, ‘Narsi, do not worry about your daughter’s marriage. Send somebody to Dwaraka with a hundi for any amount of money. Address it to Seth Samaldas. He will give you the money, and you can get your daughter married."

Manekbai was greatly relieved. She asked her husband to write the hundi at once.

Narsi wrote a hundi for Rs 1,500 and asked their cowherd to take it to Dwaraka. A hundi is a letter asking for money with a promise that it would be repaid.

At that time some merchants were staying in the cowherd’s house. They were going to Dwaraka. They said: "We have some money. We shall give you Rs 1,500 immediately and take your hundi. As we are ourselves going to Dwaraka, we shall collect the money from Seth Samaldas and give him the hundi."

Manekbai agreed. She took Rs 1500 from the merchants. Narsi handed over the hundi accordingly. Narsi celebrated the marriage of his daughter in a grand manner with the money he borrowed.

The merchants arrived in Dwaraka. They searched for Seth Samaldas. But in the whole of Dwaraka there was no Seth Samaldas. They were disappointed and also angry. They thought Narsi had deceived them.

At last a man came to see the merchants. He said, "I am Seth Samaldas. What do you want?"

The merchants replied, "We have a hundi for Rs 1,500 which Narsi Mehta of Junagadh gave to us."

"Oh! I thought it was for Rs 2,000. Anyway, I have brought Rs 2,000. You may take this entire money and give me the hundi!" said Seth Samaldas.

The merchants hesitated. "Sir, how can we take more money than we have given? Please give us only Rs l,500," they said.

The Seth said: "Doesn’t matter. I shall give you Rs 500 as a gift, because you have helped Narsi."

The merchants were pleased and took the money. God Krishna himself had come as Seth Samaldas to help his devotee!