Maharaj Raghu’s donation

Maharaj Raghu was the emperor of Ayodhya. He was the great grandfather (great grandfather) of Lord Shri Ram. By his name the Kshatriyas of his dynasty are called Raghuvanshi.

Once King Raghu performed a grand yajna. When the Yagya was completed, Maharaj donated all his wealth to the Brahmins and the destitute. Maharaj was such a big donor that he even donated his jewellery, beautiful clothes and all the utensils. The Maharaja was left with ordinary clothes. He managed working with earthen utensils.

When Maharaj Raghu had donated everything in the yagya, a Brahmin named Kautsa, a disciple of sage Varatantu, came to him. The king saluted him, made him sit on the seat and washed his feet with an earthen pot. After the welcome ceremony, Maharaj asked – ‘How did you come to me? What service should I do?’

Kautsa said – ‘Maharaj! I came only for some work; But you have donated everything. I will not put a great, generous man like you into hesitation.’

Maharaj Raghu humbly requested – ‘Please tell me the purpose of your coming.’

Kauts told that his study has been completed. Before going home from his Gurudev’s ashram, he requested Gurudev to ask for Gurudakshina. Gurudev said with great affection – ‘Son! I am very happy with the service you have done for me by staying here. My Gurudakshina is done.Don’t hesitate and go home happily.’ But when Kautsa insisted on giving Gurudakshina, Gurudev got a little angry. He said – ‘You have learned fourteen Vidyas from me, hence bring one crore gold coins for each Vidya.’ Kautsa had come to Ayodhya to collect fourteen crore gold coins for Gurudakshina.

After listening to Kautsa, Maharaj said – ‘Just as you have done me the favor of coming here, do me a little more kindness. You stay in my firehouse for three days. If a Brahmin Kumar returns disappointed from Raghu’s place, it will be a matter of great sorrow and disgrace. I will definitely make some arrangement for your Gurudakshina in three days.’

Kautsa accepted to stay in Ayodhya. Maharaj called his minister and said – ‘All the feudal lords have become kings in the yagya. It is not justice to make them do it again. But Kuberji never paid me tax. So what if they are gods, they live on Kailash. Therefore the Chakravarti Emperor of the earth should pay them tribute. Keep all my weapons in my chariot. I will climb Kuber tomorrow morning. Tonight I will sleep in the same chariot. Unless Brahmin Kumar gets Gurudakshina, I cannot set foot in the palace.

That night Maharaj Raghu slept in the chariot itself. But early in the morning his treasurer came running to him and said – ‘Maharaj! The treasury house is filled to the brim with gold coins. There was a shower of coins in it during the night.’ Maharaj understood that it was Kuberji who had caused this shower of coins. Maharaj got all the coins piled up and said to Kautsa – ‘You take this money!’

Kauts said – ‘I need fourteen crore rupees for Gurudakshina. I will not take even one more coin than that.

Maharaj said – ‘But this money has come for you. We cannot keep Brahmin’s money in our house. You yourself will have to take all this.’

Kauts said very firmly – ‘Maharaj! I am a Brahmin. What do I have to do with money? Whatever you do with it, I will not take one more mohur.’ Kauts went away with fourteen crore mohurs. Maharaj Raghu donated the remaining coins to other Brahmins.