The Saint and the Scorpion
Once, a saint was walking along the banks of the River Ganga with a few close disciples.
The river was full, its waters wild and turbulent.
As they walked, the saint noticed a small scorpion struggling in the current—
clinging desperately to floating leaves and twigs, trying hard to stay afloat.
Moved by compassion, the saint waded into the water and gently lifted the scorpion with his bare hands.
Startled and afraid, the scorpion stung him.
The sting was sharp. Instinctively, the saint’s hand recoiled, and the scorpion slipped from his grip—
falling back into the river, still struggling for its life.
Without hesitation, the saint went after it again—
calmly, like a mother reaching for her drowning child.
He lifted the scorpion once more.
And again, the frightened creature stung him.
Once again, the saint's hand jerked, and the scorpion fell into the river.
His disciples watched, both confused and concerned.
One of them called out,
"Master, please—use a stick! Why risk your hands again?"
Taking the advice, the saint found a twig nearby,
and with great care, used it to lift the scorpion and carry it safely to the riverbank.
It crawled away… safe at last.
Still puzzled, one of the disciples asked,
"Master, why did you try to lift it again with your bare hands—
even after it stung you the first time?"
The saint smiled and replied,
"It is the nature of the scorpion to sting when it is afraid.
And it is my nature to help when I see suffering.
Should I give up my nature, just because it hasn’t given up its own?"
"When there is true love in the heart,
a self-realized one treats all beings as he treats himself.
He doesn’t see the difference.
All life is one singular entity—Brahman—for him."