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Once Ghanshyam, accompanied with his friends, Veni and Madhav, had gone to taste rose apples of a Jambul tree.
It was the month of Jyestha (June). There were ample rose-apples on the Jambul tree. Everyone ate as many as they could. They climbed down the tree but Ghanshyam was still on the tree. Meantime there arrived a watchman of the tree. Hearing his shout, others ran away to their homes, but Ghanshyam was still on the tree. The watchman became angry. He said, “You thief, why did you eat my rose-apples ?”

“I am not a thief,” said Ghanshyam, “because everyone is free to eat the fruits grown in the jungle!” Saying this, he jumped down the tree. The watchman ran after him to beat Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam, very actively taking the watchman’s hand gave such a jerk as he broke the watchman’s hand, and fell down on the ground with his face upward. Ghanshyam had vanished before the watchman could get up clearing his dusty body. Ghanshyam’s act (LEELA) is as sweet as that of a rose-apple of a Jambul tree.

This lesson shows that everything belongs to God and it is for Him. If we behave in reverse, God would be displeased. The watchman on attempting to be the owner of the Jambul tree by not allowing Ghanshyam to eat its fruits was beaten.


Can you answer the following questions.

(a) Where did child Ghanshyam go to eat Jambul’s fruits?

(b) Why did the watchman not allow Ghanshyam to eat fruits?

(c) What was child Ghanshyam’s reply to the watchman?

(d) Why did the watchman not obey Ghanshyam?

(e) What was the watchman’s condition on not obeying Ghanshyam?

(f) How did you find this child’s play of Ghanshyam?