Surender was a very rich man. He had stored money, gold, silver, diamonds and precious stones in three huge storehouses. He was so stingy that he hated to spend any of his hoarded treasure. He did not even take care of his family. He bought the cheapest clothes for his children and he almost starved his family members. He made them drink gruel most of the time.
One day, it so happened that he saw a man eating a ladoo. It had been a long time since he had eaten a ladoo. At the thought of a ladoo his mouth began to water. He desperately yearned for a ladoo. He knew his wife Vandana would make him a ladoo. But, she would prepare many ladoos so that she could share them with their children, servants and friends. Surender did not want to waste his money on so many ladoos. So, he decided to keep quiet.
But, the desire to eat a ladoo was so much that his legs became weak and his stomach began to rumble loudly. His wife asked him what was wrong with him. Surender finally asked her to make him a ladoo. Vandana was happy. She said she would make dozens of ladoos and give them to their children, neighbours and servants. Surender was appalled at the thought of his money being wasted on so many ladoos. He said there was no need to share them with neighbours and friends. When Vandana said she would make ladoos for the family, Surender objected to it also.
He did not want his children to eat ladoos. Disappointed, Vandana said she would make two ladoos, one for him and one for her. This was also not acceptable to Surender. He told her to make only one ladoo for him. Vandana was ashamed of her husband’s miserliness. She made a single ladoo, and Surender ate it greedily. He did not even feel a bit of remorse for not sharing it with his family.
Sakka, the King of Gods and the Ruler of the Heavens, watched all this from above and decided to teach Surender a lesson. The next day, when Surender had gone for a walk in the morning, Sakka assumed Surender’s form and entered his house. He told Vandana that he was going to share all his wealth. He told her to throw open the doors of his treasure houses and invite people to take away whatever they wanted.
Vandana was very happy at this change in her husband. She sent a servant to invite people and open the barn doors. The people came running and started taking away the wealth. Sakka told them that if an imposter who looks like him tries to stop them, they should drive him away. Surender returned and found his wealth being plundered. He tried to stop them, but was driven away.
Surender went to the king and complained against the people plundering his wealth. The king wanted to know who had given the order to invite people. Then, Sakka in the form of Surender came to the court accompanied by Vandana and the children. There was an altercation between the two Surenders. The king was confused. He requested Vandana to identify the real Surender. Vandana asked both the Surrenders if it was better to be generous to all or not. The make-believe Surender agreed with her. The real Surender did not agree with her. Vandana chose the make-believe Surender as her husband.
The real Surender was heartbroken. Sakka then appeared in his own form and told the king that he had come down from heaven to teach Surender a lesson. He told Surender that his miserliness’ had brought him to such a situation. Even his wife and children did not want him, because they were fed up with his petty and mean behaviour. Sakka advised Surender to be more generous.
Surender said he would try to be a little more generous, but, Sakka told him to be a lot more generous and warned him, if he did not do so, he would come back for him. Sakka vanished in a cloud of smoke. Surender embraced his wife and children happily. Vandana said that she would celebrate the occasion by making dozens of ladoos and sharing them. Surender reluctantly agreed.
