Stories and Parables

Stories and Parables quoted from the Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Translated from the Original Telugu
Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Story Titles by Netnews
 

"Oka Chinna Katha" - When Bhagavan intercepts the speeding current of His Discourse with these three Telugu words, meanings, "One little story" all ears are alert, all hearts are quivive. For, the story that follows is a flash that illumines, a shower that cools, a joke that tickles, a "tablet" that alleviates, a peep into epic grandeur or pompous absurdity, a poetic parenthesis, an exhilarating prick, a lilt that enlightens, a sugar-coated pill of profundity, a disarming repartee, a volley of raillery on religious rigmarole! It may be a tonic tale of the past or the report of a contemporary comedy; it may be a thrust on theological disputation or a dear little dig at some egoistic dignitary.

The Chinna Katha, if only we ponder over its relevance, is an effective instrument in Bhagavan's educational process. When He is discoursing, these parables and stories, ever on the wing, hover in flocks in the firmament of His Love; He lets a few fly into our hearts and nestle there, until we fondle and foster them and make them part of our thought and behaviour patterns. Here is a charming, fragrant bouquet of these multicoloured kathas, for our delectation, meditation and inspiration.

N. Kasturi

1. Saint Appar
2. Self-Knowledge
3. Abdullah
4. The Three Dolls
5. Cow Service
6. Forbearance
7. Sweets
8. The Lingam
9. The Gold Plate
10. The Mirror
11. Beware of the Devil
12. Ambashali
13. The Mantra
14. A Visit to Kasi
15. Victory
16. The Same and not the Same
17. A Healthy Kingdom
18. Three Questions
19. Brother and Sister
20. The Postmaster and the Boy
21. Akbar's Prayer
22. Draupadi's Devotion
23. The Forbidden Fruit
24. Gifts of Grace
25. The Sacrifice
26. The Pundit and the Milk-Maid

27. The Thief
28. Ubhaya Bharati
29. Vivekananda and the Old Man
30. Who is honoured more on Earth?
31. Strike
32. Sri Rama and the Dog
33. The Broken Idol
34. Naamasmarana
35. Parable of the Vine Yard
36. What is Brahman?
37. The Accident
38. The Raja
39. The First Place
40. Man versus Animals
41. Poverty and Wealth
42. Victory and Defeat
43. The Fleet-Footed Princess
44. The Ointment
45. The Pundit and the Maharaja
46. Rainwater
47. The Frescoes
48. Character
49. Ways of the Divine
50. A Precious Gem
51. The Training Course
52. Dignity