While all accept that spiritual wealth is rooted in renunciation not many are prepared to bring it into practice in daily living. That is why saints who live the disciplined life of austerities and seek God alone are worthy of respect and veneration for they inspire spiritual values in those who really search for them in life. The following story featuring a discussion about values and devotion illustrates this point, pointed out Swami Budhidananda in a discourse.
A reputed king once wages a war against a powerful neighbouring king and defeats him. He is willing to restore the entire kingdom to the defeated king provided he prostrates with his crown at the king’s feet. But the latter values his self respect over his life and disregards the offer. On the way back to his kingdom, the minister is baffled and surprised when the victorious king gets down from his palanquin and falls at the feet of a Sivan Adiyar in obeisance. Instead of a direct reply, the king asks him to get the heads of a goat, a tiger and of a human being. With great difficulty, the three heads are brought and then the king asks the minister to sell them all. The heads of the goat and tiger get sold but the human head is unwanted proving the transience of all human effort and achievement.
The minister still has other doubts. In what way is the saint more pious and venerable? Does he not worship Siva for his mukti? Is not the king also equally devoted to God and does he not perform yagnas for the benefit of humanity? The king is honest and says that his bhakti and acts of philanthropy are not devoid of selfish and egoistic ends while the Sivan Adiyar teaches the highest lesson that the value of human existence is in renunciation of all that is worldly and in seeking God alone.