The Golden Seed

Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by mountains and rivers, there lived a humble farmer named Hari. He was known throughout the village for his honesty and hard work. Hari owned a small piece of land where he grew rice and vegetables. Though he didn’t have much, he was content with his simple life.

One summer, a terrible drought hit the region. The rivers dried up, the soil cracked, and the crops withered. Many farmers lost their harvest, and some even left the village in search of better opportunities. Hari, too, was struggling. His savings were gone, and his fields were barren.

One day, as Hari sat under a banyan tree near his farm, worrying about the future, he noticed an old man walking down the dusty road. The stranger had a long beard, kind eyes, and a sack slung over his shoulder.

“Good day, sir,” the old man greeted Hari. “You look troubled. May I sit with you?”

Hari nodded politely. “Please do. I’ve been worried about my farm. The drought has ruined everything.”

The old man listened silently. After a moment, he reached into his sack and pulled out a small, glowing seed. It shimmered like gold in the sunlight.

“This is no ordinary seed,” the old man said. “It is a golden seed. Plant it with care, and it will grow into a tree that grants abundance. But remember, it will only grow if you are honest in your actions.”

Hari was taken aback. “Is this some kind of trick?”

The old man smiled. “No trick. But the tree will test you. Only the pure of heart can see it grow.”

Before Hari could ask more questions, the old man stood up and walked away, disappearing into the distance.

With nothing to lose, Hari took the golden seed and planted it in the center of his field. Every day, he watered it, weeded the soil around it, and watched over it with hope. Weeks passed, but nothing sprouted. The villagers mocked him.

“You’ve been tricked, Hari,” they laughed. “You’re watering dust!”

But Hari remained patient. He remembered the old man’s words and continued to live honestly. He shared what little food he had with his neighbors and helped other farmers repair their homes, even when his own was falling apart.

One morning, as the sun rose over the hills, Hari noticed something incredible. A tiny sprout was growing where he had planted the golden seed. It sparkled in the light and shimmered like pure gold.

Over the next few weeks, the sprout grew into a sapling, then into a magnificent tree with golden leaves and silver fruit. Word spread across the village, and soon people came from far and wide to see the magical tree.

The tree bore fruits that cured sickness, healed wounds, and even enriched the soil. Hari shared the fruit freely with everyone. The barren land around the village began to thrive again, and the drought seemed to lose its grip.

One day, a wealthy merchant visited Hari and said, “Sell me the tree. I will give you ten thousand gold coins.”

Hari shook his head. “This tree was given to me with a purpose. It belongs to everyone, not just me.”

Others tried to bribe, threaten, and tempt Hari, but he never gave in. He guarded the tree, not with force, but with kindness and wisdom.

Years passed, and Hari grew old. But the tree stood tall and strong, providing for the village in every season. The villagers, once skeptical, now respected Hari deeply and lived by the values he had shown them: honesty, kindness, and patience.

One peaceful evening, the old man who had given the seed returned to the village. His eyes twinkled with joy as he saw the flourishing tree and the happy people.

“You kept your promise,” he said to Hari.

Hari bowed. “It wasn’t easy, but I remembered your words.”

The old man smiled. “The golden seed was never about wealth or magic. It was a test—to see if a heart like yours could change the world.”

And with that, the old man vanished into the sunset, just as mysteriously as he had arrived.

Moral of the Story: True wealth lies in honesty, patience, and kindness. When you do good for others without expecting anything in return, life rewards you in ways you could never imagine.