It is said that once upon a time a certain Maharajah of pious character desired to build a temple. Therefore he set aside a substantial portion of his wealth, and invited priests and architects to find the most auspicious location and design a sacred structure of great beauty to build there.

Soon the architects and priests determined a place which their wisdom and science told them would be the best setting for the temple. As they began to measure and mark the site, though, a poor cobbler raised an objection, for his home stood on one corner of the land.

The ministers of the Maharajah attempted to buy the cobbler’s cottage, but he refused to sell. To leave the cottage out of the temple ground would make the site awkward and damage the harmony of the temple, but to take it by force would invalidate the sacred intention. At last the matter was brought to the Maharajah himself. Having understood the problem, he commended that the cobbler be summoned to the court.

When the cobbler stood before him, the Maharajah said, “To build a temple for the worship of the divine is an act of great merit and therefore to prevent such an act is undoubtedly a sin. Name whatever price you like, but sell me your cottage.”

The cobbler replied, “To prevent the construction of a temple is certainly a sin for which I and my descendants will suffer greatly. But could your majesty sell your palace? This cottage was the home of my father, and his father, and his father before him, and so on for more generations than I know, and to sell it would be a shame from which my soul could never recover.”

“Then there is no way in which I may receive your cottage,” said the Maharajah.

The cobbler thought for a moment, and then said, “There is one way. If the Maharajah would come to my door and beg of me my cottage for the construction of a temple, then I could give it to him as an act of charity.”

The ministers in the court were scandalised at the thought of the lordly Maharajah begging something of anyone, let alone such a lowly person, but the Maharajah merely said to the cobbler, “I understand. Go home now.”

And the next morning, as the sun was rising, the Maharajah appeared at the door of the cobbler and received his cottage as a gift of charity.