It was summer vacation. At the homes of Kutil and Maya, there was no end to luxury. Their parents had accumulated wealth by deceiving others, and the children spent their time wearing expensive clothes and riding in luxury cars. However, the situation of Aryan and Pragna, who lived on the same street, was quite different. Aryan's father was a daily wage laborer, and his mother, despite being unwell, worked as a domestic helper in other people's homes. Aryan and Pragna also supported their parents while working hard at their studies.
One day, Kutil arrived in his new car and mocked Aryan, saying, "Aryan! What is the use of these morals? We only have one life! After death, everything is void. So, why do I work hard to be good? Learn to live a comfortable and luxurious life like us, even if it means doing wrong things!" Maya joined in, speaking disparagingly about Pragna’s mother’s goodness and her illness. Hurt by these words, Aryan and Pragna began to doubt if there was any benefit to their goodness and went to meet their Guru (Teacher).
The Guru took them to a garden. On one side was a jasmine vine, and on the other was a dirty drain. At that moment, a strong wind blew. The wind carried a sweet fragrance from the jasmine vine and a foul stench from the drain. Pointing to the wind, the Guru explained: "Children! Wind has no smell of its own; it carries the scent of whatever it passes through. Lord Sri Krishna said the same in the Bhagavad Gita:"
Shloka:
              Shariram yad-avapnoti yac-chapy-utkramatishvarah |
              Grhitvaitani sanyati vayur-gandhanivashayat ||
Lord Krishna explained that when the soul leaves one body and enters another, it takes with it the mind and the senses (the impressions of our deeds), just as the wind carries fragrance from its source. To say 'there is only one life' as Kutil did is ignorance. The difference between the rich and the poor among children studying in the same school is evidence of rebirth. If Kutil is enjoying comforts today, it is the fragrance of the merit (Punya) he earned in his past life. But Aryan! Even in hardships, you are not abandoning Dharma (righteousness), which means you are adorning your soul with the sacred fragrance of jasmine. This will grant you a high and noble state in this life and in the next. Inspired by the Guru’s words, Aryan and Pragna resolved to stand by Dharma even in the face of adversity.
Teacher Tasks
Discussion After the Story:
●    Why is Kutil’s father living comfortably despite earning through deceit? (Discuss the concept of past merit/Punya).
●    Why should Aryan and Pragna choose the right path even when facing hardships?
●    If 'only one life' were true, think about why there is such a vast difference between children studying in the same school.
Practical Task: This week, whenever you perform a small, good deed (like helping someone or telling the truth), remember that it is like adding a 'jasmine fragrance' to your soul. You decide what scents should remain in your soul.
Character Analysis:
●    Aryan and Pragna: We can learn 'courage' from them. Despite mockery and poverty, they did not abandon their values. They showed true inner strength in the story.
●    Kutil and Maya: Their mistake was pride in their wealth. They failed to realize that comfort comes from past merit and that present sins create a foul stench for the next life. We should not learn 'arrogance or belittling others' from them.
●    The Guru: He is a great guide in this story. Using the wind-fragrance example, he explained the Law of Karma and the scientific nature of Hindu Dharma, instilling self-confidence in the children.
Shloka Repetition: Have the children repeat the Bhagavad Gita shloka mentioned in the story? Ask the children to explain the meaning of the shloka in their own words.
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