The audience chorused, ‘No, respected sir, you always speak the truth. Who can challenge you?’
‘So then it’s agreed that Brahmins emanated from the mouth of Brahma. That’s why the mouth is the most important human organ. Hence, to please the mouth is every man’s prime dharma. Is it not so? Is there anyone who disputes me? Come forward. I can give evidence from the shastras.’
‘Sir, you are a learned man. Who can dare to contest you?’
‘Well then, now that it’s clear that pleasing the mouth is every person’s prime task, would it be wrong to say that those who shirk the mouth are bound to suffer ? Is there anyone to contest this view?’
‘Sir, you are great, you are an expert in the Nyaya Shastra.’1
‘Now the question is, how can one please the mouth? I would say it’s each according to his ability and piety. There are many ways—sing praises of the gods, pray to the lord, attend satsangs, and don’t speak harsh words. All these measures will please the mouth. If you see someone in distress, soothe him. All these will no doubt please the mouth, but there is a better method, in fact, the best and the most useful method of all. Is there anyone who can tell what this is? Anyone at all, speak up.’
‘Sir, who can speak in your presence? Please oblige us by telling us yourself.’
‘Well then, I can shout from the rooftops that this method is the best. Just as the moon is the purest of the pure of the heavenly bodies.’
‘Sir, we can’t wait any longer. Please tell us this method.’
‘All right then, listen, listen carefully. This method is—feeding the mouth with the best meals with the nicest delicacies. Is there anyone to challenge my words? Come up and I will give you proof from the Vedas.’
One man interjected, ‘I don’t understand how eating nice things is above honesty in speech.’
A few others said, ‘Yes, yes, we too have the same question. Sir, please clear our doubt.’
Moteram said, ‘Anyone else with doubts? I will be more than happy to clear them. Gentlemen, you ask why eating or feeding others good food is a better method than truth-telling. My answer is that the first method is direct and the other is indirect. For example, imagine that I commit a crime. If I am called by the judge and told mildly that I have not done a good deed, that I have not been correct, then this punishment would not be successful in putting me on the right track. Gentlemen, I am not a saint, I am just a poor man trapped in a web of illusion. This punishment will have no effect on me. The moment I leave the presence of the judge I will go back to my bad ways. Do you follow me? Do you doubt what I am saying? Anybody who does not agree?’
‘Sir! You are an ocean of knowledge, you are a jewel among the pandits. You are great.’
‘All right, consider the same example yet again. The judge calls me and puts me in jail where I am subjected to severe tribulations. Now, when I am freed, for years I will remember these travails and, in all probability, give up the wrong path. You will ask, why is this? Both are punishments, so why is it that one method makes a direct impact while the other one makes an indirect impact? This is because while the effect of the first method is evident, the effect of the other is subtle. Did you all understand?’
‘Wow! God has blessed you with immense intellect.’
‘Okay, so now you will ask, what are the best things in life? Let me explain. Just as God created many colours to please the eyes, in the same way he created many flavours for the mouth; but which is the best of these flavours? Of course, it depends on personal taste but as per the Vedas and the shastras, it is the sweet flavour. The gods are all entranced by sweetness, even Sachidanand, the Almighty Lord, prefers sweet dishes above all others. Can anyone mention a God who prefers salty dishes? Is there anyone who can name such a Divine Light? No one. In the same way sour, bitter, spicy and piquant foods do not suit the taste buds of the gods at all.’
‘Sir, your wisdom cannot be surpassed.’
‘So it is proven then that sweet dishes are the best. Now, once again, the question before us is, do all sweet dishes provide the same degree of pleasure? If I say yes, then you will all shout at once that Panditji, you are crazy, you’ve lost your wits, so I will say no, definitely not. All sweet dishes are not equally pleasing. There is a lot of difference between jaggery and sugar. That is why it is our primary duty to appease the mouth. We should eat as well as serve the best sweet dishes. My own view is that if you offer imartis from Jaunpur, motichoor from Agra, pedas from Mathura, kalakand from Benares, Lucknow’s rasgullas, Ayodhya’s gulab jamuns and Delhi’s sohan halva, then it is food fit for the gods. The gods will be enchanted by these. And that brave and noble person who feeds the Brahmins with such delicacies will certainly get a place in heaven. If you have true faith, then I can only urge you to follow the call of dharma, otherwise you will only be pretending to be human.’
Moteram’s speech came to an end. People clapped. Impressed by this outpouring of knowledge and teaching, they showered flowers on him. It was then that Chintamani made himself heard.
‘Folks, you have listened to my dearest friend
