The Blind Saint and the Lost Anklet

The Blind Saint and the Lost Anklet

The Legend:
Surdas, the blind poet-saint, lived in Vrindavan. One day, while singing by the Yamuna, he fell into a deep well. He remained there for days, refusing to call for human help, crying out only to Krishna.

Eventually, a young boy lowered a rope and pulled him out. When Surdas reached the top and grabbed the boy's hand to thank him, he felt a shock of electricity and the texture of skin that felt like a lotus petal. Realizing it was Krishna, Surdas lunged to grab him, but the boy twisted his wrist and ran away.

Surdas famously shouted: "You may wrench your hand away from my weak grip and run, but I will only admit you have escaped if you can run away from my heart!"

Contemporary Utility:

• True Ownership: We often try to hold onto things physically—money, people, status. Surdas teaches that true possession is internal. If you hold your values and your faith in your heart, no external force can take them away.
• Resilience: It is a story of ultimate self-reliance through faith. When the world (the well) traps you, the way out is often through an internal call for strength, not just waiting for external rescue.