Story 16 : “Who is a Great Person?”

 🌟 Story 16 : “Who is a Great Person?”

Today, Rahul had gone to a famous celebrity show but returned home feeling disappointed. The sparkle in his eyes seemed dimmed now. He walked straight to Grandpa.

Rahul (sadly): Grandpa… Do you know, today I went to my favourite celebrity show.
My favourite actor and singer were there — the ones I always follow, watch their videos, listen to their songs…
But look at my luck! There was such a huge crowd that I couldn’t even get a picture, let alone see them properly!
I only saw their faces on the screen.

Grandpa (sympathetically): Oh dear, its okay, sometimes things don’t go as we plan.
But tell me something, Rahul — you follow these celebrities, and that’s alright.
But do you know the difference between celebrities and great personalities?

Rahul (quickly): Yes Grandpa! Celebrities are people everyone knows. They are very famous, have lots of money, popularity, and millions of followers!

Grandpa (smiling): Absolutely right, Rahul. Celebrities are famous.
But I asked — do you know the difference between a celebrity and a great person?

Rahul (a little surprised): Oh! Aren’t both famous, Grandpa? Is there really a big difference?

Grandpa (seriously): Yes, son, there is a big difference.
Celebrities become famous through their own hard work and talent — they struggle for their own success.
But great personalities live for others. They give up personal comfort, and dedicate their lives to serve humanity and society.
They don’t care about personal wealth — their joy lies in making others happy.

Rahul: So, Grandpa, you mean to say that great people are noble… but celebrities are not?

Grandpa: Something like that, yes.

Rahul (thoughtfully): So, Grandpa… Does that mean we shouldn’t follow celebrities?

Grandpa (wisely): No son, it’s not like that.
We can learn many things from celebrities — like hard work, work ethic, time management…
But if you want to learn how to live life, how to think and behave — then learn from great personalities.

Rahul : But Grandpa… we learn everything from celebrities —
their fashion style, way of talking, partying… Everyone tries to copy them!

Grandpa (laughing): Sure, learn from them — but learn how much hard work and struggle it took for them to reach where they are!
And when it comes to lifestyle and thinking — choose carefully.
Follow their fashion only if it feels right, respectful, and acceptable to your parents and society. Not everything flashy is good.

Rahul: So, Grandpa, what should we not learn from celebrities?

Grandpa (lovingly): Many celebrities, without thinking, start behaving wrongly.
When fame and wealth come suddenly, ego can take over.
They often forget what’s right and wrong.
So if you must imitate someone, imitate the great people, not just the famous ones.
Make your role model someone who truly understands the values of life.

Someone who embraced truth, found joy in service, welcomed all with compassion, and drove away ego with sacrifice.
They will teach you how to become a truly good human being.

Grandpa (opening the Gita): In today's Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 21, Lord Krishna says:

"Yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ।
Sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate॥"
(Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 3, Verse 21)

Meaning: Whatever a great man does, common people follow.
Whatever standards he sets, the world adopts.

When noble men lead the way,
The world follows, come what may.
Their deeds become the guiding light,
Helping others do what's right.

Grandpa continues:
To explain this verse, Lord Krishna gives the example of King Janaka.

Rahul: King Janaka? You mean Sita’s father? Was he really that great?

Grandpa: Yes, son. He was extremely great — a master of both Yoga and worldly pleasures.

Rahul (surprised): Wow! “Yoga and pleasures in his hand”? What does that mean?

Grandpa: It means, although he lived great luxury and power — a king on a golden throne —
his mind remained calm and deeply absorbed in God.
Rahul: It means He was a Yogi king,

Grandpa: Yes, he was known as a Raja Rishi — a king, and also a sage.
He had deep self-knowledge.

Rahul: Grandpa, can any celebrity become so great?

Grandpa: Of course, why not? Famous people have lots of admirers and followers.
If they live an ideal life, they can become great too.
But they must live very mindfully — because they have a big responsibility.

Rahul: What kind of responsibility, Grandpa?

Grandpa: Son, if a celebrity does something good, people say, “We should do that too!”
But if they do something wrong, people still say, “They’re doing it, so why not us?”
That’s why — the greater the fame, the greater the responsibility.

Rahul (seriously): Oh! That’s why, sometimes when they say something, it becomes a huge controversy — and news channels keep showing it.

Grandpa (nodding): Yes, son. Sometimes their wrong words can even cause riots.
This is the difference between a famous person and a great one —
A great person always thinks: “How will my action affect others?”
Most celebrities don’t think this way.

Lord Krishna wanted Arjuna to understand this — “You are a noble man, Arjuna. Whatever you do, common people will follow. So become an ideal example for the world.”

Rahul (excitedly): So only by doing good deeds can one become great!
Grandpa, does that mean… even I can become a great person one day?

Grandpa (lovingly): Of course, my dear! You can also become great one day —
if you choose to be a good son, a sincere student, and above all, a good human being.
You know, the way we behave affects those around us.
Your little siblings and friends — they learn by watching you.
That’s why we must always think —
"Will my bad habits hurt someone else too?"

Rahul (surprised): Oh! So, whatever I do, my younger brother, sister and friends might do the same?

Grandpa (nodding): Absolutely, beta!
Just like you learn things by watching your parents — both good and not-so-good —
in the same way, younger ones learn by watching you.
So we should always take care of our actions, our words, and how we behave.

Rahul: Yes, Grandpa! That’s why people say:
“Actions speak louder than words.”

Grandpa (smiling proudly): Well said!
It’s not just what we say, but what we do that teaches others the most.
Even Lord Krishna says in the Gita:
"Even I do not stay without doing my duty for even a moment."

Rahul (amazed): What? Even God has to work?
But Grandpa, He’s the ruler of all the planets — of the whole universe!
He has all the power. Why would He need to work?

Grandpa (gently): That’s exactly what makes Him God!
He has infinite wealth, strength, beauty, fame, knowledge, and renunciation —
and still, He never stops doing His duty.
Whether He comes to Earth or remains in His divine abode,
He continues to take care of all creation.
If He were to stop, even for a second, the whole universe would fall into chaos.

Rahul (thoughtfully): Now I understand…
Even if someone has a lot of money or power, they should never stop working.
In fact, they have more responsibility.
So we all must do our duties — no matter what.

Grandpa (with warmth): Well said, my child.
Taking responsibility and doing your work with honesty and effort —
that is the first step toward greatness.

Rahul (with a sparkle in his eyes): Dadaji, now I will learn hard work from celebrities
and learn how to live from great personalities!
My real heroes will be those who live for others.

Grandfather (smiling): Well done, my child! You have now chosen the right source of inspiration.

 

 Shalini Garg