Sadhguru says while explaining this story that, true honesty is not an effort; it is the natural expression of a heart aligned with truth. Contentment is the quiet wealth of the soul—a richness beyond any glittering prize the world may offer.
Article | Shree Siddhashram | November 08, 2024
Sadhguru: Once upon a time, in a peaceful village by a river, there lived a humble woodcutter named Vasudev. Vasudev was honest and hardworking, always heading to the forest early in the morning to cut wood to sell at the village market. Despite his hard work, he barely made enough to support his family, yet he was content with his life and grateful for the simple things.
One day, while chopping wood near the river, Vasudev’s axe slipped from his hands and fell into the deep water. The river was swift and glistening, and the axe vanished without a trace. Alarmed, Vasudev knelt by the riverbank and clasped his hands in prayer. "O divine forces, what will I do now? My family depends on me. Without my axe, I cannot earn a living."
Hearing his sincere pleas, a wise and kind water spirit appeared before him, rising from the depths of the river. "Why do you weep, dear woodcutter?" asked the spirit with compassion.
The universe responds not to what you have, but to the purity of your intent. Karma is not fooled by appearances.
Vasudev explained his predicament, and the spirit, moved by his honesty, offered to help. "Wait here, and I shall retrieve your axe for you," the spirit said, disappearing into the water with a splash.
A few moments later, the water spirit returned, holding a magnificent golden axe that shimmered in the sunlight. "Is this your axe, good man?" asked the spirit.
Vasudev looked at the golden axe in wonder, its brilliance almost blinding, but he shook his head. "No, honourable spirit, that is not my axe. Mine was a simple iron one, not as grand as this."
The spirit nodded and dived back into the water. This time, the spirit emerged with a silver axe, its edge gleaming sharp and bright. "Is this your axe?" the spirit asked.
Vasudev looked at the silver axe with admiration, but he remained honest and replied, "No, spirit, that is not my axe either. Mine was a humble iron axe."
Divine grace flows to those who are free from expectation, opening their hearts to receive what life freely gives.
The spirit smiled, pleased by the woodcutter’s integrity, and dove once more into the river. Finally, the spirit returned, holding Vasudev’s worn and rusted iron axe.
"Is this your axe?" asked the spirit.
"Yes! That is my axe!" Vasudev exclaimed with joy. He took the iron axe with gratitude and thanked the spirit wholeheartedly for the help.
Seeing his honesty and humility, the spirit was impressed and decided to reward him. "Because you are honest, I shall gift you all three axes: the iron one, the silver one, and the golden one. Your honesty and contentment are rare and deserve recognition."
Vasudev was overwhelmed with gratitude. He took all three axes and returned home, marvelling at his fortune. With the golden and silver axes, he gained enough wealth to improve his family's life. However, he continued to work diligently and humbly, using his old iron axe each day, never growing greedy or prideful.
The golden axe and the silver axe are illusions of value, but the iron axe—simple and humble—is the tool of dharma
Soon, the tale of Vasudev’s honesty and the spirit’s gift spread throughout the village. One of Vasudev’s neighbours, a sly and greedy man named Dhanan, heard of Vasudev’s fortune and devised a cunning plan to obtain riches for himself.
The next day, Dhanan went to the same riverbank and deliberately threw his axe into the water. Pretending to be distressed, he began wailing loudly, hoping to summon the spirit.
Just as he planned, the water spirit appeared. "Why do you cry, good sir?" asked the spirit.
"My axe has fallen into the river, and without it, I cannot work!" Dhanan replied, feigning despair.
The spirit, seeing his distress, offered to help. "Wait here, and I shall retrieve your axe for you." The spirit dove into the river and returned with a golden axe, holding it up for Dhanan to see. "Is this your axe?"
Dhanan’s eyes sparkled with greed. Without hesitation, he claimed, "Yes! That is my axe!"
The spirit’s expression darkened, realizing Dhanan’s deception. "This is not your axe, you deceitful man. You lied out of greed, hoping to gain something you did not deserve." Displeased, the spirit decided to teach Dhanan a lesson.
"You shall have no axe at all!" the spirit proclaimed. And with that, both the golden axe and Dhanan’s real axe vanished beneath the waves, leaving him empty-handed.
Dhanan returned home humiliated, while Vasudev continued to live a life of honesty, respected and admired by all. From that day on, people in the village would remind each other of the lesson: “Honesty and contentment bring true wealth, while greed leads to loss.”
And so, the story of the woodcutter and the three axes became a cherished tale, teaching everyone that honesty and integrity are treasures far more valuable than gold or silver.
Moral:
True wealth lies in honesty and contentment, for greed and deceit only lead to ruin.
Spiritual Perspective on The Woodcutter and the Three Axes
In every story, there’s an underlying energy, a vibration that mirrors the nature of existence itself. The Woodcutter and the Three Axes may appear to be a simple tale about honesty and reward, but when we look through a spiritual lens, we find it speaks to the very essence of human consciousness, our connection to abundance, and the integrity of the inner self.
Honesty as Inner Clarity
First, let’s consider Vasudev’s honesty. When he is offered the golden and silver axes, he could have accepted them without question. Who would have known otherwise? But in the moment of decision, Vasudev was transparent—not just with the water spirit, but with himself. This transparency speaks to his clarity, an internal honesty that reflects the strength of his awareness.
In the spiritual path, this clarity is vital. Many people imagine that spirituality is about following some set code or external discipline. But true spirituality is about developing a profound honesty within oneself. Vasudev’s decision to claim only what is his reveals not only his honesty but his awareness of what is real versus what is an illusion. He wasn’t swayed by the lure of something he hadn’t earned because he saw his reality with clarity.
Honesty, then, is not merely about not telling lies; it is about perceiving life without the filters of greed, fear, or ambition. This is where true awareness begins. When you’re honest with yourself, you see things as they are—not as you would like them to be.
The honest heart does not seek to possess; it seeks to be in harmony with what is, trusting life’s natural balance.
Acceptance and Self-Worth
Now let’s look at why Vasudev was able to feel such satisfaction with his simple iron axe. This acceptance and gratitude reflect his alignment with himself, his work, and his reality. He recognizes his iron axe as sufficient for his needs and is not dissatisfied because he understands that his worth does not depend on owning anything grand or shiny.
In a spiritual sense, true contentment arises when we are aligned with our inner being, rather than chasing material possessions or external validation. If you are constantly comparing yourself or wishing for something else, you lose touch with your inner nature. Contentment with what we have opens us to a deeper abundance because we are no longer needy. This quality of contentment doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy the gifts that come our way, but rather, we are not driven by them.
When we let go of our grasping desires, we become open channels for the flow of divine abundance.
The Spirit as the Cosmic Mirror
The water spirit here can be seen as a mirror of cosmic intelligence, reflecting the quality of Vasudev’s mind. Notice that Vasudev’s sincerity immediately brings him a response from the spirit, who offers him the chance to take the golden or silver axe. This is like the universe responding to a person’s intentions. When we approach life with integrity and openness, life reflects this back to us in kind. It’s not a matter of magic or chance but of resonance.
This cosmic mirror is why the spirit denies the greedy man, Dhanan, when he tries to manipulate his way to riches. Dhanan’s dishonesty reflects his internal disconnection, his impatience, and his desire for things he hasn’t earned. In spiritual terms, greed represents a lack of trust in existence itself. It’s as though he’s telling the universe, “What I have is not enough.” In saying this, he’s closed himself off to the flow of abundance.
When the spirit vanishes with both the golden axe and his real axe, it’s a reflection of his lack of inner clarity. Greed strips him not only of what he desired but even of what he once had. This happens not as punishment but as an indication of his vibrational state. If we are always in a state of lacking, we manifest more of it. In essence, the outer world is a reflection of our inner energy.
Spiritual maturity is the grace of embodying truth so fully that it becomes a light for others, a ripple of inspiration in the sea of life
The Nature of Abundance
There’s a deeper truth about abundance here, too. Vasudev’s reward is not simply the three axes; his true reward is the wealth that flows from within himself. Because he operates from a place of contentment, the spirit naturally gifts him with more. Abundance, in a spiritual sense, is not about piling up material riches. Instead, it’s an energetic quality, a certain openness to life that allows resources to flow through us. Abundance comes to those who are internally abundant, who don’t approach life with grasping or greed but with a certain ease.
When we live without a need to acquire or prove ourselves, we create space for greater things to come. The universe, or existence, is constantly ready to flow into our lives in greater ways, but only when we allow it. This openness is a kind of letting go, an ease that tells the universe, “I am content.” And this is when real abundance flows.
Spiritual maturity is the grace of embodying truth so fully that it becomes a light for others, a ripple of inspiration in the sea of life
The Spiritual Legacy of Contentment
Finally, the story speaks of a lasting spiritual legacy. Vasudev’s honesty and contentment don’t only affect him. They inspire others in his village to live with integrity. Spirituality is not just about one person’s journey; it’s about creating a ripple of transformation in the world. When we live with alignment, others are drawn to the beauty of that way of being. Just as Vasudev’s honesty echoes throughout the village, each of us has the potential to embody values that bring peace, joy, and fulfilment to those around us.
Summary and Moral
This story, then, is not simply about reward and punishment. It teaches us about the alignment between our actions and the nature of existence. The lesson is not that honesty will always bring material reward, but that inner honesty and contentment create a foundation of abundance, openness, and trust in life itself.
From a spiritual perspective, the woodcutter’s story is an invitation to embody these qualities. It’s a call to look within and to realize that true wealth lies not in what we acquire but in the purity of our intentions and the depth of our self-awareness. When we operate from this place, we find that life gives back to us in ways we couldn’t have anticipated, for we are in alignment with the essence of existence itself.
