Sheetla Mata Katha – Chapter 5: Moral Essence of the Story

Moral Essence of the Story

In the previous chapter, we saw that the queen and her daughter accepted their mistake and sought forgiveness from Mother Sheetala. The Mother forgave them and blessed them. Now, we enter the final part of the story, where we will understand the renunciation of pride, the grace of Mother Sheetala, and the importance of this story.

The End of Pride

The queen bowed down and said, "O Mother, we insulted you out of ignorance. Our hearts were filled with pride, due to which we could not see the truth. Forgive us, Mother! Now we understand that ego is the path to destruction." Tears of repentance were in the queen's eyes. Her daughter was also crying with her mother, regretting her mistake. The other people in the palace were also scared, but seeing the queen's repentance, they felt a little peace. The air was filled with prayers and repentance, as if a burden was being lifted.

The queen thought to herself, "How foolish I was! In my arrogance, I endangered my subjects and myself. Without the grace of Mother Sheetala, we would all have been destroyed. Now I will never scorn the poor and the sick. My life will now be dedicated solely to their service."

The Grace of Mother Sheetala

Pleased with the repentance of the queen and her daughter, Mother Sheetala revealed her divine form. Her form was wonderful – cool and serene. In one hand, she held a broom, symbolizing cleanliness, and in the other, a water pot, symbolizing peace and purity. The sight of the Mother spread joy throughout the kingdom. The epidemic gradually began to subside. The sick people started recovering. Greenery also began to return to nature, as if everything was being revived by the Mother's grace.

Mother Sheetala said in a grave voice, "Daughter, pride blinds a person. The one who scorns the poor and the sick moves away from me. Service and compassion are true devotion. I always remain with those who serve others." Saying this, Mother Sheetala disappeared, but her blessings remained throughout the kingdom. The queen and her daughter held the Mother's words in their hearts and resolved to live a new life.

Importance and Fruits of the Story

After this incident, the queen had a temple of Sheetala Mata built in her kingdom. She built a hospital for the service of the poor and the sick. Now the queen's life had completely changed. She became an ideal for her subjects. This story of Sheetala Mata began to be told from generation to generation. People were taught how important it is to renounce pride and be compassionate towards others.

Whoever hears or reads this story of Sheetala Mata attains happiness, peace, and prosperity. Mother Sheetala protects them and liberates them from all diseases. Listening to this story purifies the mind and awakens devotion in the heart. Therefore, we should always worship Sheetala Mata and follow her words.