Fourth Shraddha Story

There is a popular mythological story about Shraddha involving two brothers, Joge and Bhoge, who lived in separate homes. Joge was wealthy, while Bhoge was poor. Despite their financial differences, they shared a strong bond of love. However, Joge’s wife was proud of their wealth, whereas Bhoge’s wife was humble and kind-hearted. During the time of Pitru Paksha (a period to honor ancestors), Joge’s wife urged him to perform the Shraddha ritual. Joge dismissed it as unnecessary, but his wife insisted on performing it to show off to her family and host a feast. She even invited Bhoge’s wife to help with the preparations. Early the next morning, Bhoge’s wife arrived and helped with all the arrangements. Numerous dishes were prepared, and afterward, she returned home to perform rituals for her own ancestors. When the ancestors came down to Earth, they first visited Joge’s house, but they were disappointed to see that the food meant for them was being consumed by Joge’s in-laws. They then went to Bhoge’s house, where they saw that only a small offering for them had been made using fire ashes. The ancestors consumed the ashes and left for the riverside, still hungry. Later, all the ancestors gathered by the river and discussed the offerings made to them. Joge and Bhoge’s ancestors shared their experiences and thought that Bhoge’s poverty was the reason he could not prepare better food for them. Feeling sympathy for Bhoge, the ancestors blessed him, saying, "May Bhoge’s house be filled with wealth, may Bhoge’s house be filled with wealth." That evening, Bhoge and his family still had no food. When his children complained of hunger, Bhoge’s wife, out of frustration, told them to look under an overturned pot in the yard and share whatever they found. To their amazement, the pot was filled with gold coins! They ran back to their mother, and she, too, was astonished to see this blessing. Through the ancestors’ blessings, Bhoge became wealthy but remained humble. The following year, during Pitru Paksha, Bhoge and his wife performed Shraddha with devotion. Bhoge’s wife prepared 56 types of dishes, and they served the Brahmins and invited Joge and his wife as special guests, serving them in gold and silver utensils. The ancestors were extremely pleased with this devotion and gratitude.