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Kindness without expecting a Reward is a form of Greatness
Kamlesh Tripathi
Baucis and Philemon are an elderly and poor couple. They live in a modest cottage in the ancient kingdom of Phrygia, a hill country in present-day Turkey. One day, the gods Jupiter and Mercury, disguised as average travellers, visit the neighbourhood seeking shelter. They knock on the doors of many wealthy households, but sadly nobody welcomes them. Finally, they reach the humble home of Baucis and Philemon. Though the couple have very little. They warmly invite the strangers inside and offer them whatever food and drink they can afford.
The story of Baucis and Philemon, narrated by the Roman poet Ovid in Metamorphoses, is an emotional tale. It is about hospitality, humility, love, gratitude and the rewards of goodness. In today’s world, where wealth and status are often mistaken for happiness, its message is very relevant.
The elderly couple’s hospitality is sincere. They do not enquire who their guests are, how wealthy they are, or what they can offer in return. They see two wayfarers in need and help them. But when their guests miraculously cause the wine vessel to refill by itself, Baucis and Philemon realise that their visitors are no ordinary men but gods.
The gods then reveal why they have come. The wealthy neighbours who refused them hospitality are punished, whereas the humble couple’s cottage is spared. The gods transform the cottage into a magnificent temple. They grant Baucis and Philemon their wish. Baucis and Philemon in turn serve the gods together and die at the same moment, so neither will have to live without the other. It happens one day in extreme old age, as they stand before the temple, the couple are transformed into two trees growing side by side: an oak and a linden. Their physical lives end, but their love remains eternally intertwined.
The story conveys several important lessons. True wealth is generosity, not possession. Baucis and Philemon are materially poor but spiritually rich. Their wealthy neighbours possess abundance but lack compassion. The story reverses the conventional creed of prosperity. Those with the least can give the most. It also celebrates hospitality as a moral virtue. A stranger should not be judged by appearance or social position. Baucis and Philemon welcome their guests not because of their godly status but simply because they are human beings in need.
Most certainly, the story celebrates faithful companionship. Their final wish is not for gold, power or immortality but to remain together. Even their morphing into trees symbolises the permanence of their love.
Likewise, in Indian culture and religious folklore, the Banyan and Neem trees are quite often grown in proximity so that their branches and roots wrap around each other. This intertwined pairing is viewed as a sacred, divine union and is called the holy marriage. In many rural parts of India, communities perform formal wedding rituals (Vriksha Vivaha) between the two trees to symbolise marital harmony, loyalty, and the balancing forces of nature.
The enduring message of Baucis and Philemon is extremely simple. Kindness offered without expecting a reward in itself is a form of greatness. In a world increasingly concerned with status, possessions and appearances, their humble cottage reminds us that a generous heart can be richer than a palace.
Writtenand posted by Kamlesh Tripathi
Author, Poet, & Columnist
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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com
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