The poer of penance and one pointed Prema towards God is removing the karmas of the world and taking all to liberation
From the book: Divine Stories and Parables
WHAT IS BEAUTY?
A king had a beautiful daughter. She had a good nature and virtues. All in the
country were proud of her saying, “Oh she is our princess!” They would talk to each other
about her. Many kings and princes desired to marry her. One day she went outside with
her friends. At that time the mirror in her room said, “I am the reason for the princess’s
beauty. I am showing her beauty.” Immediately a bottle of scented oil said, “No, I am the
reason. She always uses my oil so she has long and curly hair.” Then the soap and
powder exclaimed, “We are the reason that she is so beautiful and has a fair complexion.”
Nearby there were some royal dresses. They said, “We are the reason. It is because of us
that people are attracted. There is a proverb that without clothes, man is half a man.”
Then the jewels said, “We are the reason. For her beauty, ornaments are very important.”
All discussed like this among themselves. At that time, they heard God’s voice saying,
“These are all nothing. Her qualities, behavior and virtues are the reason that everyone
likes her.”
There is no use of outer beauty. If one has inner beauty, it attracts everyone. If one
has good virtues, good behavior and his mind is pure, the effulgence will attract
everyone. All people are attracted to saints for this reason. Nowadays people do not
understand this. They give too much importance to outer beauty. Outer beauty is
perishable. Inner beauty is eternal.