The little children of the Sabarmati Ashram

The little children of the Sabarmati Ashram used to address him questions every week which he would answer. His extremely laconic replies sometimes exasperated them. One of the bolder spirits expressed the grievance on behalf of this comrades thus: “Bapuji, you always tell us about the Gita. In the Gita Arjuna asks just a one-line question and Bhagwan Krishna rolls out a whole chapter in reply. But you answer our full-page questions with just a word or a sentence. Is it fair?” Quick came the reply: “Well, Bhagwan Krishna had only one Arjuna to deal with, while I have a host of Arjunas on my hand, and each one of them a handful. Don’t I deserve sympathy?” And the little Arjunas laughed. The grievance was drowned in the joke