There was a poor cobbler named Sudas in that town. When Sudas got up in the morning, he saw in the lake behind his hut a lotus flower in full bloom, unseasonally; this was not the season for the lotus to blossom. Sudas thought, "If I take this flower to the market today, I am certain to find a customer who will buy it for one rupee. It is an unseasonal flower -- somebody will certainly buy it." He plucked the flower and started off for the market, thinking, "I shall really be blessed if I get one rupee."
While he was on the road he saw the chariot of the richest man of the town passing by. Seeing the lotus, the rich man stopped the chariot and asked Sudas at what price he would sell. Sudas could not quote the price he wanted -- one rupee -- but instead said it was unseasonal and that the rich man might pay what he thought right. The rich man said, "I am giving you five hundred gold coins -- do not sell it to anyone else."
While the rich man was saying this, the commander-in-chief of the king pulled up on his horse and stopped and addressed Sudas: "I will purchase the flower for ten times the price the rich man is offering."
Sudas said, "Have you people gone mad?" The rich man was paying five hundred gold coins and the commander was ready to pay ten times that price! While he was saying this the chariot of the king came and the king said, "The flower is purchased by me, for ten times the price agreed to by the commander."
Sudas was surprised. What has happened to these people! He said, "I was not expecting even one rupee for this flower and you people are ready to pay such a high price? What is the reason?"
The king said, "You are not aware: Buddha arrived in the town and we are going to receive him. I myself would like to offer this unseasonal flower to Buddha, because he would not imagine that today someone could offer such a lotus flower at his feet! Who would not want to have such an opportunity to offer a rare flower?"
Sudas said, "In that case, there is no question of selling this flower; I myself shall offer the flower to Buddha."
The king tried to persuade him not to, saying, "Have you gone mad, Sudas?" Up till now Sudas was thinking that the rich man, the commander and the king had gone mad. Now all the three said, "Sudas, don't be mad! The poverty of your past and future generations will be destroyed by selling the flower."
Sudas said, "The poverty of all my lives is destroyed now -- I myself shall offer the flower."
Sudas started walking towards the end of the town, where Buddha was expected to enter. The king, the commander and the rich man all reached there far ahead of Sudas. They informed Buddha of this most astonishing thing that had happened: "Today the poorest cobbler of the town refused to sell his lotus flower for any price. He wanted to offer it himself at your feet."
Sudas came and offered the flower at the feet of Buddha, and Buddha asked him, "Oh, mad Sudas, why didn't you sell the flower? It would have made life comfortable for your many future generations."
Sudas replied, "My lord, money cannot be higher than love. The soul cannot be sold for rupees. As long as it was just a flower, I wanted to sell it. But the moment I thought of your feet, there was no question of selling; I myself could offer it. Poor people too can love. Poor people too can respect. Poor people too can trust. Poor people too have a soul. Please accept the flower!"
Buddha then addressed his disciples and said, "Though Sudas is not literate, he is really learned, educated. He does not know how to read and write, but still he is really learned."
One of the disciples asked Buddha, "What do you mean by 'really learned'?"
Buddha replied, "Whosoever is aware of the higher values in life and who can give up lower values for higher ones, is really learned. Sudas has rejected money for the sake of love."
