Bahut gayi Thodi rahi - Much has passed – Little remains

                                       An Ancient Eternal Indian Story

Once, a king organized a grand celebration in his royal court. He invited his friends, state dignitaries, and his revered Guru.

The most renowned dancer in the state was also invited to perform and entertain the evening.

The singing and dancing continued late into the night. 

Three-quarters of the night had passed. 

The dancer's feet grew weary, and her strength faded. The tabla player and other musicians also began to doze off from exhaustion.

At that moment, the dancer began to sing a couplet while still dancing:

                   "Bahut gayi Thodi rahi - Thodi bhi kut jaaye

                    Kahin thodi kay kaarnay Kalank nahin lag jaaye "

         (Much has passed – little remains – even that shall pass.

           Why let a blemish fall for just what little is left?)

She kept repeating the couplet and pouring all her remaining energy into the performance, trying to keep herself and everyone awake and the performance alive.

Suddenly, the prince, the king’s son, removed his jewel-studded necklace and offered it to the dancer.

Hearing the couplet, the princess too took off her golden, gem-studded bangles and gifted them to the dancer.

The king slowly moved forward on his throne and ordered his servant to gift a thousand gold coins to her.

When the king's Guru heard the same couplet, he, too, handed over all his gold coins to the dancer.

The royal minister, witnessing all this, was utterly surprised.

He wondered why such generous gifts were suddenly offered after hearing this couplet. The dance had been going on all night—what made this moment so special? Even the fellow musicians offered something from their own pockets to the dancer.

Curious, the minister asked the tabla player, “You all perform together and receive your payment in return. Why did you give away half your fee to the dancer?”

The tabla player replied, “We were all exhausted and starting to fall asleep. The dancer saw this and realized most of the night had passed. Only a little remained. 

If the king had noticed us dozing off, he would have punished us. So she sang this couplet to alert and warn us:

                             "Bahut gayi Thodi rahi - Thodi bhi kut jaaye

                              Kahin thodi kay kaarnay Kalank nahin lag jaaye "

              (Much has gone – little remains – even a little will pass.

              Why let a blemish come for what little is left?)

Hearing this, we were jolted awake and resumed playing attentively. 

Had she not warned us, we might have been punished instead of rewarded.”

Then the minister turned to the prince and asked, “Why did you give away such a valuable necklace after hearing such a simple couplet?”

The prince replied, “I’ve long desired to become king. My father is aging, but still refuses to hand over the throne to me. This very morning, I had conspired with my soldiers to have him killed.

But when I heard that couplet, it struck me—if not today, then tomorrow, the kingdom will be mine anyway. So much time has passed—what harm is there in waiting a little longer? Why stain my hands with my father’s blood for something so near?

That couplet saved me from becoming my father's murderer. What I gave the dancer is nothing in comparison.”

The minister then asked the princess about her gift.

She said, “I’ve come of age, but my father still hasn’t arranged my marriage. Tonight, I had made plans to elope with my lover. But this dancer’s couplet stopped me in my tracks. I thought, why bring disgrace to myself and my family over a little impatience?”

Finally, the minister gathered the courage to ask the king himself why he had given away so much wealth.

The king replied, “I’ve grown old. The weight of ruling burdens me. I wanted to hand the kingdom to my son and spend the rest of my life in contemplation and devotion. But the lure of wealth and power held me back.

Hearing this dancer’s couplet made me realize: most of my life has passed—what little remains can also pass peacefully. It's better to give up this attachment. I’ve resolved to crown the prince at dawn.”

Hearing this, tears welled up in the Guru’s eyes. 

He said, “Maharaj, this couplet opened my eyes as well. I was sitting here wondering: a mere dancer earns such wealth and honor just for dancing and singing, while I have gained nothing from years of penance and spiritual practice. I was starting to regret my path.

But this couplet reminded me—most of life was well spent in devotion. It would be foolish to stray now, when so little time remains.”

Witnessing this profound transformation in everyone, the dancer herself thought:

“If just one of my couplets can bring so much change to so many lives, maybe I too should think of my own Self and welfare and try to bring goodness in myself and others.”

And from that moment, the dancer, too, turned towards the true spiritual path and away from worldly pleasures.

                                          "Rajan Sachdeva "