Benefit of katha-satsang

There is a story. There was a group of robbers. Of them, the oldest one used to tell everyone that "brother, do not go where there is "katha-satsang" (association of holy men and sharing of divine tales of the Lord) taking place, or else your work will stop. If you are going somewhere and on the way if "katha" is taking place, then simply close your ears. Do not listen at all." Such was the training that was imparted to the robbers. One day a robber was going somewhere when on the way a lecture of a holy person was going on. That was the only road leading to where he was headed. While passing by, he shut his ears tight. While walking suddenly, a thorn pierced his foot. With one hand he removed the thorn, and once again began to walk. While removing the thorn, he heard a sentence from the satsang that deities (devatas) do not have a shadow.

One day the robbers raided the king's treasure. The king's soldiers went in search of the thieves. The robbers used to pray to the divine mother. One of the secret agents of the king, disguised himself as a divine mother, stood in place of the deity of the divine mother. When the robbers reached the temple, the divine mother said to the robbers. You have stolen so much treasure but you have not offered anything to me! I will destroy all of you. By hearing this all the robbers became scared and began to ask for forgiveness. They all said we will surely pray. Now they lit the lamp and the incense, and began to do "aarti". The robber who had heard the one sentence during the katha that deities do not have a shadow , he said that this one is not a divine mother (devi). There is no shadow of a divine mother, but this one has a shadow! Instantly on hearing this, the robbers got hold of the secret agent who was disguised as a divine mother and unveiled his true identity. They said, you are the thief, not us? We have not stolen anything. The secret agent fled from there. Even on listening to one sentence of satsang, there can be a change.