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Story is taken from Post No. 905 of London Swaminathan;https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/ganga-jal-ganges-water-for-a-donkey
Eknath was a great saint of Maharashtra. Once he went on a pilgrimage to Benaras (Varanasi or Kasi). From there he brought back with him two pots filled with the holy water of the Ganges slung across a pole. He thought of taking it to Rameswar, a place of pilgrimage in the south, for offering to God. Hindus who visit Kasi bring Ganga jal to Rameswaram (in Tamil Nadu) and do the Abhishek ( bathing) on Shiva linga there. This is considered a meritorious act.
Eknath headed a party of pilgrims, each of whom carried water pots filled with the holy water. It was summer. The heat was very severe. Not a single tree was visible anywhere. Eknatha saw a donkey dying of thirst. His heart was filled with compassion. Immediately he poured out the contents of his water pots to the dying animal, which straightaway lapped up the whole quantity.
Restored to life the donkey got up and went away braying.
After sometime Eknath’s fellow pilgrims arrived there.
They were surprised to see the water pots of the saint empty. Therefore, they inquired of him, “Sir, where is the holy water, you brought with you?”
Eknath replied, “Brothers I gave it away to a poor donkey which was dying of thirst, since no water was available anywhere in the neighbourhood”
The fellow pilgrims exclaimed, “But sir, you have nothing left to offer to God Rameshwar! Alas! Your pilgrimage ill remain incomplete!”
The saint however, observed calmly,” What you say is true. But how could I pass by the donkey, dying of thirst, without giving it water? And as I had some water, thought it was of the holy Ganges, I let the creature slake its thirst. But I am quite sure that God Rameshwar will not only forgive me but, on the contrary, will even be pleased with me.
(Source: Inspiring Anecdotes, Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, Year of Publication 1957)
