Holy Ash

One day the powerful sage Parnada was cutting some grass. By mistake, he cut his finger, but instead of blood, his finger oozed the sap of a tree. This made him think that he has become pious and it filled him with pride! 

Lord Shiva witnessed this event. He took the guise of an old man and asked sage Parnada the reason for his happiness. The later replied that he had become the most pious man in the world. Then Shiva questioned the sage's joy and said that it was just sap which came out from his finger. When trees and plants are burned they turn into ash. The old man demonstrated it by slicing his finger and spilled ash. 

Sage Parnada realized that it was Shiva himself standing before him and asked him forgiveness for his ignorance!