This is the story of a poor Brahmin who
decried the irresponsible and corrupt rule of an Indian King. It is placed
somewhere in the history of ancient India.
The poor Brahmin lived in a small
Kingdom in India. Brahmins were placed at the top of the hierarchical order of
the cast system prevailed in India. Still the financial conditions were poor. However
they were sincere and truthful. They could not tolerate corruption.
The King of the country was corrupt and
irresponsible. He was looting people in the name of tax. He lived a luxurious
life in a poor country. He never cared for the welfare of the people. The poor Brahmin
could not tolerate this irresponsible rule of the King. It was the duty of the Brahmins
to remind Kings when they go astray. So he resisted the excessive taxes of the
King and spoke publicly against the King. He enkindled the anger of the people
against the King.
He posed a threat to the King. The King
was afraid of a coup against him. The King’s anger grew day by day. But it was
considered a sin to murder Brahmins. Murdering a Brahmin might bring down a
curse on him and generations to come. So the King was afraid to kill the poor
Brahmin. Still he wanted to get rid of him. So he spent many hours plotting the
end of the Brahmin.
One day, in the early morning, the Brahmin
went deep in to the river in the village to worship the Sun god. He was
performing sooryanamaskara. While he was performing the rites, the King
ordered the soldiers to rush to the banks of the river with weapons and stop
the Brahmin from coming out of the river. Soldiers rushed to the river bank
with sharp spears and sword. With stretched spears and flashing swords, the
soldiers threatened the Brahmin and stopped him in the middle of the river.
The water in the river was colder than
all other rivers. At night by midnight, the water used to freeze into ice. All living
creature in the river by midnight also freeze and die. The King expected the Brahmin
to meet death in the night. The King could explain it as an accident.
Thus the poor Brahmin stood in the
middle of the river throughout the day and night. Early next morning the King
went to the river bank to see the dead body of the Brahmin. But to the disappointment
and shock of the King, the Brahmin was alive. He was found performing sooryanamaskara.
The King became angry towards the soldiers. He questioned them, accused
them of neglecting duty and sleeping at night. But they assured the King that
they were awake throughout the night watching the Brahmin. The Brahmin was
found looking at a far distance and praying. The water froze, but not the Brahmin.
The King accepted the defeat. He ordered
the Brahmin to come out of the river. He asked the Brahmin how he could remain
alive throughout the night. The Brahmin humbly pointed to a small light burning
in a house far away on a high place.
“That light kept me alive” was his first
reply.
The King could not understand a bit.
The Brahmin explained:
“That is my small house. My wife and children
heard of my ill fortune. They might have lost all hope. But they hoped against
hope. There expected a way where there is no way. They were awake, praying for my
life throughout the night. They kept the light burning in the house. It is their
hope. The feeling that I have a family hoping against all odds for my safe
return energized my mind and body. Nothing can defeat hope!”
The King realized his hollowness. He regretted
his ways. The Brahmin was honoured and the country prospered.
What do you get?
Professor Jacob Abraham
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