In The Light Of True Knowledge

Monday, August 16, 2010, 16:17

Imbibing wisdom is true learning and a truly learned man is devoid of greed and pride.

A short story from Hinduism reveals the truth.

A scholar once visited the court of a wise king. He offered to teach the king, the 'Srimad Bhagavatam,' the story of Lord Krishna, claiming a nominal fee.

The wise king who had enough of the sacred scripture and who also had the knack of judging people aptly, could make out that the scholar had not grasped the essence of the 'Bhagavatam'. He had come to seek wealth from him than the Lord Himself from the depths of his own heart.

The king said, “I will learn Bhagavatam only from a proficient teacher!"

The scholar thought to himself as he went his way, “How foolish can the king be! I have read the Bhagavatam over and over again, and he doubts my knowledge of it!"

However the king's words aroused a doubt in the scholar of his own proficiency in the scripture.

The scholar then exposed himself to the scripture with great care several times, before he met the king again.

The king, for the second time, turned him away.

The third time, the scholar locked up himself in isolation and read through the scripture with great intent.

After some days, the king becoming curious of the scholar, as he had not turned up for a very long time, set out to meet him.

He saw the scholar as a changed man with divine radiance and love. The king fell on his knees and said, “Now that you have grasped the essence of the Bhagavatam, I am ready to be your disciple. Will you teach me?"

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa thus warns one of pride and greed. In the effulgence of true knowledge, the darkness of base qualities are dispelled.