STORY OF AN EYE - DONATION

Long, long ago there lived a king named Punyabalan . By conquering eighty thousand cities , he widened his kingdom. He was an efficient ruler. He built shining castles and sparkling fortresses and the kingdom looked like a paradise on the earth.

            Once the king was riding on his chariot .On the way he saw a pathetic sight. A patient was lying there, shivering and groaning with pain. He thought – ‘I claim to be a powerful king who has conquered eighty thousand cities. But if a patient suffers without getting proper treatment, the country is not a good place to live in and I ‘m not a good ruler.’

            The king was muc worried . Good men are like chintar (a gem that glitters in the sunlight- ‘ Suryakantham’).Just as it attracts the heat of other objects, the heat of other people’s grief penetrates through good people.

            The king gave orders to start dispensaries in towns and villages. Good physicians were appointed . He knew that medicine has only secondary importance .So the King sent orders :-

            “Physicians, treat your patients mentally and physically. Treat with your mind and body. Word is the best medicine. Speak sweet words to the patients.Their heat can be reduced by courtesy , numbness by warmth , exhaustion by balanced food and mind’s fatigue by jokes .A good physician is one who is always cheerful “

            The physicians roamed about the country in search of patients and treated them, strictly following the King’s instructions. Often the king himself visited the sick as well as the cured .

            Even Devendra could not but respect the king and consider him as his peer .For this great king, he made a chariot drawn by six white elephants. Also made beautiful gardens and lotus pools. Angels danced on these lotuses and sang the glory of the king.

            To test the King’s honesty and devotion , Devendra reached there in the guise of a blind man.

            Punyabalan could not believe his eyes. A blind man in a disease – free country! The blind man said- “Lord , you provide the best medicine and the best physician to every patient . I have lost the sight of my right eye .Had I lost the sight of both eyes , I could have lived by begging. Those who are cured of their diseases sing of your magnanimity . But poor me ! I get no mercy from any one . So please give me your right eye”.

            Without any hesitation, Punyabalan plucked out his right eye with a gold knife and gave it to the one- eyed man. The king was prepared to give the other eye too. At this time Devendra exhibited his real self and blessed the king , giving back his eye-sight . Gods showered flowers from the sky .

   

                                                                   Prof. C. Chandramathy

WHO IS A GURU ?

Hundreds of years ago, there lived a king named Subhashithagavoshyan . Like fragrance in the wind, his fame spread in the Three Worlds . 

                Like a lagoon with thousands of lotus blossoms, there were  thousands of scholars in the palace. The royal court resounded with debates and recitations. They found delight in innovating aphorisms and moral precepts. 

       One day the king summoned his minister and said –

“ In the court there are many scholars like you, who have rich vocabulary and poetic talents. But poems and works of arts are like bunches of flowers. They will fascinate the mind only if they are fresh. A bee never approaches the flower that has already been embraced. It goes in search of fresh blossoms. Same is the case of audience. The aphorisms already read in this court have been very precious. But the audience demands fresh things. Talents should be expressed before an appreciating audience . If not, the scholar’s effort will be as futile as a lighted lamp in an abandoned well. Hence, find out new aphorisms that are useful to people. Virtuous and wise aphorisms that are as sweet as cuckoo’s songs. Note only riches, but aphorisms also contribute to a country’s well-being"

         The minister listened to the king's words attentively and replied-" Maharaj, your beautiful verses are being sung all over the country. Consequently, we are blessed with a lot of talented scholars. Even hunters sing excellent, self -composed rhymes. For example, in a distant forest, there lives a hunter named Kroorakan. He has a large collection of aphorisms. I have heard he makes and sings new aphorisms every day "

        The king was so fascinated that he was in a hurry to meet the hunter. Disguised as a poor man, he set out to the forest. 

        Tracing a hunter in the woods is as difficult as searching for a black cat in the dark. It was after long, tiresome walking and searching that the king found him out 

        Koorakan! The name suited him. After offering flowers to the hunter,the king bowed before him. It was like a disciple bowing before his Guru

        He said to the hunter-" I accept you as my Guru. I have heard that you have a large collection of aphorisms. Please teach me a new aphorism so that I can enlighten the people with it. In return, I shall give you this pearl chain.If you wear this, the Goddess of wealth will always be with you"

        The king showed the precious chain to the hunter. But he became suspicious-after learning the aphorism,will he kill me and take back the chain? 

           He thought for a while and found out a solution-"After learning the aphorism,you should climb up this hill and roll down from there. Are you prepared ?"

           The king wondered how such a cruel man could  make precious aphorisms

            Camphor cannot remove the pungent smell of garlic. carrying precious gem on the hood, the snake is poisonous! similarly, scholarship has not sobered Kroorakan. 

          The urge to learn a new aphorism tempted the king to agree to the hunter's merciless bargain 

          After securing the costly chain, Kroorakan recited the new aphorism-

"Get rid of all desires.

Never grieve over the loss of comforts.

Cursing is a sin.

Woriship the holy lotus.

Abandon worldly pleasures and fill the mind with eternal happiness.

Looking in to the mirror of mind is the way to achieve all kinds of virtues"  

             Baring the meaningful worlds in mind, the king climbed up the hill and rolled down. An Yaksha saw the king's delicate body rolling down the rough rocks. He took the king in his arms and placed him safely on the ground below. 

          The king  returned  to the palace. The scholars of the court learned the new aphorism and they taught it to the people. They believed that learning virtuous aphorisms is as important as national defence.    

          Days and months passed.One day Kroorakan reached the bazaar to sell his costly chain. The palace watchmen recognised the king's chain.They caught the thief red-handed and brought him before the king. 

    The king ordered-"Set him free.He is not a thief. He is the teacher who taught me the most precious aphorism.I had given him the chain has Gurudakshina"

        Kroorakan was shocked-Was he the king!

        The watchmen touched the feet of the king's Guru.The cruel forester was amazed at the goodness of the people.

        The king told the surprised scholars that a true seeker of knowledge should be prepared to gain knowledge from any one.A Guru is one who teaches good things,leading his students from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge.   

                                                                       

                                                                       Prof.C Chandramathi