<Prev |  Next>

A king ordained his minister to trumpet a news to his countrymen. The questions that arose in him were conveyed to the people as a message. The questions were 'Which is the most valuable time in the world? Which is the best act and who is the greatest man on Earth?" The king desired to know the answers to these three questions and wanted to do the best act at the best time to the best person. Many people came to the palace on hearing the message.

One person said, "Invite the best astrologers. With their help, find out the best time. That is the act." Similarly everyone proposed their own ideas. Each one put forth his view -- "Past is the best time in life", "Future is the best time in life", "The last moment in a man's life is the best time", and so on.

Similarly for the question about the greatest person, each one said, "Invite all the learned men in our country. They are the greatest". "Well civilized men are greatest". "The devotees of God are the greatest", "Invite the poor. They are the greatest" and so on.

For the best act as well, each articulated their views like, "Invite scholars and gift them abundantly. That is the best act.". "Worshiping the devotees of God is the best act", "Feed the poor", "Perform marriage for those who are eligible but unmarried due to want of money. That is the best act.", "Build temples", "Build schools and charity institutions and choultries." etc.

Though the king got so many responses, none failed to satisfy him. So he kept pondering about the best act, time and person. God provides us a solution when we are in deep thought. An a ardent believer that he was, the king had God talk to him thus in his dream one night, "Oh King! There lives an elderly man in a forest outside your country's border. Seek him. You will get your answer. If you go in your royal attire, you will not be answered. Go in disguise."

The very next day, the king went in search of the elder. Though the king went with his army, he stationed them far at a distance from the elder's place and changed his attire and went alone towards the elder. The old man was digging the earth under the scorching sun, profusely sweating out. On seeing him the king felt pity and said, "Oh! You struggle so much in this old age! Kindly rest for a while and I shall dig the earth for you." The old man consented and gave the spade to the king.

As he dug the earth, the king told the elder the purpose of his visit and put forth his three questions. He further added that he wished to do perform that great act to the greatest person at the best time.. The elder remained calm on hearing this.

The king kept working believing that the elder would give him an answer, as God had verily appeared in his dream and told him.

Twilight was in sight. When the sun was about to set, the king asked, "Sir! You haven't answered my question?" Pointing to a man who came running holding his bleeding belly with his hand, the elder replied "There comes the answer!". He was crying desperately as his belly was stabbed with a knife and was bleeding profusely. The king at once held the man, took out the knife and provided him first-aid treating him with medicinal plants and dressing his wound. The man thanked the king and said, "I tried to betray you. But you have saved me. "

The king said, "Oh friend! It is the kings' duty to help his countryman in pain and that is exactly what I did. Who are you? What vice did you plot against me and how did I help you?"

The man said, "King! I belong to the neighboring country. I was ordained to kill you by them. I learnt your whereabouts from the spies. Knowing that you would come here alone, I was hiding. As you did not come out since afternoon, I came out to see if you were there, when your safeguards attacked me. You saved me by giving me first aid. I'm your slave henceforth"

Listening to all this, the elder told the king, "Oh king! This is the answer to your question. Let me explain. The past is past and will never return. We can think about it, but not re-live. The future is a question-mark. But today is a 'present' given by God to everyone. You pitied on an struggling person and helped me in sympathy for my old age. The moment you pitied on me is the best time and your act was the best. The suffering ones are the most deserving people. Because of your good act, God has given you a reward. Because you helped a person who came to murder you though unknowingly, the person has surrendered to you. God has saved you from a danger and has ensured that you are relieved from this danger in future. Did you get your answer now?"

Further he said, "Present is the best time. The suffering people are the best ones to be helped. 'Sympathizing' on the distressed people is the best act. If one acts so, God will shower his grace on him."

The king too left the place after he got his message clearly.

<Prev |  Next>

Home • e-MM • Contact

Radhe Krishna