There is a beautiful traditional story about the great Sanskrit poet Kalidasa.
Kalidasa had become famous for his extraordinary learning and poetic talent. People everywhere praised his wisdom. Gradually, however, the praise began to make him proud.
One day, while travelling through a village, Kalidasa became extremely thirsty. He saw an old woman drawing water and approached her.
“Mother,” he said, “please give me some water. Giving water to a thirsty person brings great merit.”
The old woman looked at him and said: “Son, I don’t know you. First introduce yourself. Then I will certainly give you water.”
Kalidasa replied: “I am a traveler. Please give me some water.”
The woman smiled. “How can you be a traveler? There are only two travelers in this world – the Sun and the Moon. They never stop moving; they travel continuously. Tell me the truth. Which one are you?”
Kalidasa was surprised by her answer. “Very well,” he said. “I am a guest. Now please give me water.”
The woman shook her head. “How can you be a guest? There are only two guests in this world. The first is wealth and the second is youth. Neither stays for long; both leave without warning. Tell me the truth. Who are you?”
Kalidasa became frustrated. “Then I am a patient man. Please, Mother, give me some water.”
Again the woman refused. “No, son. There are only two truly patient beings. The first is the Earth, which bears the weight of both – wicked and virtuous people. Even when its body is opened and seeds are buried within it, the Earth gives us food in return.”
“The second is the tree. Even when people throw stones at it, the tree does not retaliate. Instead, it gives them sweet fruit.”
“You are neither the Earth nor a tree. So tell me the truth – who are you?”
Kalidasa was now completely bewildered. He tried another answer. “I am stubborn.”
The woman immediately replied: “That cannot be true either. There are only two truly stubborn things: nails and hair. No matter how many times you cut them, they grow back again and again.”
“So tell me honestly – who are you?”
Kalidasa was exhausted and humiliated. Finally, he said: “Then I must be a fool.”
The old woman smiled. “No, son. How could you possibly be a fool? There are only two fools in this world.”
“The first is a ruler (our modern day politicians) who rules over everyone despite being unqualified to rule.”
“The second is a court scholar (our modern day bureaucrats) who try to prove the ruler right even when the ruler is wrong, merely to please him.”
“You are neither of these. Now tell me the truth. Who are you?”
Kalidasa had no answer left.
Completely humbled, he fell at the old woman’s feet. “Mother, I beg you. Please give me some water.”
The woman said gently: “Rise child.”
Hearing the tenderness in her voice, Kalidasa looked up.
The old woman was no longer there.
Before him stood the Goddess, radiant and divine. Kalidasa immediately bowed his head at her feet.
The Goddess said: “Knowledge comes from learning but wisdom requires humility. You received honor and prestige because of the knowledge I bestowed upon you. But you began to believe that your greatness was entirely your own achievement. You allowed knowledge to become arrogance. That is why I came to you in disguise – to open your eyes.”
Kalidasa understood his mistake. He bowed before the Goddess and asked for her forgiveness. The Goddess blessed him. Kalidasa drank the water he had so desperately sought and continued on his journey – not merely as a learned man but as one who had learned the greater lesson:
True knowledge does not make a person arrogant. It makes a person humble. True knowledge is the source of bliss in this world.
What is true knowledge?
Many people mistake information and knowing for knowledge.
Many others think that knowledge is that which is obtained from ancient texts and books. It is not. All of this so called knowledge is lost when a person looses their body – in other words – dies!
The real knowledge is the one that stays with the individual – even after they have dropped their body. It is called AATMAGYAAN – the knowledge of the Self!
And for this knowledge the grace of the Goddess is a must.
How does one get this knowledge? Is it available for all?
Yes, this knowledge is there within you. One has to realise it.
And for that, meditation is the starting point.
Meditation is not something you do when you become old and have finished your productive years. Meditation is for here and now, when you are living in this world. Meditation is what makes your life more fulfilling and blissful.
Start your meditation journey today.