A story from Upanishad

In ancient India there lived a famous pious Brahman who was God fearing and lived in a hut in a forest. The Brahmin, a cartman, was known for his good deeds. At that time, in India, there lived a king named Janashruti. He ruled over the kingdom of Mahabrisha (meaning the big bull). He was compassionate, caring and a generous ruler. He built rest houses for travelers along the roadside, distributed free food to the poor and needy, built hospitals for the sick and old and he taxed his subjects fairly. The king was pleased with himself for having done so much for his kingdom.

One evening while he was resting and relaxing on the patio of his palace, he saw two parrots flying over him and conversing.

Be careful while passing over the King’s palace quoted; one of them said, “The glow of his fame may burn you to ashes.”

“You must be joking,” replied the partner, “As if the King is greater than the pious Brahmin living in there!”

The king understood their conversation and became thoughtful.

“Who is this pious Brahmin?” The king wondered about. “How could he earn more merit than me?”

Now, the King felt restless and could not sleep for the rest of the night.

The following morning, when the king woke up, he was annoyed and angry.

“Stop all empty praises for me. I am not worthy of it.”

The kings’ attendants were bewildered and baffled.

“What happened Maharaj?” asked the attendant.

The king told him about the parrot’s conversation he had overheard.

“Now go and seek out the Brahmin,”; the King ordered, “He is the most pious of all men.”

A massive search was soon launched to locate the Brahmin. Many days had passed and finally they were told by a peasant that Brahmin was a cart-man in their village. All the kings’ men then saw the Brahmin, a poor cart driver, sitting on the ground and engaged in his own thought.

“Our king wishes to meet you,” said an attendant.

“Well, here I am,” said the Brahmin without budging from his place. “The king can come here if he wants to see me.”

The attendants were surprised. “What does our king seek from this ordinary man?”

The king was pleased to hear that the Brahmin was finally found. He ordered to prepare to leave for the Brahmin’s village the next morning.

The King took with him an army of men with impressive presents of hundreds of cows, an expensive gold necklace and a chariot for the Brahmin.

Upon arriving at the village, the King introduced himself and said, “I have heard a great deal about you. I am told that you are one of the rarest people who has the personal experience of Brahman.”

The king told the Brahmin, “I will give you all that you desire, and in return I ask you to give me the supreme knowledge of Brahman.

The Brahman smiled. “So ,you want to buy the divine knowledge!”

Then he told the king, “Oh ignorant king! The knowledge of Brahman cannot be purchased. It is not a thing that can be shared like that. You are not yet ready to receive the supreme knowledge. Go home. The disappointed king returned to his palace. He was sad, always wondering, “What do I lack?”

His sadness and sincere anxiety to know Brahman, made him humble. His ego disappeared and the King became a different person in just a few weeks. He then decided to go to Brahman once again.

Upon reaching the village, the king could not help himself. He went to the Brahman and requested to impart him the knowledge of Brahman.

“Enlighten me” the king cried out “I have no peace. Your knowledge has more richness than my kingdom. Please give me a part of it. This time the Brahman saw that the king had lost all his vanity and the genuine desire for knowledge was evident. He picked up the king and said, “I bless you, O virtuous king. All the knowledge that is mine will now be yours as well.”

The Brahman then drew the king close to him and spoke at length, “The supreme knowledge cannot be imbibed unless one has shed one’s ego. Only the humble can recognize the Brahman. Now that you have attained humility, come with me and I will share with you whatever I have about the knowledge of our creator. “So, saying the Brahman accepted the king as his disciple. The king could realize that Brahman was poor but spiritually rich. As time passed by, the king dedicated his job of royalty as a service to Brahman without taking the credit of his personal achievements.