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Sunday parable by Sunanda Mahendra

"There is a strange hermit living in a cave dwelling at the foot of the mountain." The Chief Courtier got closer to the King. The King was inquisitive about the hermit as he had heard some strange news about him.

"So where has he come from?"

"He doesn't speak very much. But is quite critical about the administration, your majesty."

"What do you mean?"

"That your days are numbered"

"Why should he say that?"

"When he came to know that we are your subordinates, he just laughed and asked what are you all doing for this country, can't you remove your so- called king and place a wise man in his place?"

"So what did you say?"

"We didn't want to create a scene, but he was critical about all of us and about the things that are happening around the country."

"Really? Can't you ask him to see me immediately?"

"Do you want us to convey this message as a royal proclamation?"

"Yes soon, because you never know who this person is."

Then the Chief Courtier went to see the hermit with a few others to make the royal message known.

At that moment the hermit was taking his meals. Having cleared his throat the Chief Courtier said, "we have come to inform you that the King of the country is interested in seeing you as soon as possible."

"Wait until I finish my meals and then come out with what you want to say," said the hermit rather indifferently.

It took some time for the hermit to finish his meal as he was quite slow and meditative all the time.

"Alright, who are you all and tell me quickly what you want from me?," asked the hermit.

"We have come to inform you that the King of the country is interested in seeing you as soon as possible." "Why should I see that stupid, proud King?," asked the hermit.

"I think he wants to listen to you."

"Why should he listen to me? Has he not got any pundits around him to advise him on royal matters? Is he not ashamed of what he is upto as a ruler?"

"But he has something to discuss with you."

"If he has anything to discuss with me, ask him to see me here as I have no faith in him and I have no time to visit all these so called royal palaces."

"Please tell us as to why you have no faith in him?"

"It is simple. Have you not observed his behaviour patterns? He likes all eulogies and praises from his lackeys around him without doing an iota of work beneficial for the countrymen at large. Look at the state of poverty of the farmers themselves who are the sons of mother earth.

What benefits has he given them? They are driven to depravity beyond pardon, and look at the gravity of corruptions prevalent on the part of the kinsmen. They are a pack of bribe takers and sinners, and beyond doubt nepotism prevails all over the place with his approval. But this king goes on pardoning all the corruption as he is eulogised by them.

It looks as if he wants to hold the kingship for ever. A phenomenon that is never approved by the wise men on earth. This kingdom needs the service of wise men. But the wise men are all punished and their mouths gagged in vain for their sensitive expressions. This is enough and I don't want to spend a lot of time on this useless talk. All I say is that he should step down as soon as possible allowing some wise man to rule the kingdom."

"How did you come to know all these things while being a cave dweller?," the Chief Courtier was rather curious.

The answer was stunning.

"I see that you are an idiot serving another idiot. Clear out of this place. You lackeys the slaves of that stupid king.

I want to have my siesta now. That is much more important than talking to you all."

Then the hermit was silent for some time. The courtiers found that the hermit was not in a good mood. The courtiers looked at each other in bewilderment and made a sign to move off from the place.

"What are we going to tell our majesty?," questioned the Chief Courtier from the others. "Let's tell the King the truth and nothing but the truth," said one of the courtiers.

"But the truth is bitter, And the king will dislike the situation," said another courtier.

"But we cannot help it. Let the King visit the cave dwelling and talk to the hermit, let's get aside and listen to what they say".

"But I don't think our king will ever visit the hermit's cave".

"It is up to our king to decide whether he should see him or not". The courtiers looked crestfallen and could not frame the right words to express, due to fear of punishment. They stopped under a tree and decided what to say and what not to say.

"Let's not come out with harangues. The best thing would be to put across the message in the briefest possible manner without hurting the feelings of the King."

"What did the hermit say?," asked the King on their return to the palace.

"The hermit says that he wishes the King to see him." "That is very strange and I am the King. Why shouldn't he see me in the first place?"

"We find it difficult to gauge that hidden factor, great majesty," the Chief Courtier said.

The King thought for a while scratching his head and said, "I don't mind seeing him. Let's go and see him tomorrow, first thing in the morning." The courtiers nodded in agreement.

The King had a sleepless night. He was thinking of the hermit...

"He looks a proud man could he presumably be a rival king of some sort?"

The king went to the cave dwelling of the hermit, "I am the King and I came to see you," said the king.

"What have you got to discuss with me?, the hermit asked."

"I heard that your holiness is critical of me. Is that true?", asked the King politely.

"True or not is another issue, but right at this moment, you are blocking the doorway of my cave dwelling preventing the sun rays entering into my abode. So in the first instance move to a side allowing the sun rays to enter.

You may be a king but I am a naturalist in my lifestyle."

The King was angry but he resisted with difficulty and moved away. The hermit faced the mild sun rays closing his eyes in a meditative mood. The King waited in silence allowing the hermit to meditate in the way he desired.

"He is a king in his own kingdom", thought the King walking a few spaces away from the cave dwelling.

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