5.THE LION MAKERS
Scholarship is less than sense;
Therefore seek intelligence:
Senseless scholars in their pride
Made a lion; than they died.
In the banks of the river Ganges there was this idyllic village Rampur. Fertile and lush with greenery, the people of the village had a comfortable living. The rich crops of golden wheat, sweet sugarcanes, and pungent bright yellow mustard fields were always getting ready in time for harvesting and keeping the people well fed. With food no problem and plenty of leisure available, gradually Rampur and the villages around took to learning and scholarship and very soon number of learned scholars emerged from that place.
In Rampur lived these four bosom friends, Harilal, Ram chand, Natwar and Keku Ram. They were together from childhood and the bond of friendship developed over the years had well cemented and one could find them inseparable spending their time in one activity or other. In them except Keku Ram the rest were men of books and words. They were well read scholars, had developed their expertise in various branches of sciences and were ever eager to discuss and try out their expertise. However Keku Ram though in close friendship with them from childhood was least well read. He the son of poor `Charaya’ (cattle grazer) and had never the opportunity to read the many books read by his friends. But being a keen observer, with his innate intelligence and contemplation was blessed with a sound common sense. He always listened to the erudite discussion of his friends with awe.
As the days went by the four friends with their energy and youth were getting restless in the leisurely ways of Rampur. They felt of what use is all this scholarship and knowledge if they are not put to use and win some appreciation and gifts from kings and rich masters. So thinking they decided to go on a long journey to the near by kingdoms.
Deciding on the date and course of the journey, it was Ram chand who commented `Pray of what use will be our simpleton friend Keku Ram in this journey where we will be using our scholarship. Though our friend, he is dumb and has little knowledge of science and Vedas, so let us leave him behind, lest he will embarrass us with his ignorance’. However Harilal opined ` No doubt he is illiterate and lacking the fine illumination which we have gained, but he has been with us for all these years, so let us also take him, he will be of help to us in serving us on mundane matters’. The rest agreeing the matter was settled.
On an `Ekadasi day of Krishna paksha (11th day of the waning moon), it was a bright and sunny day, the four friends embarked on the much awaited journey. Taking leave of their parents, relatives and other friends, carrying their `potla’ with their personal belongings with much enthusiasm the four friends crossed the river Ganges in a boat and started moving towards the thick forest which lay between their village and the well known city Magadha. As dusk fell they reached the denser part of the forest. With the sun out of the horizon and waning moon for company they decided to travel no more and thought they will settle for the night. Just as they had rested their luggage down and looking for a place to lie, Harilal who had gone in search of some water came rushing back with excitement.
Friends, ` Here comes our first opportunity to test our profound scholarship. Near the waterfront I can see carcass of a dead animal. It seems like the king of the forest, the Lion. Let us try our science of resurrection on that. I know the method to assemble the disintegrated skeleton’. On hearing him Ram Chand and Natwar got excited. `Indeed its an opportunity, I am well versed in the art of fixing the flesh and skin of any animal. I will do that job told Ram chand. Natwar told `My friends I, as you all know is aware of the science of putting life in any dead creature, so let three of us bring the king of the forest back to life and test our knowledge.
So saying the three went in excitement towards the waterfront. Keku Ram was quietly watching his learned friends. He felt alarmed. `Will that be a wise move? If the king of the forest is brought back to life wont the wild beast kill the very persons who would have brought it back to life. Is it possible to change the inherent nature of a wild beast’ so thinking the sensible but less scholarly Keku Ram went behind his friends to dissuade them doing the last act.
However the three friends vanity knew no bound. They paid little heed to Keku Ram’s warning. They thought what he knows the ways of learning and mastery of sciences.
They were intent on their scholarly act.
Harilal assembled the skeleton, Ram chand put the flesh and skin to order and Natwar was on his act of giving life to the ferocious Lion.
Seeing this Keku Ram scrambled the nearest tree and got him safely lodged there.
As designed the lion sprang to life. Energetic and roaring it looked around to find three human being surrounding him and looking at him standing rooted to the ground. Well Lion was in his elements, his ferocious best. It attacked the defenseless humans, killed them with blow of his paws and made his first meal after resurrection.
Keku Ram looked helplessly for little he could do to save a senseless act which was though full of scholarship.
So mere scholarship with out sense will serve little purpose in life.
Scholarship is less than sense;
Therefore seek intelligence:
Senseless scholars in their pride
Made a lion; than they died.
In the banks of the river Ganges there was this idyllic village Rampur. Fertile and lush with greenery, the people of the village had a comfortable living. The rich crops of golden wheat, sweet sugarcanes, and pungent bright yellow mustard fields were always getting ready in time for harvesting and keeping the people well fed. With food no problem and plenty of leisure available, gradually Rampur and the villages around took to learning and scholarship and very soon number of learned scholars emerged from that place.
In Rampur lived these four bosom friends, Harilal, Ram chand, Natwar and Keku Ram. They were together from childhood and the bond of friendship developed over the years had well cemented and one could find them inseparable spending their time in one activity or other. In them except Keku Ram the rest were men of books and words. They were well read scholars, had developed their expertise in various branches of sciences and were ever eager to discuss and try out their expertise. However Keku Ram though in close friendship with them from childhood was least well read. He the son of poor `Charaya’ (cattle grazer) and had never the opportunity to read the many books read by his friends. But being a keen observer, with his innate intelligence and contemplation was blessed with a sound common sense. He always listened to the erudite discussion of his friends with awe.
As the days went by the four friends with their energy and youth were getting restless in the leisurely ways of Rampur. They felt of what use is all this scholarship and knowledge if they are not put to use and win some appreciation and gifts from kings and rich masters. So thinking they decided to go on a long journey to the near by kingdoms.
Deciding on the date and course of the journey, it was Ram chand who commented `Pray of what use will be our simpleton friend Keku Ram in this journey where we will be using our scholarship. Though our friend, he is dumb and has little knowledge of science and Vedas, so let us leave him behind, lest he will embarrass us with his ignorance’. However Harilal opined ` No doubt he is illiterate and lacking the fine illumination which we have gained, but he has been with us for all these years, so let us also take him, he will be of help to us in serving us on mundane matters’. The rest agreeing the matter was settled.
On an `Ekadasi day of Krishna paksha (11th day of the waning moon), it was a bright and sunny day, the four friends embarked on the much awaited journey. Taking leave of their parents, relatives and other friends, carrying their `potla’ with their personal belongings with much enthusiasm the four friends crossed the river Ganges in a boat and started moving towards the thick forest which lay between their village and the well known city Magadha. As dusk fell they reached the denser part of the forest. With the sun out of the horizon and waning moon for company they decided to travel no more and thought they will settle for the night. Just as they had rested their luggage down and looking for a place to lie, Harilal who had gone in search of some water came rushing back with excitement.
Friends, ` Here comes our first opportunity to test our profound scholarship. Near the waterfront I can see carcass of a dead animal. It seems like the king of the forest, the Lion. Let us try our science of resurrection on that. I know the method to assemble the disintegrated skeleton’. On hearing him Ram Chand and Natwar got excited. `Indeed its an opportunity, I am well versed in the art of fixing the flesh and skin of any animal. I will do that job told Ram chand. Natwar told `My friends I, as you all know is aware of the science of putting life in any dead creature, so let three of us bring the king of the forest back to life and test our knowledge.
So saying the three went in excitement towards the waterfront. Keku Ram was quietly watching his learned friends. He felt alarmed. `Will that be a wise move? If the king of the forest is brought back to life wont the wild beast kill the very persons who would have brought it back to life. Is it possible to change the inherent nature of a wild beast’ so thinking the sensible but less scholarly Keku Ram went behind his friends to dissuade them doing the last act.
However the three friends vanity knew no bound. They paid little heed to Keku Ram’s warning. They thought what he knows the ways of learning and mastery of sciences.
They were intent on their scholarly act.
Harilal assembled the skeleton, Ram chand put the flesh and skin to order and Natwar was on his act of giving life to the ferocious Lion.
Seeing this Keku Ram scrambled the nearest tree and got him safely lodged there.
As designed the lion sprang to life. Energetic and roaring it looked around to find three human being surrounding him and looking at him standing rooted to the ground. Well Lion was in his elements, his ferocious best. It attacked the defenseless humans, killed them with blow of his paws and made his first meal after resurrection.
Keku Ram looked helplessly for little he could do to save a senseless act which was though full of scholarship.
So mere scholarship with out sense will serve little purpose in life.
posted by Rama Venkataraman at 1:15 AM
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