Kalidas and the Old Lady

This morning, I came across an interesting old story about Kalidas - a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet.

After traveling long through a forest, Kalidas reached a village. 

He felt very thirsty and looked around for water. 

He saw an old lady drawing water from a well.

He went up to her and asked her for water. 

She agreed to give him water but asked him to introduce himself first. 

"Who are you? Introduce yourself". She said.

Now Kalidas - who was a renowned and revered scholar of his time - thought that an ordinary old village woman would not be knowing who great Kalidas was.

So he said, “I am a Traveller.”

The old lady replied, “No, you cannot be a traveler. 

There are only two travelers in this world – the Sun & the Moon. 

Both Rise & Set every day and keep traveling perpetually.”

So, tell me - Who are you?

Then thirsty Kalidasa said, “Alright then, treat me as a Guest.”

The lady promptly replied, “No, son - you cannot be a guest. 

There are only two guests in this world – Youth & Wealth. 

Both are temporary and do not stay even if you plead with them a million times. 

Hence, only they can be called guests.”

Who are you?

Thirsty but now quite intrigued with the profoundness of this old lady, Kalidas said:

“I am a tolerant person, Mata. (Sahansheel Vyakti).

Now the old lady replied, “You don’t quite look tolerant, young man. 

Only two things truly know the meaning of Tolerance – Bhoomi (Earth) and Tree. 

How much ever you stamp the earth or throw stones at the tree for the fruits, both continue to nurture us.”

So, who are you?

With unquenched thirst, Kalidasa was increasingly becoming irritable. 

He said, “Fine then, consider me a Stubborn person (Hathvaadi).

The lady smiled and said, No, my child, you are not that stubborn. 

There are only two stubborn personalities - our Nails and Hair. 

We keep cutting them, but they continue to grow.”

Who are you?

Kalidasa had been patient so far, but now in anger, he said, 

Alright, I am a Fool.

The lady gave a big smile and said, "There are only two kinds of fools in this world. 

A King who rules without  any capability or knowledge and a Minister who is a sycophant to such a King and lavishes praises on such an unworthy king.”

Who are you?

Kalidas realized that he was outsmarted by an old illiterate village woman.

In complete awe and humility, he fell at the feet of the lady, saying: 

"O mother! How ignorant I was to think that I knew myself. 

I am ashamed of myself. 

Pardon my ignorance. Show mercy and grant me water, I beg of you.

When he touched her feet and got up, whom did he see?

Mata Saraswati herself - the Goddess of Learning & Wisdom.

She said, "Kalidas - you are educated, learned, and wise - but your Ego has overshadowed your achievements. 

You are enlightened, but you are also given to arrogance.

Hence, I had to come to guide you.

The mark of a wise person is not his knowledge but his humility.

Your intellect and education are of no use - if they only feed your Ego.

         Master your Ego and always keep it under Check.