Parable "Moral spine". About nobility, masculinity, kindness and true friendship (from the life of Vikramaditya)
When the king again wanted to sit on the throne, the eleventh statue spoke: "O king, let him sit on the throne who is like Vikarma in his generosity."
And the King said: "Statue, tell about Vikarma's generosity."
The statue began its story: “When Vikarma reigned, there was not a single villain, traitor, robber, criminal on the whole earth. After all, if the king is constantly worried about the state of his state, he does not sleep from these worries day or night. one who is selfish has neither father nor mother, nor children, nor friends, and for the one who is moved by love, there is neither fear nor shame. and for one who is hungry, there is neither taste nor smell of food.
Once Vikarma decided to shift the burden of power onto his entourage and courtiers, and he himself, dressed as a monk, left for a foreign land. Where he liked, he stayed for a few days, and where he could see something wonderful and learn something new, he lived for a long time.
Once the king found himself in a dense forest. Sunset. At the top of the tree, at which Vikarma sat down to rest, lived the king of birds Chiramjivin. his children and grandchildren scattered in the morning in search of food, and when they were full, they always returned to their nest in the evening and brought the aged Chiramjivin one fruit each. It is not for nothing that it is said: "One should take care of elderly parents, a kind wife and a young child, even if they are burdened with a hundred sins."
And so Chiramjivin, comfortably sitting on a branch, began to ask the birds where they flew and what they saw. Vikarma heard everything.
One of the birds said: "I have great sorrow in my heart, but what is the use of an empty story?"
"My child", answered Chiramjivin, "if someone is sad, let him tell a friend about his sorrows, and the sadness will pass. After all, it is said:" Whoever tells about his grief to a faithful friend, a virtuous servant, an obedient wife or a loving master, he will be comforted".
Hearing these words, the bird told about its sadness: "Oh, father, listen. There is a mountain Shaivalaghosha in the northern country, near this mountain there is a city of Palasha. A certain Rakshasa (a man-eater) lives on the mountain. Every day he comes to the city and everyone who comes across to him, takes him by force up the mountain and eats it. And the inhabitants of the city said to him: “Do not eat people indiscriminately. We ourselves will give you one person every day to eat. "Rakshasa agreed. And every day since then one person from each house went to death in turn. A lot of time has passed. Today it was the turn of a brahmana, my friend in a past life. he has only one son. If he gives Rakshasa a son, his family will be interrupted, if he goes on his own, his wife will remain a widow, and widowhood is a great evil. Their grief has become my grief. This is the reason for my sorrow. "
After listening to the story, all the birds unanimously said: "Yes, he is a real friend, since he is unhappy when a person close to him is unhappy. This is true friendship." After all, it is said: "A true friend is one who is happy when his friend is happy, and sad when he is sad. The ocean spills with joy when the month rises, and goes to its shores when the month sets."
Hearing the conversation of the birds, King Vikarma went to the city of Palasha. There he immediately found the Rakshasa sacrificial stone. The king bathed in the lake and sat down on this stone.
And then Rakshasa appeared. He saw the smiling king and in amazement asked: "Hey, good man, where did you come from? Those who are planted on this stone every day, even before my arrival, die of fear. You are a man of great courage, since you smile when you see me. those who know their hour of death lose all their strength. And you are calm, and even laughing. So tell me, who are you? "
The king replied: "Rakshasa, why empty speech? For the sake of others, I sacrifice myself. Do what you have planned."
Rakshasa thought to himself: "Here is a noble man: he neglected his own happiness and is ready to suffer for others. After all, it is said:" Those are noble people who have given up seeking their own happiness, strive to get happiness for others and take an active part in the grief of people - and loved ones , and strangers. "
And the cannibal said to the king: "Hero, since you sacrifice yourself for the sake of other people, your life is worthy of glory. You are a good man, and your good deeds give you all the fullness of earthly happiness."
Having said this, Riksasa again turned to Vikarma: "Good man, I am pleased with you and I will fulfill any of your requests." The king said: "Rakshasa, if you are pleased with me, then from now on stop devouring the inhabitants of the city of Palasha. And I also want to give you advice, listen to him: as our own life is dear to us, it is also dear to him, to her, to them - to everyone! Who understands this, he should appreciate even the enemy, and who does not understand, he has no right to be considered a person.
As your life is dear to you, so it is dear to other people. As you take care of your life, so take care of the life of other people.
After hearing this instruction, Rakshasa stopped killing and devouring innocent people. And King Vikarma returned to his homeland.
And the eleventh statue said to King Bhoja: "O king, if you have the same generosity and selflessness, then sit on this throne."
From the book "This Wonderful Yoga, or Look into Oneself" by G. E. Lah Man Chun
*** Vikarma or Vikramaditya was an emperor of ancient India.He is known for his generosity, courage, and patronage of scholars. Vikramaditya is featured in hundreds of traditional stories including those in Baital Pachisi and Singhasan Battisi. Vikramaditya is the Indian Navy’s largest short take-off but assisted recovery warship and aircraft carriernamed after him. Many describe him as a universal ruler, with his capital at Ujjain (Pataliputra or Pratishthana in a few stories).
