In former years there lived a very learned old “Guru,” or spiritual
teacher, and he had five very earnest disciples who had become so imbued
with his knowledge, and so attached to his person that they agreed to
follow him wherever he led the way, even if it were to travel all the
country round.
“Well,” he replied, “if I do leave this enamoured spot where I have
spent most of my life, we shall all have to undergo many privations, and
perhaps hardships, but I confess I have now a thirst for seeing more of
the world: so will you go with me under the prospect of such
circumstances?”
“Yes,” they said, “we certainly will, and no matter what frowns of
fortune come upon us we shall at least gain knowledge every hour that we
are in your company.”
He then proposed that they should visit the various Hindu shrines and
the places that had been hallowed by old associations connected with the
founders of their Faith.
To this they readily consented, and having sought for a propitious day,
they set forth on their travels.
They had visited many holy places consecrated by age and sanctity, and
as they were everywhere made welcome by devotees of their religion, they
had few deprivations to encounter.
One day they were approaching a very populous city where a devout Hindu
King resided, and the “Guru” said to his disciples, “I am much fatigued
by the journey; go you all into the city and buy bread, and return to me
here,” for he had determined to rest under a large clump of trees just
outside the city walls.
It was not long before they all returned to the “Guru” with a wonderful
account of the city, “For,” said they, “we have never known so
remarkable a place, for, strange to relate, every article of merchandise
is of the same price. In every shop and market all the goods are of one
and the same value: gold, silver, precious stones, wheat, fruit,
vegetables, and, indeed, everything that man can wish for and want, can
be had for the same sum.”
The “Guru” said, “You much surprise me; and although I am very tempted
to see for myself such a wonderful place, yet I am convinced that such a
state of things must bring about great laxity and vice, and that justice
there must be at a very low ebb, for that too I suppose is classed with
the other commodities. No! let us at once quit this city and make the
best of our way to some other more inviting place.” Whereupon they all
agreed to accompany the “Guru”; but one disciple, a tall strapping
fellow, and fond of the good things of this life, said that on second
thoughts he would like to spend two or three days in that city, and that
he would join them some marches off if they would only promise to go by
easy stages.
[Illustration: THE GURU AND HIS GREEDY DISCIPLE.]
It was in vain that the “Guru” tried to dissuade him from his purpose;
he had made up his mind, so he parted company with his fellows, and went
off alone into the city.
He had not been there more than two or three days when a burglary,
attended with murder, was committed in the city, and the “Kotwal,” or
chief Police officer, began to set on foot enquiries as to the
whereabouts of the perpetrators of the crime. He came across this
disciple of the “Guru,” and finding that he was a strong powerful
fellow, and a stranger to boot, he was at once taken up on suspicion,
and very soon witnesses were found who had seen him loafing about the
place, and he was there and then tried for the crime, condemned and
sentenced to death and the sentence was confirmed by the King in due
course.
This avaricious, this greedy disciple, was then cast into prison to
await his execution, and bitterly did he repent that he had not followed
the advice of his “Guru.” Thus mourning over his fate, he aroused the
sympathy of his gaoler, who good-naturedly offered to send a messenger
to tell his “Guru” what had happened to him, and to bid him return.
This messenger went off in great haste, and managed to come up with the
“Guru” and his party at no very great distance from the city. He gave
them a full and distinct account of all that had passed, and how that
his disciple had been tried and sentenced to death; “But,” he added,
“the day of execution was not fixed when I left the city.” He told the
“Guru” moreover, that the King always made it his business to be present
at all times when there was capital punishment to be carried out.
The “Guru” and his disciples then hurriedly returned with the messenger
to the city, and when they entered the walls they ascertained that the
execution had been arranged for the day following.
When the morning broke they hastened to the place of execution, and all
the city turned out to witness it. The “Guru” shortly after saw his
disciple, surrounded by a number of police, being brought from the
prison. He at once accosted the Chief Officer and asked his permission
to say just a word or two to the prisoner before his death. It was not
usual to allow this, but as he was a “Guru” and a spiritual teacher and
held in great reverence by all Hindus, leave was granted him to do so.
He had only just time to say to his disciple, “See what you have brought
on yourself by your greediness and avarice; and now do as I tell you.
When you see me prostrate myself before the King, call out at the top of
your voice, ‘No, I will not suffer my holy “Guru” to die for me; I must
and will die, so go on with the execution.’ Mind you do this, for I
intend as I prostrate myself to offer my life in exchange for yours.”
He had scarcely spoken the words when there was a stir amongst the
people, for the King was approaching; and now the King had reached the
spot prepared for him, and with him was a large concourse of nobles and
courtiers, indeed a goodly retinue, accompanied with all the pomp and
display so essential to all Oriental potentates when they move from
their Palaces in State and on Public occasions. As soon as the tumult
had ceased the “Guru” approached as near the Presence as he dared, the
people making way for him as he was a “Guru.” He then bowed in
submission and made the usual obeisance, and asked leave to speak.
When the Prisoner saw his “Guru” prostrating himself before the King, he
called out in a loud voice the very identical words that he had been
instructed by his “Guru” to pronounce. The King was beyond all measure
astonished, for he heard the Prisoner’s words distinctly, and motioning
to the “Guru” to come nearer, His Majesty said, “This is a most
remarkable thing; I have never known anything before like this to take
place at an execution. You, a learned “Guru” of our Faith, offer your
life as a substitute for the Prisoner’s, and the Prisoner asks to die at
once, and seeks no mercy! It is usual rather for one condemned to death
to solicit pardon at my hands. Can anyone solve this mystery?” And
turning to his nobles and courtiers he sought for a reply, but none was
then given. Then, appealing to the “Guru,” His Majesty said, “Can you
interpret this wonderful procedure, for it passes man’s understanding?”
Whereupon the “Guru” said, “Yes, oh King! I can; for is not this the
very day, and almost the very hour of the day, when, by our ancient
Sanscrit “Vedas” it has been foretold that whosoever on this day and
hour shall suffer death, or die in a public place, shall in very truth
be transported to endless happiness and bliss?”
“Is it so?” responded the King, and then summoning to his side his own
learned “Gurus,” who in his belief could work miracles and forgive sins,
he demanded of them if such had been predicted. Quite oblivious as to
what was passing in the King’s mind at the time, they one and all
replied, “True, oh King! such is the record.”
Then turning to his Vizier he commanded that the Prisoner should at once
be set free, “For,” said His Majesty, “I now see that fate has reserved
for me this propitious opportunity, that I myself should obtain the
spiritual rewards promised in our sacred writings. Behold _me_ then, all
of you, the substitute, and not the “Guru.” Whereupon he drew his
“Kuttan,” or dagger, from his belt, and plunged it into his breast.
So died the devout King of this wonderful City, and was gathered to his
fathers, to the unutterable grief of all his Court and people.
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