After travelling long through a forest, *Kalidasa reached a village. He felt very thirsty and looked around for water.*
He saw an old woman 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 first introduce himself,*
WHO ARE YOU ?
“Introduce yourself.”
Now Kalidasa, who was a renowned and revered scholar of his time, thought that *an ordinary and old village woman was not worthy of knowing who great Kalidasa was.*
So he said,
*I am a traveller*
But the old lady replied, “No, *you cannot be a traveller.* In this world there are only 2 travellers – *the Sun and the Moon. Both Rise and Set every day and keep travelling perpetually.*
WHO ARE YOU ?
Thirsty Kalidasa said, *“Alright then, treat me as a guest.”*
Old lady promptly replied, *“No you cannot be a guest,* son.
In this world there are *only 2 guests – Youth and Wealth … both are temporary and do not stay even if you plead with them a million times, and hence can only they be called as guests.”*
WHO ARE YOU ?
Thirsty but now quite intrigued with the profoundness of this old lady, Kalidasa said, *“I am a TOLERANT Person, mother*
Now the old lady replied, *“You don’t quite look tolerant,* young man.
In this world *only 2 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*
The lady smiled and said, *“No my child, you are not that stubborn.*
There are only 2 truly stubborn personalities *our nails and our hair. We keep cutting them non-stop, but they continue to grow.”*
So
WHO ARE YOU ?
Kalidasa had been patient so far, but now in anger he said, *“Alright, I am a Fool”.*
Now the lady gave a wide smile and said, *“There are only 2 kinds of fools* in this world
*A King who rules without having any capability or knowledge & a Minister* who is a sycophant to such a King and lavishes praises on such a useless king.”
WHO ARE YOU ?
Kalidasa realised that *he had been 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 know 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 then got up,
whom did he see?…
*Mata Saraswati the Goddess of Learning and Wisdom.*
She said, “Kalidasa, you are wise. *But only if you know yourself do you become a true Manushya (human being).*
Your *EGO* has overshadowed your achievements.
You are *educated, but you are _also given to arrogance*.
Hence, I had to come to guide you.
The mark of a true human being is *not his knowledge, but his humility.*
