Lessons from a King to an Atheist Boy

Once upon a time, there was a pious scholar in a king's court.

The son of this scholar was an atheist. He would keep on criticizing everything his father did, saying it was all a waste of time and money. He was a complete materialist.

Once, the scholar told the king about his son. The king said, 'Bring him to the court someday.' Accordingly, one day, the son came to the court.

The king, all of a sudden, said, 'Kill him, execute him.'

For no reason.

Everyone was shocked.

The father prayed to the king.

'Your Majesty, why are you doing this? What has he done?'

'Your son has a wicked mind. He will end up harming others. That is why I have ordered his death.'

The father said, 'Please give me some time. I shall reform him. I will teach him values and turn him into a good human being.'

The king said, 'I will give you two months. After that, bring him here. If I am convinced that he has reformed, I will pardon him.'

The father took him and started teaching him values, but nothing went into his head. In the first place, he did not realize what wrong he had done. He thought the king had some prejudice against him and was definitely going to kill him. He believed the king had granted two months only to oblige his father, out of loyalty.

Thinking and worrying about this, he stopped eating and started losing weight. The death that was definitely approaching completely changed his mindset. His entire behavior changed.

After two months, he was brought to the court again. This time, the king gave him a cup filled to the brim with oil.

'Now take a full round of the city holding this cup in your hand.'

Then he called the soldiers and said, 'Go behind him. Even if one drop spills, kill him there itself.'

The boy took a full round of the city and came back to the court. He did not spill a single drop.

The king said, 'These are your lessons.

'Your father conducts himself virtuously because he is aware that death is fast approaching. He is preparing himself for life after death.

'You are a fool. You think only this life exists. But see how your own conduct and behavior changed when you saw death approaching.

'Your father is a wise man. He is living life based on the wisdom handed down by our sages through generations. The realization that death is unavoidable and that there is life after death is the foundation of virtuous living and dharmic conduct.

'By living virtuously like your father, you prepare for life after death, making it comfortable and progressive.

'Now tell me, what all did you see when you were taking a round of the city?'

'Nothing, Your Majesty. My attention was fully on the cup of oil.'

'This is your second lesson.

'If you have undivided focus on your goal, like how your father is focused on virtuous living, then no vices will distract you. Nothing will distract you.'

What the father could not teach the boy in years, the king taught him in a practical way within two months.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi