There was a wealthy king who was
fond of all worldly pleasures. He had a wise and witty jester. One day he
announced in his court that he was giving as a gift a specially made staff to
the greatest fool in the court. He gave it to the jester, with the words, “Give
it to a greater fool, if you happen to find such a person some day.” The jester
kept the staff with him.
A few months later, the king
fell seriously ill and was on his death-bed. He was worried tremendously. His
mental agony worsened his health. The jester was summoned to make him merry.
But the jester’s jokes could not remove the king’s worries. Worrying about his
impending death, the king told the jester, “I am about to leave this world for
a long journey to an unknown land.” The jester enquired, “Lord, have you made
all preparations for the journey and your royal stay in the novel land?” The king moaned, “No, dear man. I am doomed.
I am not prepared to die!”
The jester took the staff
presented by the king and gave it to the king, saying, “Now you may hold this
staff. You are more qualified to hold it than I am.” The king admitted that he
was the greatest fool and sought the jester’s advice about preparations for
death. The jester told him the story of another king:
“In an old kingdom, there was a cruel custom.
There a person was anointed king for only three years. Then he would be sent
into exile to a distant uninhabited island, covered by a dense forest full of ferocious
wild animals and he had to live at the mercy of nature. Most of the ex-kings
met with a tragic end there. Then a wise king adorned the throne for three
years. He secretly sent all essential articles to the wild island and built a
safe palace there for his comfortable stay after the end of his term. After his
three-year-term, he happily left for the island and spent his last years there
in comfort.”
This story narrated by the jester
enlightened the king. He was totally transformed. He repented sincerely for all
his misdeeds and refined his life. He reconciled with his enemies and the newly
gained mental peace gave him a miraculous recovery. He regained his health and reigned
for many more years as a wise and saintly king.
The world is a very dangerous
place. We can never get out of it alive! King Philip of Macedon had entrusted a
servant to meet him and greet him every morning, with the words, "Philip,
remember that you must die."
There is a meaningful hymn (Maranam varumoru naal..) sung at the home
of the dead during the funeral rites of Christians in South India:
“Death will reach you once,
Bear in mind, mortals.
Actions done by you
Come along with you.
Do good deeds and be ready
Do not be lazy.”
Man’s way leads to a hopeless end while
God’s way leads to an endless hope. Let us plan ahead for the unavoidable
departure from this world.
..................................................................................................................
© By Dr. Babu Philip,
Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue,
Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former
Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and Leo. S. John,
Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507,
Kerala, India.
This is story No. 120 in
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