A learned Brahman once went over to a wise king and said, "Hear, O king, I am well versed in the holy scriptures. I intend to teach you the holy book of the Bhâgavata."
The king, who was the wiser of the two, well knew that a man who has read the Bhâgavata would seek more to know his own Self than honor and wealth in a king's court.
He replied, "I see, O Brahman, that you yourself have not mastered that book thoroughly. I promise to make you my tutor, but go first and learn the scripture well."
The Brahman went his way, thinking within himself, "How foolish the king is to say I have not mastered the Bhâgavata well, when I have been reading the book over and over again for all these years."
However, he went over the book carefully once more and appeared before the king. The king told him the same thing again and sent him away.
The Brahman was sore vexed, but thought there must be some meaning for this behavior of the king. He went home, shut himself up in his closet, and applied himself more than ever to the study of the book.
By and by the hidden meanings began to flash before his intellect; the vanity of running after the bubbles, riches and honor, kings and courts, wealth and fame, all vanished before his unclouded vision.
From that day forward he gave himself up entirely to attain perfection by the worship of God, and never returned to the king.
A few years after the king thought of the Brahman, and went to his house to see what he was about.
Seeing the Brahman, all radiant with the divine light and love, he fell upon his knees and said, "I see you have now arrived at the true meaning of the scriptures; I am ready to be your disciple, if you will duly condescend to make me one."
IMAGE: Lady Lawley, A Learned Ascetic (1914)
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