Long Long Ago

One day a student approached a Guru i.e. teacher who was famous for the art of sword using fight. When the student approached the Guru and prayed [i.e. requested] him to accept him as a disciple, the Guru didn’t express his acceptance or refusal. The student was waiting for Guru’s reply. Paying silence towards him, the Guru allowed him to reside in his Gurukulam. He was provided food and shelter.

But the Guru was beating him whenever he saw the student, whatever he was doing by that time. While he was cleaning the floor, bringing water with pots, preparing fire to cook food, watering plants, plucking the flowers and fruits in the garden, whatever he was performing the ashram’s duty, the Guru was beating him suddenly from possible ways and directions.

The student was puzzled, didn’t know, why Guru was beating him. If the Guru didn’t like his presence, he could call him and send him out by saying the same. If the Guru hates the student, directly he could say it. No need to beat like this without saying any reason. But the students didn’t give up the ashram duty. He didn’t turn to home. He didn’t give up his determination to learn sword-playing talent in the middle of trial. But to protect himself from the beating of Guru, he was more alert and active. Whatever he was doing he was very careful about the sounds in surroundings, watching actively all corners and very sharp in body movements.

Like this some months were passed. One day the Guru called him to near and said “My dear boy. I’m pleased with your determination. To learn sword playing talent, the soldier must be quite alert & active. Now you acquired it. So with in short period your course can be completed. You will become perfect warrior. Bring the sword. Now I’m starting your coaching to handle your sword, God bless you.”

Note: To read the application of this story to our life, click here: Mother’s Lap