Parables of Rama

by Swami Rama Tirtha | 102,836 words

Stories in English used by Swami Rama to illustrate the highest teaching of Vedanta. The most difficult and intricate problems of philosophy and abstract truths, which may very well tax the brains of the most intellectual, are thus made not only simple and easy to understand but also brought home to us in a concrete form in such an interesting and ...

Story 186 - Alexander the great and the Indian Saint

When Alexander came to India, he discovered that, of all the countries he had conquered, the most truthful, wise and beautiful persons were found here. He desired to see the heads of India, i. e. the philosophers and the saints. He was then taken to the banks of river Indus, where he found a saintly personality. Alexander was known as the Emperor of the world, while the saint did not have even the loin-cloth round his waist. Alexander had a great personality. The eyes of the saint were also sparkling with spiritual lustre, saying, as it were, "I bestow grandeur on the kings and beauty on the beautiful ones, whenever I look at them".

Alexander the great was overwhelmed by the spiritual personality of this saint. He said, "O great soul! Be kind unto me. People here in India keep even the jewels like you hidden in obscurity. But in Greece great importance is attached even to small things. I request you to be gracious enough to accompany me to my country. I shall offer you kingdom, wealth and precious stones. I shall offer you anything you might require but pray, do accompany me".

The saint only smiled and said, "I am everywhere. I am omnipresent. I am beyond space."

Alexander could not understand the saint and repeated his request and the temptations. The saint replied, "I do not stand in need for anything. I am not a man to like my own discarded sputum."

Alexander got annoyed and felt insulted; for nobody till then had ever refused to comply with his orders. He drew his sword to kill him. There-upon the saint burst into laughter and said, "You could never have told such a big lie in your life before".

"I have yet to see a sword which could cut me". Children sit on stand, play with it, construct small houses and then demolish them themselves. The sand does not lose anything in the process. It remains the same as before. Similar was the case with the saint.

This body is like a house of sand which is built according to the innate tendencies of man. I am the sand, the base, the all-pervading. I was never' a house. If anyone wants to .demolish it, he is in reality damaging his own house The sand does not run any risk of losing anything. It remains the sand all the same.

"The stars are never separated from the light. So you are myself and I am yourself."

On this retort from the saint, the sword fell down automatically from the hands of Alexander, the great and he apologised for his arrogance.

Vol. 4 (87)

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