Story 194 - A clever poet wrought in perversity

Professor Azad in his book, "Taazkirae Abehayat", has described a strange event. One day, at Lucknow, a poet was entertaining the Nawab and his courtiers with his poems and couplets. When the Nawab reached his harem late in the night his Begums enquired the reason of his being late. He replied that he was enjoying the poems and the witty humour of a poet. The Begums also expressed their desire to be entertained by him. The very next day the poet was called in and the Begums of harem, who heard him from behind the purdah (curtain), very much enjoyed his humour. They requested the Nawab to be pleased to allot him a room to stay in the palace. The Nawab was hesitating in allowing him to stay inside the palace, for fear of his seeing the ladies in the harem. The poet could see through the hesitation of the Nawab. He, accordingly, said, "I am quite all right. But, unfortunately, I am totally blind and cannot see". This excuse of the poet proved effective and produced the desired result. The apprehensions of the Nawab were falsified and he ordered a room to be allotted to the poet in harem. The evil intentioned hypocrite thus succeeded in deceiving the Nawab by saying that he was blind, in the hope of getting the opportunity of watching the ladies of the palace, without being suspected. But it is impossible to deceive anyone else, except one's own self. Success in depravity is like poisonous liquor.

One day the poet felt the urge to ease himself. He wanted the maid servant to give him the mug of water. The maid servant said, "There is no mug here in the room". She was fed-up with the too frequent orders of the poet and, therefore, she had told him a lie. But the poet was feeling a great urge and, since he could not control himself, he spoke out, "Don't you see? The mug is already there". Truth cannot be suppressed. It must come out one day. On hearing this, the maid servant ran to the Begums and said, "The devil has eyes. He can see. He is a liar and not blind". He was then immediately turned out of the palace. But, as it happened, he became blind the very next day. This event teaches us a very good lesson. As you think so you will have to be.

A poet says:

If you think of a flower, your mind takes the shape of a flower. And if you think of a restless nightingale you are a nightingale for the moment. If you think of sorrow, you are sure to become sorrowful. And if you think of goodness for all, you will be "All".

You might have observed that, while playing, the children often walk backward with closed eyes. Their mothers beat such children, saying» "You should entertain only good wishes. Yon should not copy blind persons or you might become blind yourself ".

Mira has said correctly, “By thinking and repeating the name of Krishna, I have become Krishna myself”.

You have now marked out that, by acting as a blind man, the poet became blind, by contemplating on being a Minister, the poor student achieved Prime-Ministership, and, by thinking of becoming Lord Mayor, Whittington became Lord Mayor of London. So, too, in order to help yourself and to discharge your duty in your own interest, you must first develop purity of thought, high hopes, good conduct, holy mind, large heartedness, perseverance and firm faith in yourself, so that you may accomplish everything.

Vol. 4 (180-181)