Rash action

Learned but Not Wise

Four young, poverty-stricken Brahmins lived in a city. It is better to live in a forest where only wild animals live, they thought, 'rather than suffer poverty. It is better to sleep on a bed of grass than lead such a sorry and poor life.

They packed their baggage and set out in search of prosperity and happiness. The learned have always said that, in grief, a man always gives up the truth, his relatives, his mother and even his motherland.

After several journeys, the four Brahmins reached a great city. They bathed in the river and went to the main temple. When they emerged from the temple after worshipping, a holy man greeted them. All of them bowed before him with respect and accompanied him to his monastery.

'What brings you to this place? Where are you from? Where do you want to go?' the holy man said.

'We are in search of prosperity. However, if te don't become rich, we will die. You know that cou- rageous people achieve their goals, even if they have to sacrifice their lives. But, even though destiny is powerful, nothing can be achieved without human effort. So, please tell us what we can do.

The holy man was touched by their sorry condi- tion and sincere determination. He gave them four specially blessed tablets.

'Each one will hold a tablet. Then, travel towards the Himalayas. At some point, the tablet will fall from your hands. If you stop and dig, you will find treasure. Live happily after that!"

The four Brahmins began their journey, and after travelling for a few days, a tablet dropped from a Brahmin's hand. They stopped there and dug; and found plenty of copper. The first Brahmin told the rest to mine as much copper as they could and take it home.

'What is so great about copper?' the others said. 'Let us move ahead.'

The first Brahmin said, 'You carry on. I am going back home with this copper.

The other three Brahmins then continued their journey, till a tablet dropped from another Brahmin's hand. Digging there, they uncovered plenty of silver. The second Brahmin said that silver was of great value and they should all be happy. They could take as much as they wanted and go back home. The other two Brahmins said he could go back, but they would continue on their journey. The second Brahmin took as much silver as he could carry and went home.

The remaining two Brahmins walked some dis- tance until the third tablet dropped. The two dug there and found gold. The third Brahmin felt that gold was a valuable find. He said, 'Let's go back, there is nothing more precious than gold. "The fourth Brahmin disagreed and replied that he would continue his search. The third Brahmin took the gold and went home.

It was now the fourth Brahmin's turn. By now, he was tired and thirsty, and had lost his way. Wandering aimlessly, he saw a man completely soaked in blood

with a wheel whirring over his head, like a halo. 'Sir,' the fourth Brahmin asked, 'who are you?

Why do you have a wheel over your head? I am thirsty. Where can I get some water?' As he said this, the wheel shifted from the stranger's head and settled over the Brahmin's head.

'Why is the wheel over my head? What is it?'

'I have no idea. It tormented me. It will trouble you now,' said the stranger.

'At least tell me how I can get rid of it. It is so painful.'

'It can only go to another person like you, if he has a tablet in his hand.'

'How long have you been bearing this pain?' asked the fourth Brahmin.

'I have forgotten. I think it was in the reign of Lord Rama,' said the stranger.

'Who gave you food and water?' asked the fourth Brahmin.

"This is the place where Lord Kubera has stored his wealth. Those who trespass will feel no thirst or hunger. But this wheel inflicts great pain. You can only get here, in the first place, if you have a blessed tablet,' said the stranger and went away.

When the fourth Brahmin did not return, his friend, the third Brahmin, went back looking for him. He followed the trail left by his friend and found him bleeding and in great pain, with a wheel over his head. He asked him how this had happened. The Brahmin then narrated the whole story.

'I told you not to be greedy,' said the third Brahmin. 'You didn't listen. You are learned but not wise. Wisdom is always superior to learning. Foolish people perish like the Brahmin boys who brought the lion to life.'

'How?' said the fourth Brahmin, barely able to speak.