ARYAN -  Aryan's Education

“Maharaj…” began Aryan, “My father was a thief!  He used to commit several thefts during the day and our very survival was based on the money he so amassed.  I did not like this at all and decided that I will never be a part of this evil deed.  He did try to involve me in stealing other’s properties but could not succeed.  He had another bad habit and which was that he was a drunkard.  Finally, this had a toll on his health and he breathed his last.  After his death, I went out in search of a job that would enable me to earn an honest living.  I got one in a vegetable shop where I had to help the vendor in selling his items and keep an account of the money earned each day.  Malik (the vendor) did ask me about my family and I hid the truth about my father for fear of losing the job.  But alas!  Faith played a cruel trick on me as Malik came to know about my father through some person who knew our family.  Despite the fact that I had worked with utmost sincerity he immediately asked me to leave for he did not want to take a risk of employing a son of a thief in his place.  Thereafter, I decided that instead of letting the people know the truth from a third person about my father I will disclose the facts about him, when asked.  This would also relieve me from a constant fear in my heart that my employer might some day find out that my father was a thief.  However, there was not much of a positive outcome from this.  I did get some petty jobs in a couple of places despite telling the truth about my father.  However, in a few days time I was asked to leave for my masters came under the advice of the people of not having the son of a thief working under them. I was terribly upset over all these developments. As I preferred begging rather than going in the footsteps of my father, I turned to the streets.  I became a very silent boy due to the injustice people were doing to me.  I was delighted when I saw a King like you behaving so kindly towards me.  When you asked me about the circumstances, which had compelled me to beg, my bitter old experiences came flashing back in my mind.  I knew that if I tried to speak, I was sure to cry and therefore preferred to keep mum.  However, when you were taking me along in the chariot I could suppress my emotions no more and I wept.  Thereafter, I felt better and began to speak with you.  O King, why is the society according this step-motherly treatment towards me?  What wrong have I done?  Why am I being punished for the culpability of my father?”  Aryan asked the King with tears in his eyes. 

Dharmaraja was moved to hear these words of the lad.  “What about your mother, Aryan?”  the King asked him in a sombre tone.

 “I have never seen her, Maharaj.  Father told me that she died when she gave birth to me.”  the boy answered sadly.

 “Aryan, I can understand your feelings.  You have suffered much in such a tender age.  Now, I want you to forget all the past events and start life afresh.  I want to send you for getting proper education under some reputed teacher.” 

“Thank you, Maharaj!”  Aryan said excitedly.

“The renowned sage Shantenu has set up his ashram in the beautiful forest of Kamadini in our kingdom. He’s a great tapasvi and treats everyone as equals.  He would certainly take you as his pupil.”  Dharmaraja reasoned.

“I would be honoured if that happens, Maharaj.”

That very day Dharmaraja met Shantenu and informed him everything about the boy.  The King, then took up Aryan’s education with the sage who agreed to accept the boy as his disciple. 

When the King informed Aryan about this, he was overcome with joy.  Aryan fell at his feet and thanked him for all that he had done for him.  Dharmaraja hugged the boy and advised him to fully concentrate on all that the sage thought him.

As Aryan’s education progressed, he turned out to be an excellent student.  He was a quick learner and strictly followed his guru’s guidelines.  Although he was of a serious nature, he still managed to touch a chord with his fellow students with his generosity and sincerity. 

Through his aides, the King kept a tab on Aryan’s education.  He felt very happy to learn that Aryan was making great use of the opportunity provided.  Dharmaraja felt certain in his heart that Aryan would grow into a noble human being and set an example for others. 

Then dawned a day that was to prove very decisive in Aryan’s education period under Sage Shantenu.  It so happened that Aryan and four other students of the ashram set out in the forest for collecting some wood which Shantenu required to perform a yagna.  As they were moving along, they suddenly heard someone shout, “Careful!  Careful!”  They became alert and without making a sound slowly moved some bushes that were blocking their view.  They found three men removing a large trunk from the ground. 

“I again repeat that all this is not necessary.”  said one among them. 

“Why don’t you understand?  Earlier we used to come here and take money out from this treasure whenever we wanted. Now, the scenario has changed.  This place is no longer safe to keep this treasure as there’s now an ashram nearby.  Some day we may be spotted while taking out this trunk. Therefore, we better move it to a safer place.” 

Still, the other man was not satisfied but helped to lift the treasure frowning.  Suddenly, he slipped a bit which tilted the trunk to one side and flung open it’s unlocked cover, dropping some gold coins on the ground!  This brought an expression of surprise in the face of the boys who were watching all this.  The other two men cursed the one who had 

slipped, kept the trunk down, put the fallen coins back in it, lifted it and then all of them disappeared in the jungle.  One among the boys, Suman, had an idea! 

“Why don’t we go there and inspect that spot where they had dropped that trunk?  May be they have missed to put some gold coins back!” 

“No! No! What if they return?” asked one among them. 

“Why will they return?” asked Suman amused.  “..They are gone!  Alright! Let’s wait here for some more time to see if they return.  Then we shall go there.” 

“But what about guruji’s work?  We will be delayed.”  observed another.

“A few minutes won’t matter.”  Suman felt.

All this while, Aryan only listened to their conversation silently.  After some moments when the trio did not return, Suman prompted the others to follow him. 

“Why are you so quiet, Aryan?  Accompany us.”  Suman urged Aryan.

“No, Suman.  Don’t do this!  What you are going to do is not right!”  Aryan cautioned his friend.

But Suman was adamant and went to the spot with the others who followed him reluctantly.  When they returned they appeared very excited.  In their hurry the men had failed to pick up five gold coins which these children had in their hands!  As it was Suman who had led them to that spot, he kept two gold coins with him while the rest was evenly distributed among the others.  To their utter bewilderment, they found that Aryan was not in his place. 

“Where’s Aryan?”  one of them asked alarmed. 

They looked in all directions but could not find him. 

“O God!  Where did he go?  Did he go back to tell guruji about this?”  asked one of them with fear in his heart.

“In that case, we are doomed!  How can we return to the ashram now?  Guruji may be annoyed at us and might even curse us for the greed we have displayed at laying our hands on someone else’s property. “Oh!  Why did we do this?”   lamented another.

Then, one of them turned to Suman, “It is because of you that all of us have fallen in trouble!  Had you not incited us, we may not have made such a move at all.” 

“Oh!  I see!  So I am to blame for all this?  Don’t you have any conscience of your own?  So what if I called you?  It was your decision to accompany me.”  Suman defended his act.

“It’s no use fighting among each other” opined a child wisely, “let’s now ponder as to what is to be done.  We cannot return without collecting the forest wood required by guruji.  So, let’s do that first.  The damage has already been done.  So, what’s the use of brooding over it now?  Let us all put these coins away.  Guruji has always taught us of not being greedy in life.  We have gone against him for which we have to now reap the consequences.” 

The children put the coins back in the place from where they had collected them and were about to make their way in the forest for accomplishing the task that their guruji had entrusted upon them when they found someone standing right in front of them.  They were startled!

(To Continue)