FIRM GOAL

Sage Suryananda appeared before his students and took his seat on a platform beneath a banyan tree, just as the sun was about to set on the horizon. Every evening, through his parabolical stories, the sage taught his disciples the prominence of being noble and virtuous in life.  The sage glanced at all the students and found them eagerly awaiting his recital of a new story that evening.  He gave an endearing smile and addressed everyone in his resonant and crips voice, “Students, if you want success in life and achieve your goals, you must possess the qualities of determination, self-confidence and wit.  All these qualities go hand in hand in determining a person ‘s success. Many an uphill task can be easily achieved if you are determined, confident and patient enough to achieve it.  On the other hand, lack of determination and self-confidence in a person will make even a minor task appear unachievable and undoable for him.  Remember that not all battles are won by mere strength and power.  Sometimes you have also to make shrewd inferences and use your intelligence to win a battle.” Suryananda then narrated the following story to his disciples who listened with rapt attention. *********** Long ago, King Kanakaraj ruled over the kingdom of Magadha.  He was a very ideal ruler, and his subjects were quite content and happy under his rule.  The King strived day and night for the welfare of his subjects.  He sank wells, built dharmashalas and dispensaries and planted vast gardens of medicinal herbs for the sake of his people.  Besides he also built water tanks and canals to supply water aplenty to the farmers for agricultural purposes.  Thus, the city of Magadha became very rich in agriculture due to the elaborate measures adopted by the noble King. The King had a very beautiful Queen, Satyabhama.  When she had chosen him as her husband in the ‘swayamvar’, all the other Kings and princes had looked at him with disdain and scorn.  They all believed that Kanakaraj may have done a very worthy deed in his past life that God had blessed him with such a beauteous Queen! Satyabhama had given birth to a boy whom the couple had named Amritraj.  The child was now fast approaching the age where he had to be sent to ‘gurukul’ for education. As days were passing by peacefully in the kingdom of Magadha, one afternoon, as the King was resting in his apartment, his spies came to see him.  They appeared very pensive. “We are sorry to disturb you, Maharaj.” Said one of them, “…but it is very urgent.  We have grim news.” As the King listened pensively, one of them continued, “We have gathered information that King Vikram of Sanghvi is on his way to launch a surprise attack on our kingdom!  He should be here in a few hours, O King!” The King was alarmed to hear this.  Another spy spoke waveringly, “Maharaj!  Though Vikram is attacking our kingdom to expand his territory, there’s another reason behind this attack…” Seeing the spy hesitant to proceed, the King asked him puzzled, “What is the matter, Pawan?  Speak up!  I need to know the details!” “Vikram has an eye on our Queen!  O King!  He wants to defeat you and acquire the Queen!” the spy disclosed hanging his head down. Hearing these words of the spy, the King stood up blazing in anger. “How dare he!  How can he even think in these terms?” He thanked his spies for the news and immediately set out to plan for the impending war.  He was confident of victory for he imposed unimpeachable faith on his army chief, Abhijit, who used to set the army in such an impenetrable manner that it made a herculean task for the enemy to get past the ‘vyuha’!