The sage was speaking to three young seekers. They sat under a banyan tree in front of the sage’s hermitage.
Unknown to the sage, the landlord’s wife arrived on the scene and stood behind him. She too listened to the sage’s sweet speech. It is difficult to say how much she understood, but she knew that the young listeners were greatly impressed by the speech.
After the young men had taken leave of the sage, she bowed down to him. “Live long, my child,” said the sage in the way of blessing her.
“Sir, I am going to receive some important guests from the town. They are the wives of the judge and the magistrate. You must tell them whatever you told those three boys,” said the landlord’s wife.
The sage smiled but did not say anything.
Next day the wealthy ladies visited the hermitage, Their hostess introduced them to the sage and said, “Sir, be pleased to speak to them some words of wisdom.”
“Yes, sir, I want to know why God created this universe,” said the judge’s wife.
“And please tell me what happens to a human being after death,” said the magistrate’s wife.
The sage smiled. “I wish it rains today. The monsoon is late this year, don’t you think so?” he asked.
“Yes, the river that flows by our town has already begun to dry up,” said the judge’s wife.
From weather, their discussion got diverted to the problem of burglary in the town and that of mosquitoes in the village. A long time passed.
“What about the questions we asked?” the landlord’s wife finally reminded the sage.
“They are very difficult to answer. In any case, it is already time for me to sit for meditation,” said the sage.
The ladies went away. The landlord’s wife met the sage the next day and said in the way of complaining to him, “I’m sure, you avoided answering the questions of my guests!”
“Yes, my child, you are right,” said the sage.
“Why did you do that?” demanded the lady.
“You cannot discuss topics of that kind with anybody. They had nothing but idle curiosity, Their minds were not ready to receive the knowledge even if I had uttered it,” calmly explained the sage.
“You are wrong. They are very intelligent,” observed the lady.
“They may be intelligent, but they were not ready for the knowledge they sought.”
“How do you say so? Knowledge is meant for everybody! It should be given freely, without
discrimination said the lady loudly. The sage fell silent.
In the evening a loafer met the lady. “What do you want?” she asked.
“Your necklace. I want it for a night only. I’ll return it to you tomorrow,” said the loafer.
“Audacity! Do you have any idea about the value of my necklace? Do you think it to be so ordinary that it can be given to any vagabond or any stranger? Go away you fool!” shouted the lady.
The fellow went away, but he was seen going towards the hermitage.
An hour later the sage met the lady and said, “My daughter, can I borrow your necklace for a night?”
“It is yours for the asking! Do you need any other ornament too?” asked the lady.
“Oh no. I don’t even have any need for the necklace. But why did you refuse to give it to the man who asked you for it earlier?” asked the sage.
“How could I give it away to a vagabond?”
“Now you understand, don’t you?” asked the sage.
The lady gave a start. Soon she lowered her head.
“I know, you have understood. Reflect on it further. If you cannot give a purely worldly thing to anybody who asks for it, how can you expect me to pass on such knowledge which is infinitely more valuable than a necklace without discrimination?” the sage asked in a tender tone.
