Magha, the poet in the court of King Bhoja of Ujjain was very proud of the fact that he was a great scholar. The king too was no less proud because he had such a great scholar among his courtiers.
“Nobody can defeat Magha in a dialogue or an exchange of wit,” the king often said. Magha smiled, agreeing with the observation in silence.
Once in a while the king put on some disguise and looked like a commoner and roamed about to see the conditions of his subjects personally. On such occasions one of his favourite ministers or courtiers
accompanied him.
One day the king took Magha as his companion and went out to survey a frontier area of his kingdom. They roamed about for long and then decided to return to the nearest town where they had spent the night.
But they did not know which way to take to reach their destination. There was not a soul to be seen nearby. However, they were lucky to meet an old woman, stooping with age, walking alone.
“Granny, where does this road go?” asked Magha.
The old woman looked at them and, sporting a toothless smile, said, “My son, the road never goes anywhere, Human beings go to their destinations walking along it. Who are you?”
“We are travellers, granny!” replied Magha, surprised at the manner of the woman’s speech.
“Travellers?” The woman smiled again. “I thought there were only two travellers, the sun and the moon. Tell me truly, who are you?”
“We are two impermanent human beings!” said Magha, in a bid to impress the old woman with his philosophy.
“My son, only youth and wealth are impermanent. Human beings who have immortal souls in them are not impermanent. Tell me who you are,” the old woman persisted in her question.
Magha was so surprised that for a moment he could not speak. “We are kings!” joined in the king.
The old woman looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes. “My son, the scriptures recognise only two beings as true kings. They are Yama, the God of Death and Indra, the king of the Gods, Please don’t mind. Tell me who you are.”
“We don’t mind, for we are two souls known for our mercifulness,” said Magha.
“Mercifulness? Only Mother Earth and Mother are known for mercifulness. Tell me, who you are,” said the old woman.
“Well granny, we are defeated. Tell us the way,” said Magha.
“Defeated? Only he who loses his character or he who betrays somebody is the person who is defeated before destiny. Who are you?” asked the woman.
Magha and the king kept quiet. The old woman smiled and said, “But I know who you are. I have shown you the way.”
The old woman went away. Magha and the king understood what way she had shown to them.
It was the way of humility, for they had been proud all along. Of course, they found their way to the town with the help of some passers-by. But never again in his life, Magha forgot the way shown by the mysterious woman.
