*The* *A R R O G A N C E*

 *The* 

*A R R O G A N C E*

After travelling long through a forest, *Kalidasa reached a village. He felt very thirsty and looked around for water.*

He saw an old woman drawing water from a well.

He went up to her and asked her for water. *She agreed to give him water, but asked him to first introduce himself,*

WHO ARE YOU  ?

 "Introduce yourself.” 

Now Kalidasa, who was a renowned and revered scholar of his time, thought that *an ordinary and old village womana was not worthy of knowing who great Kalidasa was.*

So he said, 

*I am a traveller*

But the old lady replied, “No, *you cannot be a traveller.* In this world there are only 2 travellers – *the Sun and the Moon. Both Rise and Set every day and keep travelling perpetually.*

WHO ARE YOU  ?

Thirsty Kalidasa said, *“Alright then, treat me as a guest.”*

Old lady promptly replied, *“No you cannot be a guest,* son. 

In this world there are *only 2 guests – Youth and Wealth … both are temporary and do not stay even if you plead with them a million times, and hence can only they be called as guests.”*

WHO ARE YOU  ?

Thirsty but now quite intrigued with the profoundness of this old lady, Kalidasa said, *“I am a TOLERANT Person, mother* 

Now the old lady replied, *“You don’t quite look tolerant,* young man. 

In this world *only 2 truly know the meaning of Tolerance* 

*Bhoomi (Earth) and Tree*. How much ever you stamp the earth or throw stones at the tree (for the fruits), both continue to nurture us.”

So, 

WHO ARE YOU  ?

With unquenched thirst, Kalidasa was increasingly becoming irritable. He said, *“Fine then, consider me a Stubborn Person* 

The lady smiled and said, *“No my child, you are not that stubborn.*

There are only 2 truly stubborn personalities *our nails and our hair. We keep cutting them non-stop, but they continue to grow.”*

So

WHO ARE YOU  ?

Kalidasa had been patient so far, but now in anger he said, *“Alright, I am a Fool”.* 

Now the lady gave a wide smile and said, *“There are only 2 kinds of fools* in this world 

*A King who rules without having any capability or knowledge & a Minister* who is a sycophant to such a King and lavishes praises on such a useless king.”

WHO ARE YOU  ?

Kalidasa realised that *he had been outsmarted by an old illiterate village woman.*

 In complete awe and humility, he fell at the feet of the lady, saying,

*“O mother! How ignorant I was to think that I know myself.*

I am ashamed of myself. Pardon my ignorance.

Show mercy, and grant me water, I beg of you.

When he touched her feet and then got up,

 whom did he see?...

*Mata Saraswati the Goddess of Learning and Wisdom.*    

She said, “Kalidasa, you are wise. *But only if you know yourself do you become a true Manushya (human being).* 

Your *EGO* has overshadowed your achievements. 

You are *educated, but you are _also given to arrogance*. 

Hence, I had to come to guide you.

The mark of a true human being is *not his knowledge, but his humility.* 

_*Your Intellect*_

_*Your Education is of...*_

_*NO USE IF IT...*_

_*ONLY FEEDS YOUR*

EGO  ....is the main cause of our ignorance!!