________________
NandiSootra
were closed. To wait till morning the three slept under a dense tree near the gate. The luckless had no sleep in his eyes. He was deep in thoughts - "Luck does not favour me. I try to do good and in turns bad. Death is better than such miserable life. I will be rid of all troubles."
With these thoughts he got up, tied one end of his scarf to a branch of the tree and making a noose at the other end hung himself. Even the death did not favour the unlucky. The rotten old scarf could not take his weight and was torn apart. Under the tree was also sleeping a team of acrobats. The luckless fell on them and their chief died on the spot. There was a commotion in the group of the acrobats and at last they also joined these three to get the luckless punished by the king.
When this crowd reached the king's assembly everyone was surprised. When the king asked about the cause of so many people coming together, every complainant lodged his complaint. Now the king looked at the luckless. Accepting all the charges the luckless said - "Sir, I did not do anything intentionally. I am so unlucky that anything I do with good intention turns bad. They all are telling the truth. Whatever punishment you decide for me, I am prepared to accept."
The king was very considerate and just. He could understand that the innocent man was not at fault. It is not right to punish him for the fault of fate. He felt pity for the luckless and drawing on his profound experience and vainayiki buddhi he very cleverly gave his judgement.
First of all he called the owner of the oxen and said - "If you want your oxen back first take out your eyes and give them to this man. This is because with these very eyes you saw this man taking the oxen into your yard. "After this he called the owner of the horse - "If you want your horse, first cut out your tongue and give it to him; because with the help of this very tongue you said to hit the horse with a staff. Punishing him is not justified as long as your tongue is not punished."
In the end he called the acrobats and said - "This poor man has nothing that he can be asked to give you. If at all you want to take revenge I will order him to sleep under the same tree. The chief, now among you, should tie a noose in his neck and hang from that very branch. He will fall on this man and this man will die. Thus the debt will be paid." None of the three found words to challenge the king's judgement and they left as they had come. The luckless also returned after profusely thanking the king.
(3) KARMAJA BUDDHI THE PRACTICAL WISDOM
[104] MEANING -That which is judged by its use, that which develops with Practice and analysis, and that which earns fruits of praise iscalled karmaja buddhi or practical wisdom. Its examples are
[105] MEANING -1.Goldsmith, 2.Farmer, 3.Weaver, 4.Wood engraver, 5.Pearlstringer, 6.Butter vendor, 7.Acrobat, 8. Tailor, 9.Carpenter, 10.Sweet maker (a specialist cook), 11.Potter and 12. Painter.
COMMENTARY - Expertise in any craft is acquired through sharp intelligence and regular practice. This is known as karmaja buddhi or practical wisdom. Its use and display conveys its utility and begets praise. Some examples of expert artisans skilled in their crafts are as follows
Goldsmith - A skilled goldsmith is such an expert of his trade that he is experienced enough to examine gold or silver just by touch, even in the dark.
Farmer - A thief one night entered the house of a merchant for burglary. He used his expertise in making a hole in the wall and left a lotus shaped hole. In the Aagam-44 - Nandi Sootra
80- Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
