Aspirants Guide

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

Page 15

ASPIRANT'S GUIDE of India. He was also the preceptor of the king Shivaji.
Once, during the summer, he was on his way to meet Shivaji with his pupils. Some of his pupils entered a farm, broke oft a few stalks of sugar-cane and began to suck them. However, when the watchman of the farm arrived, they quickly ran away. At that time, Swami Ramdas was sitting nearby meditating upon God. On seeing him, the watchman thought, "It seems that this monk is behind it." Under this mistaken belief, the watchman beat him severely and threw him out. Swami Ramdas, with his spirit of equanimity, did not utter a single word.
Now, when Shivaji met Swami Ramdas, he saw many scars on his body. Shivaji gathered the facts from the pupils. The watchman was immediately arrested and brought in front of the king Shivaji.
Shivaji said, "Weil Guruji, what punishment shall I give to this man ?".
Ramdas replied, "I myself shall punish him."
He announced his judgment in the following words, "From today, the farm shall be awarded to this watchman. He shall be exempted from all taxes during his life-time."
Shivaji, his courtiers, and the pupils of Ramdas, were all stunned on hearing this judgment. They began to ponder. Look, how liberal are the hearts of great men ! Swamiji forgave fully this man's ill-deeds and also did a good turn to him. (2) King Ranjit Singh (1780 - 1839), better known as the Lion of the state of Punjab, India, was well known for his kingmanship, benevolence and military leadership.
Once, while he was walking on the outskirts of the city, a stone hit him. The King was injured and his body-guards came running to help him and looked for the person who had thrown the stone. After a short while, the body-guards presented an old woman before the king.
She submitted, "O King ! My grandson was without food for the last three days. As he had no food, I threw a stone at this mango tree, so as to get a ripe fruit to satisfy my grandson's hunger. However, due to my misfortune, the stone missed its target and hit your honor ! It was at all my intention to hurt
you."
SADHAK-SATHI