Bound by Intelligence,Freed by Intelligence

- "I don’t give monkhood to everyone. I give it to only one person a day. And only if they answer my question correctly"

 Using intelligence brings happiness. Six scholars used their intelligence, but it only brought them endless trouble. Poet Kalidasa went all the way to Kashi and came back

I n King Bhoj's court, there were many scholars. Some say there were fourteen hundred scholars.

Among them, seven were considered the sun of the court. The first among them was Poet Kalidasa.

Poet Kalidasa and the other six scholars were equals.

The six scholars had grown old. Their sons had also become great scholars. These sons now sat in the court in place of their fathers.

Kalidasa did not have a son. So, he continued to attend the court himself.

The six scholars often asked their sons, "Why don?t you ever win in the court debates?"

The sons replied, "As long as Kalidasa is in the court, we will never win. Even weak scholars get by with his help. That?s why we don?t stand a chance."

So the six scholars gathered together and decided: "We must remove Kalidasa."

One said, "Kalidasa is intelligent. We can?t defeat him easily."

Another said, "Intelligence binds and intelligence releases. If Kalidasa has intelligence, so do we. Let?s think of a trick."

The scholars agreed and set a plan.

They went to Kalidasa and said, "We?re old now. We?ve eaten, drunk, and enjoyed all pleasures. Now it?s time for us to renounce everything and go to Kashi to live as monks."

Kalidasa replied, "That?s a noble thought."

With that, the scholars went to the royal court and said before the king, "We, along with Kalidasa, have decided to renounce the world and go to Kashi."

King Bhoj was surprised, especially to hear Kalidasa?s name among them. He thought, "Something?s off. If Kalidasa is involved, I should wait and see."

So the king said, "That is indeed a joyful decision. Kalidasa has aged. If he renounces and lives in Kashi, it will be for the better. I won?t stop him."

Kalidasa too understood that these scholars had played a trick on him. Just yesterday they were talking normally, and today they claimed Kalidasa agreed. He realized they used his name in their plan. He thought, "If I say no now, people will criticize me. So let me just say yes."

The king asked, "Is this true, Kalidasa? Have you really grown disillusioned with the world?"

Kalidasa said, "Yes. I no longer enjoy all this."

So the matter was finalized. The six scholars were happy. Now that Kalidasa would leave, their sons would gain fame and rewards.

The six scholars and Kalidasa set off. The people of the city bid them farewell with love.

They reached Kashi.

In Kashi, there was a great monk named Nrusingh Bharati. They went to him and requested, "We are seven scholars, grown old now. Please grant us monkhood."

Nrusingh Bharati said, "I don?t give monkhood to everyone. I give it to only one person a day. And only if they answer my question correctly."

They sat to decide who would go first. Kalidasa said, "I will go last."

One of the six scholars went first the next day. Nrusingh Bharati asked, "What will you do after becoming a monk?"

The scholar replied, "I will stand on the holy banks of the Ganga, offer prayers to Lord Shiva, and chant ?Har Har Shambho?."

Nrusingh Swami said, "You are worthy of being a monk. You have much knowledge."

He was made a monk, dressed in saffron robes, and had his head shaved.

The next day, another scholar went. He said, "I will chant Krishna?s name and go to Gokul and Mathura and sing ?Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna?."

In this way, all six scholars became monks. Last came Kalidasa.

Nrusingh Swami asked, "What will you do after becoming a monk?"

Kalidasa replied, "If I become a monk, either I will go mad, or I will weep constantly."

Nrusingh Swami asked, "Why?"

Kalidasa said, "I will keep thinking of my home and my loved ones. That worry will drive me mad. Because once a person becomes a monk, he cannot return home. And that thought will trouble me deeply."

Hearing this, Nrusingh Swami became angry. He said, "You foolish scholar! If your heart is still attached to your home and loved ones, why did you come here to become a monk? Go! I will not make you a monk."

And so Kalidasa was cast out. Whoever Nrusingh Swami refused to make a monk, no one else would either.

He wandered all of Kashi, going to every monk. No one made Kalidasa a monk.

The six scholars deeply regretted it. They became monks, but Kalidasa escaped. Now what?

As monks, they could not return home. But Kalidasa, having not become a monk, returned home.

King Bhoj was surprised and asked, "Why did you come back?"

Kalidasa replied, "With intelligence."

The king asked, "How so?"

Kalidasa said, "By the strength of intelligence. These six scholars tried to trap me. But with my intelligence, I got away. Those who use their intelligence to deceive others, in the end, fall into their own trap. Intelligence is a gift from God, meant to help others or oneself ? not to cause harm. Those who misuse it, suffer."

King Bhoj was greatly pleased. The six scholars were shaved bald for nothing.