The Emperor And The Sage

A sage who lived in the jungle was very popular with the masses. The emperor was very curious to know the ways of the sage and invited the wise man to stay in his palace. The emperor wanted to observe the sage.

As soon as the sage came near the palace he said, “Wow, what a beautiful masterpiece. I feel like looking at the architecture all day.” The emperor later took him to the dining hall. The sage tasted the varieties of sweets, exotic cooked meat, and fruits and said “Yummy, can I have some more….”

Later the emperor took the sage to view dancing girls. The sage could not take his eyes off the girls. He adored their beauty and tapped his feet.

The emperor had been observing the sage all along. He was puzzled about the sage’s interest in these base worldly pursuits. So he confronted the sage, “You call yourself a sage. And you were popular for your renounced life and meaningful messages. But look how you are imbibing these pleasures…”

The sage looked at the emperor for some time and said, “Can you take me to the jungle where I came from?” The leader agreed and they set off on the journey. Soon they reached the border between the city and the jungle. The sage then tells the emperor, “Now, come with me into the jungle and let’s start living in the woods.”

The emperor begins to panic. He responds, “I cannot leave my palace, post, power, and luxury.”

The sage smiles and said, “That is the difference between you and me. I can renounce the worldly life anytime and return to a peaceful and happy living. But you cannot give up your status, glamour, and vices and live in the jungle.”

The emperor got the message. He touched the feet of the sage and the wise one walked into the woods in peace.

This story was selected and submitted by Anitha Jebaraj.