The Wise Cart-Puller and the Proud King

Story

One evening, little Riya sat close to her dadi (grandmother) as they sat on the verandah, watching the sunset.

"Dadi," Riya asked, "You always say wisdom is more important than wealth. Why is that?"

Dadi smiled and patted Riya’s head. "Let me tell you a story about a king and a wise man who wasn’t rich but taught the king something priceless.

It is the Story of Raikva and the King Janasruti."

Dadi narrated the story:

A long time ago, there was a generous king named Janasruti. He liked helping people and doing charity for them. He built rest houses for travellers, fed hungry people, and gave necessary things to anyone in need. He was proud of his kindness and thought no one could be more generous and wise than him. He had become very boastful of his wealth.

One quiet night, when the king was resting on his palace's terrace, he heard two swans flying overhead. One swan said to the other, "Look at the king’s goodness shining like daylight! Don’t fly too close, or it might burn you."

The other swan chuckled and replied, "Ha! Whom are you talking about? He’s nothing compared to Raikva, the cart-puller."

“Who is Raikva, dadi?” asked Riya.

Dadi smiled and said, “The king also asked the same question.”

Hearing the Swans, Janasruti sat up, surprised. "Who is this Raikva?" he wondered. "How can a cart-puller be greater than me?"

Janasruti sent his servants to find Raikva. After looking for him at many places, they finally found Raikva sitting under his cart, scratching his arm. He looked like an ordinary man, however, the servants reported about him to the King.

The next day, Janasruti went to Raikva with many gifts: cows, a golden necklace, and a shiny chariot. Bowing deeply, he said, "Raikva, I’ve heard you are wise. Please teach me about what you know."

Raikva looked at the king and said, "Wisdom cannot be bought with expensive gifts."

The king returned with a heavy heart, but he was determined to get the real knowledge. He returned with even more gifts and unmatchable offerings to Raikva.

"Please teach me," he begged Raikva.

This time, Raikva agreed and said, "It’s not because of your gifts that I want to teach you. It’s because you are humble and really want to learn. Now, listen attentively."

Raikva explained, "Everything in the world, the fire, the sun, the moon, the water, all return to the air. And within you, when you sleep, your senses—your speech, sight, and hearing—return to your breath, your Prana. Just like air is the great power outside us, Prana is the great power within. If you understand this, you’ll see how behind every visible thing or process, there lies a great invisible power, which controls and connects everything."

From that day, Janasruti became not just a kind and humble king but a wise one too.

Dadi looked at Riya and said, "You see, beta, wisdom and humility are more valuable than riches. The king learned that a person who is humble and wise is respected by all. Even an ordinary person can teach us something important if we’re willing to listen.”

Riya quickly asked, “Dadi, why did Raikva say that everything is connected—inside and out?"

Dadi smiled and said, "For fire, the sun, the moon, and water, their ‘home’ is the air. When fire burns out, it disappears into the air. When the sun sets or the moon hides, they also go back into the air. Even water, when it dries up, becomes part of the air. Air is a great power that holds everything inside it.

“Similarly, when you go to sleep, your senses—like your ability to talk, see, and hear—all take a rest. They go back to your breath, which is called Prana. Prana is like the air inside you—it’s the boss of your body.”

Riya tilted her head. "So, Prana is like the air inside me that keeps everything in my body working?"

"That’s right," Dadi said. "Just like the air outside connects everything in the world, your Prana connects everything inside you. When you understand this, you see that everything—inside and outside—is connected, like one big family."

Riya’s eyes sparkled. "Wow, Dadi! So the air outside and the breath inside are both super important!"

Dadi nodded. "Yes, my little one,” and they both went inside as it was getting dark.

Note: Air and Prana mentioned in the story refer to the supreme self or Brahman, the truth behind the existence of everything -- living or Non-living.