Ain Al-Hayat, The Essence of Life.pdf - Higher Intellect | Content ...

interest of the prince in piety. Balohar had come to the kingdom by boat and had met the
courtier close to the prince in the guise of a merchant. He told them that he had a
miraculous medicine that can bring back sight to totally blind persons. It can also give the
faculty of hearing to persons who are totally deaf. The medicine also had, he said, power
to cure any incurable ailment. It can give strength to the physically weak, it will make the
mentally weak into wise and can give the possessor control over his mortal enemies. He
told them that he wanted to show the medicine to the prince. that he thought he was the
right person to own it. He requested them to get an audition from the prince for him. The
courtier first wanted to see the medicine before he could seek an appointment from the
prince. The man said that none other than the prince could bear to look at the medicine.
Hearing this from Balohar, the courtier went to the prince and recounted what transpired
between him and the merchant. The intuition of the prince gave him a feeling that he
could learn something interesting from the merchant newly arrived from Serendeep. He
wanted Balohar to meet him privately in the quiet of night. The prince treated him with
due respect and courtesy. Balohar said, “ I never thought that your highness would give
such respect to a total stranger?” The prince said, “ The secret that I wish to unravel,
seems possible of solution through you! “
Balohar said, “ I am deeply grateful to you for the kindness you have for me! I wish to
tell you a tale. There was a king in a certain country. The king was well known for his
good nature and kindness to his subjects. One day while he was riding for pleasure, the
king noticed two persons dressed in tattered garments. The king dismounted his steed,
greeted them and talked to them with respect. He shook hands with both the persons. The
courtiers accompanying the king didn’t like the gesture. They couldn’t tell anything to the
king but went to his elder brother and complained about what they thought was the
indiscretion of the king. The brother went to the king and admonished him. He heard his
elder brother with respect and patience.
The next morning the king deputed the ‘ messenger-of-death’ to his elder brother’s house.
It was a custom there that the king used to have an official messenger-of-death who
would call on the person the king ordered to be executed.
Hearing about the visit of the messenger-of-death everyone started crying at the residence
of the king’s elder brother. The elder brother, in a funeral procession, came to the court.
Seeing the condition of the brother, the king said, “ How ignorant and foolish a person
are you that for no cause of capital punishment, just for getting a visit to your house from
the messenger-of-death you are so worried and disconsolate! Don’t you think of the day
when the herald from Allah will call you and question about the treatment you meted out
to Adam’s progeny like you, who are as much your brothers as your own brothers are!
What reply will you give? My courtiers misled you. They were themselves misled by the
shabby and tattered apparel of those two pious persons! They were in fact men of deep
piety and knowledge!
.
Saying this, the king ordered four big chests to be brought. First two were smeared with
coal tar and filled with jewels and locked. The other two chests were filigreed with gold