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

Balohar continued, “ It is said that a person had three friends. He used to love one of
them very much. Whatever the person asked him to do, he would do with alacrity. The
second friend too he loved dearly, but not as much as he liked the first. The third friend
received little attention from the person.
One day the person was summoned to the king’s court on account of a complaint made by
someone against him. He was much scared. He went to the first friend and told him of his
worry. He asked him for help. The friend said, “ I have got a special raiment made for
you that you can wear and go to the court.” The man was much disappointed with the
reply. He went to the second friend and told him about his problem. He replied, “ I have
so much work on hand that I cannot give you any time or attention. I can only walk a few
paces with you on the way to the king’s court!” The man was disappointed with the
second friend too, and came away from him crestfallen. He went to the third friend and
begged his pardon that he had always neglected him. But he explained his problem to
him. The friend said, “ Don’t be afraid! Your repentance at this time has come to your
rescue! I shall come with you to the court and help you!”
Balohar continued, “ O prince! The first friend was wealth that promised to give him a
shroud for his coffin, if required. The second friend was his child who agreed to walk a
few paces on the way to his grave. The third friend was his good deeds that would keep
company with him even after his death.
Hearing the parable, the prince said,” O wise person! Please tell me some more tales like
this!”
Balohar said,” A kingdom had a very strange custom. Whenever the kings place fell
vacant, they would catch the first traveler coming their way, they would catch and crown
him king! They never told him how long he would remain the king. Then they would
remove him from the throne after a year and get another stranger as the king. They used
to leave the previous king to roam around the town as a beggar. Once, a stranger, when
put on the throne, thought about the strange practice of the place and wondered how long
he could remain in power! The people were strangers for him and he expected no
sympathy from them. He therefore searched a person from his own town and told him
about the strange manner in which he was crowned the king. The man advised him to
transfer some wealth to another place for use in time of need. The king did follow the
advice.
Balohar said, “ O prince! You are that king who acted on the advice and I am the friend
who proffered the advice!”
Yuzasaf said,” O wise Balohar! Whatever you have said about the futility of the world
has affected me so much that I don’t need any further advice. I wish now to hear from
you about the Hereafter!”