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

imagine that the skull belongs to a pauper, then what was it doing in the royal graveyard.
How did the poor man reach there? I want to solve this mystery! If the skull belongs to a
king, it must have once enjoyed pomp and power as you do now!
O my king! I cannot bear to think that one day you might be rendered to this helpless
stage! Your majestic skull trampled by strangers! Your delicate body consumed by the
vermin in the grave! Your body transiting from spacious palaces to a grave of two metres!
These well-appointed palaces falling into the hands of strangers! When your subjects cry
for your help, you are unable to provide it!
The king shivered hearing all this. Tears started rolling down his cheeks. When the
courtier saw that his stratagem had an effect on the king, he told many more things in
support of the argument. At last, the king came to the right path! He quit pomp and
pleasure and adopted piety in his life. In the entire realm there was talk of virtue and
piety. Many men of learning arrived in the realm and the people benefited from their
company.
Yuzasaf said, “ O wise person! My heart is not satisfied with your wise talk! Relate to me
some more tales!”
Balohar said, “ Listen, o prince!
In the olden days there was a king who was fabulously rich and powerful. The only thing
he lacked was an heir to his crown. He tried all the possible ways to have a son but he
grew old in this expectation. However in his twilight years Allah gave him a son. There
was great jubilation in the realm. The child was brought up with great care. He grew up,
started to crawl, walk and also learned to talk. One day, while he was playing, he took
one step and said, “ Meaad (Resurrection) is bound to come and you are committing
injustice!” The child took another step and said, “ You will grow old!”. The child took the
third step and said, “ Then you shall die!” Now the child busied himself in play. The king
who was observing this, was much amazed at the talk of the little prince.
The astrologers were summoned and informed of the precocious utterances of the little
prince. They were ordered to investigate the matter and give their report. The astrologers
drew up their charts but were unable to predict anything significant. One astrologer made
a wild guess and said that the child would be very pious and kind of nature.
Hearing this, the king was very angry and kept the prince in isolation. He appointed his
trusted men to look after the child. When the prince reached his youth, went out of the
palace giving a slip to his guardians. He was passing through the bazaar when he saw a
funeral procession going. He asked someone, “ What is this?” He was told that the people
were carrying a dead person to the graveyard. He asked, “ What is the reason for the
death of the person?” He was told that the man had grown old and feeble and it was time
for his death. The prince asked, “ Was he earlier like us, young and healthy?” they replied
that in his younger days the man was very healthy and an adept at wrestling! The prince
went a little further and noticed an old man. He asked,” What sort of a person is this?
Why he looks so weak?” The reply was, “ He is much advanced in years, his limbs are