Page 185 - Kailaspati: Paramhans Hansdevji Avadhoot

king of a land by learning the kingly duties, then one can achieve ‘Brahma Vidya’ by doing ‘Brahmacharya’ (i.e. penance with piety). having decided thus, the king sent for his minister and narrated to him the story of his life. he also let him know that he wanted to achieve ‘BrahmAvidya’ But how could he realize his goal if there was no real Guru to guide him. The King therefore asked
his minister to be on the look-out for a real Guru.
Days later, the Minister informed the King about a sage, living in the dense forest, adjoining the kingdom. The king then arranged his army and went out with precious gifts to pay a visit to the sage. No sooner had the King neared the ashrama of the sage, than he came across one of the disciples of the sage. The King said to him, “Please go, tell the sage that the King of the land is come to meet you.” happily the disciple relayed the news to the sage. in fact, he himself got allured by the huge number of precious gifts for the sage. But the sage declined to meet the King, let alone receiving the gifts meant for him. The disciple got cross but he relayed the information to the King. But the King did not feel disheartened, he instead made a fervent appeal to the sage. The sage at last agreed to meet him but after a period of eight days.
Glad at heart, the King returned to his capital.
On return, the King thought to himself that he had not done
it right by having gone there with so many armymen. On the very eighth day, the King once again went out to meet the sage. he was then in company with a few soldiers. Besides, he left his royal robe and in ordinary dress he went to the sage. On arrival at the ashram, the King sent word to the sage through his disciple. But this time too, the sage declined to meet the King. The King instead prayed to the sage repeatedly. The sage sent a message that the King could meet him eight days thence. The King returned to his palace.
On return, the King thought to himself that he failed to renounce his pride and prosperity in order to meet the sage. On the eighth day, the King went out all alone to meet the sage. On reaching the hermitage, the King sent a message through the self-same disciple of the sage of his arrival. This time the sage condescended
Fhftd Volum: First Taranga 155