Page 77 - Towards The Goal Of Beautiful Life

was conducting his personal life peacefully, while on the other, he was ruling his kingdom
efficiently. When the minister and all the administrative officers observed this behaviour

of their new king, they were surprised. This surprise was because all the other previous
kings used to be very upset during their ten years of rule, since they worried and feared

about their fate that after ten years they were to be sent to that isolated island, where
they were sure to die. In contrast, they found this new king to be an entirely different

type of a person, quite distinct from the previous kings. Ten years passed off and finally
the day dawned on which this king was to be sent to that isolated island. Everybody

thought that the king would be upset and even weep bitterly. However the king was very
quiet, peaceful and contented. The minister requested the king to sit in a boat, bade

farewell to him and instructed the boatman to take the king to that isolated island. It is
interesting to note, what the king had done during the period of ten years that he ruled

the kingdom. During this period, the king ruled very efficiently, brought about many
improvements, achieved material progress of the kingdom and ensured welfare and well

being of the people. Naturally the people of the kingdom grieved while bidding farewell to
the king. In the boat there were only the king and the boatman. The boatman was also

surprised to see the king in a happy, joyful and peaceful mood. After waiting for some
time, the boatman asked the king, "Sir, do you know where you are going?'' The king

replied, "I am fully aware, where you are taking me.'' Hearing this reply, the boatman
asked, "If you know where I am taking you, how are you so happy and peaceful?'' The

king replied laughing, "While ruling the kingdom for ten years, I had very secretly sent
competent persons along with all the essential material to this island. These efficient

persons cut down unnecessary forests, constructed houses there for people to live, gave
lands to farmers for farming, constructed industrial estates for industry and drove off all

the ferocious animals far away into the dense jungles. Besides, during these ten years, I
created a new kingdom on this isolated island with all sorts of necessary improvements

and material conveniences. You will just see what happens hereafter.'' The moment this
boat landed on the island, the people of that new kingdom welcomed the king, heartily

greeted him, took him in a procession in a canopy carried by an elephant and with great
respect and honour coronated him as their king. Thus this king very convincingly proved

what a person could do, if he had the power of a king. On the contrary, all the previous
kings despite having a person with all the power of a king could do nothing. The moral of

this story is, Man must use his intelligence with wisdom and always perform harmonious
actions to achieve success, prosperity and happiness for himself and for others. This is

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