Wisdom lies in applying knowledge

Updated on: Monday, December 28, 2009

Acquiring knowledge is not ‘wisdom'. Applying it is..! State of enlightenment is not like building a block, brick by brick. It is like peeling off of an onion.

A diamond is not painted to make it glitter. When the dust is wiped off and the rough edges are cut, it starts sparkling. Enlightenment is also similar. It is letting go off the negatives (like vices and harmful emotions) with acquired knowledge and Jnana. If this is done, already enlightened soul starts glowing.

Damayanti, a young princess loved a charming king called Nala and was about to garland him in the swayamvara arranged by her father. Swayamvara is an ancient method of a girl choosing her husband, from among other sitters keen to marry her.

On the day of selection, matters were not as easy as the princess thought. Two demi-gods, Yama and Varuna, the God of death and the God of rain were also in love with her.

These Gods have the power to transform into any form of their choice and change their ‘avatar'.

As the princess approached her lover, she was shocked to see three persons looking precisely identical. She listened to a voice, but could not recognise whose it was. The voice said, “Princess...! Here is a test for you. One of us tells you the truth, and the other one lies.

Of course your lover always is truthful. By asking each of us just one question, find your lover. If you can, we leave him to you and if not, you have to marry one among the other two”.

The princess smiled and asked the first person “What is the name of the person sitting in the middle chair?” He said “Nala”.

Logical inference

The girl went to the second one and asked, “What is your name?” He hesitated a bit and said, “Yama”. There was anxiety in the last one's eyes. He was getting ready to answer, but the princess garlanded him without asking the third question.

Write your answers within two days to the address given below. How could she do away with it without the third question?

Each of the three winners would be awarded with four motivational books written by the author for the students.

This is a simple question, answer is easy and hence the selection would be on the basis of brevity and better expression. Only students should participate.

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