The Foolish Scholars PDF

11|THE FooLISH SCHOLARS Once there lived four friends in a town. They were very fast friends and spent most of their time together. Three of them were highly learned, yet they practical wisdom, i.e....

11|THE FooLISH SCHOLARS Once there lived four friends in a town. They were very fast friends and spent most of their time together. Three of them were highly learned, yet they practical wisdom, i.e. commonsense. But the fourth lacked was very wise, though he was not much educated.friend One day, the friends decided to visit various lands. They thought, "We should show the wonders of our learning to kings and big men and earn a lot of money. If we don't do so, our learning will be of no avail." The fourth friend, however, had nothing to boast of. Still he insisted on accompanying thenm. But one of the 75  learned friends said, You know nothing at all. Why should we take you with us ? We shall have to share our money that we shall earn with you." The second learned friend supported what the first one had said. But the third learned friend was a bit kinder and so he said, We have grown up together right since childhood. True. this friend of ours was not able to get good education, yet he is not to blame. He was not fated to be learned. And it doesn't mean that we should disregard his friendship. We must take him with us." Hearing this, the first two friends agreed to take the fourth friend with them. So, all the four of them left the town one fine morning. When the friends were passing through a thick forest, they saw a heap of bones by 76 way-side. Looking at them, one of them said, "Friends ! Ihave a suggestion to make." "What is it ?" asked the others. "We have learned a lot, no doubt. But has any of us ever tested his knowledge in some manner ?" asked he. No, never," pat came the reply from the others. "So, here is a chance for us to do that. Let us try to bring this animal back to life just to test our knowledge." remarked the first friend. The other two learned friends approved of the idea and agreed to the suggestion. But the fourth friend who was not very learned, said, "Friends ! these bones are fairly big in size. They are certainly not of a small animal. To me, it looks that they are of some fierce animal like a lion, a tiger or a leopard. So, all of you must proceed to test your knowledge with utmost and safety." The three learned friends laughed aloud to hear the words of the simple friend. They said, "You must not poke your dirty nose in everything. You know we are going to test our knowledge. You are quite blank as far as knowledge is concerned. Can't you keep quiet, then ?"* 77  The fourth friend felt sorry and became silent. So, the three learned friends set about testing their knowledge. The first of them collected the bones and arranged them in such a way that they took the shape of an animal. In all probability, the animal looked to be a lion. Having put the bones together, the man chanted some holy verses on some water and sprinkled it on them. The bones took the shape of a skeleton. The man was very happy to see the success of his knowledge. He looked at others with an air of pride and triumph. Now, the second learned friend came forward and offered to provide the skeleton with muscles, flesh. blood and a coat of skin. So, he took some holy water and 78 chanted some verses on it. Then chanting a few more verses, he sprinkled the water on the skeleton. Before long, the skeleton took the shape of a full-fledged lion that lacked life only. The second friend was also very happy to show his feat. So, he looked at others with an air of victorious pride and asked the third to come forward and put life into the lifeless animal, if he could. Hearing this, the fourth friend said, 1 know that I should not say anything. Still I request you to take some measures of safety before bringing the lion to life. It can prove dangerous for us all. The ferocious beast can kill all of us. So, we had better be careful in every way." 79  But caring little for what the fourth simple friend had said, they again laughed aloud calling him an idiot. And the third friend came forward to use his knowledge to infuse life into the lion's body. Seeing this, the fourth wise friend lost no time to run and climb up anearby tree. The third friend took some water on his palm, enchanted it with some holy verses and sprinkled it on the lion's body. In no time, the lion came alive and gave out a loud frightful roar. Seeing three men before him, the lion advanced towards them. Now all the three looked at the fourth friend who was sitting quite safe and sound up the tree. But the lion didn't spare them. With one single 80 stroke of his paw, he made short work of each of themn. The fourth friend felt very sorry for them all. But what could he do ? When the lion had gone, the fourth friend climbed down the tree and made for his home as fast as he could. Hearing of the sad end of the three learned men, their families plunged into grief.