The king made a thief into minister.

[Guest guest]

Many of us are reading "Sai literature" regularly. Please introspect within whether we actualize the teachings in our daily life? It will be sufficient, if we practise any one of Sai ideals. Other values will automatically come to you unasked. Swami used to tell a story to corroborate the above. There was a thief who managed his family with minor thefts. One day he happened to come across a saint. The saint was discoursing on the noble virtues. At the end of the discourse, the thief met the saint and pleaded that he is stealing in order to sustain his family. The saint told him. Stop stealing, adopt truthful ways. The thief pleaded that he can not stop stealing for he knows only that way. The saint told him, "atleast utter truth". The thief accepted the advise and promised that he will never utter untruth come what may. The next day, the thief went near the palace of the king. At the same time, the king who was on his routine visits incognito in the form of a begger. He met the thief and asked him "why you are loitering near the palace". The thief told him the truth that he wanted to loot the palace. The king in the form of begger told him, "then we will have an understanding", i will wait outside and see nobody comes on rounds. Whatever is stolen, both should share half each. Agreed to this condition, the thief went inside, broke open a jewel box. In that he found 3 precious jems. He thought that it would be better to take 2 gems and share the gems amongst himself and the begger. Let the king retain the third one". Thus, he took two gems, descended down carefully without any body noticing and he saw the begger waiting outside. The begger asked him the details of treasure he saw. The thief replied he saw 3 gems in a jewel box. He took two and left the one in the box itself. Hearing some commotion near the treasury, the minister happened to visit the treasury. He found one gem left untouched. He was cunning and hence he took the remaining gem for himself and announced the theft subsequently to the king himself who finished his rounds. The thief has revealed his place of residence to the king. Next morning, the king sent his sepoys to the residence of the thief and ordered them to bring him red-handed. The thief came with the one gem he possessed. The king asked him about the theft. The thief truthfully explained everything to the king. He saw 3 gems but took only two gems and shared with the begger. But the minister told the king that the box was empty when he visited there in the night. The king knew that the minister was lying and ordered the sepoys to search the minister's house. They found the missing gem there and he was duly arrested and put up in the jail. The king announced that he is satisfied with the honesty of the thief. He announced that the thief who is truthful is worthy to be appointed as 'minister' and the thief has become the minister in the Kingdom. Thus we should atleast adopt one noble virtue in our life as told by Swami. Sairam.