Child and Scholar…!
“Look at the little boy, how he is playing near the dead body of his Grandfather. He is unknown to death, as has been like nothing has happened,” said the Monk. Family members on the background the moan was continuing.
“The boy is ignorant and unaware of the mystery of death, Maharaj, but the deceased is your younger brother, then why are you not mourning? In your eyes why not tear? ” The person standing nearby asked.
“The answer lies in your question as well. The boy is not mourning because He is unaware of the mystery of death and I am familiar of this life is the ultimate truth. Therefore, scholars and children never mourn. ” Monk said calmly.
The body was picked up for the final journey, ‘Ram naam satya hai’* on the background the voices started echoing.
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*Ram naam satya hai (राम नाम सत्य है) — “The name of Rama is the truth”, is commonly chanted by Hindus while carrying a dead body to be cremated.
(Hindi short story of Mahavir Uttranchali “Balak aur Vidwaan”
English translation by Abhishek Bhandari)
