Some time ago, a Brahmin used to be minister of a King. Since both of them did their studies together, they used to be very close with each other. One day, after the day’s work, the King went to the minister’s house. When the King reached there, he saw that the minister was doing his Sandhyaavandanam. After that the minister started to do some mantra-anushthaanam. The King felt very happy and after the minister came out, asked him “O friend what Mantra-japam were you doing? Please do upadesham of it to me too. I will also do anushthaanam of it with great care”.


Mantri replied “O King I didnt yet get siddhi of this Mantram. I too am in a early stage. Hence I dont have Upadesha-arhata.”. Then the King replied “Dont you like telling the Mantram to me or what? Why are you lying? I see that you know the Mantram that is enough. Tell me the same aksharas, I will repeat them in the same way as you told”.


Mantri smiled internally seeing the foolishness of the King and said “Mantram not only means the Aksharams and the corresponding Veda-svaram. It will have anganyaasa-karnyaasam. There will be a particular anushthaana-vidhi. Most importantly an uttama Guru, who already had Mantra-siddhi, must do the Upadesham. Hence there is no use of me doing Upadesham to you”. But the King Didnt leave — he kept on asking and the Mantri gave the same answer. Finally King got angry and said “come to the court. I will show you then”.


As usual the next day Mantri, after his nitya-anushthaanam, reached the court. The Mantri shouted, pointing at the King, “arrest this person”. None of the soldiers moved. Seeing this, the King said “arrest this person”. Immediately all soldiers attacked and tried to arrest the Mantri. Mantri then stopped the soldiers and said to the King


“Now did you see this Raaja It is the same words that we both said. Also we both said it in the same mood, volume. However only your command was followed, not mine. This was because you have the adhikaaram and not me. Similarly one must do Guruseva and learn any Vidya, with all its Niyamam and vidhi, from a Guru who already has Vidyaa-siddhi and Upadesha-arhata” (The King realized his mistake and did praja-paalanam well from then onwards