The Wise Student

During the Darvidian Period, the City of Beneras (new name Varanasi) was the centre of learning. It attracted students from far and wide.

The story relates to a teacher named Dharmananda who lived in the city of Beneras. He was very learned and many students came to study under him.

Dharmananda had a daughter named Sugunavati. She was very beautiful and virtuous. When the girl matured, Dharmananda started looking for a suitable match for his daughter. In fact, he desired to marry her to one of his intelligent students.

Dharmananda was perplexed thinking how to judge the intelligence of his students. He thought critically and narrowed down to a plan.

Next day the session began and all the students sat for the lesson. Dharmananda addressed the class saying, "Students, I wish to marry away my daughter. But as you all know, I am not a rich man; hence I cannot buy jewels and costumes for her wedding. I want to ask if anyone amongst you can get the needful for me?"

The students admired Dharmananda's daughter. All of them wished to marry her. So they began stealing things from houses. They secretly brought the things so that nobody could see them carrying them and handed over them to Dharmananda.

Dharmananda kept collecting the articles, only to return them to their owners.

However, one of the students named Gunasheela did not get any article. Dharmananda, who had been vigilant about the activities of his students noticed Gunasheela.

For days, Gunasheela had been sad. He looked very anxious. Seeing this, Dharmananda called Gunasheela and asked him, "Gunasheela, tell me why are so worried? You do not seem to take interest in lessons. Further, unlike other students you have not given me any article for my daughter's marriage. Why is it so Gunasheela?".

Gunasheela was troubled. He bowed before his respected teacher and said, " Forgive me o respect Guru! I was unable to get any article for your daughter's marriage because you said whatever we get should not be seen by anyone else. I am afraid, but if I steal I would definitely see myself doing the immoral act. One cannot hide from one own self. This is my conscious. My conscious would not allow me to this".

Dharmananda smiled contentedly. He said, "Gunasheela! I am happy to have a student like you. I was in search of a virtueous student like you. Knowledge can be given and shared, but wisdom comes from within. You are wise and enlightened. I deployed a trick to test my students. You have succeeded in it. You understand the virtue of honesty. Stealing is an immoral act even when done for done for a righteous purpose. I l shall marry my daughter to you".

Saying this, Dharmananada called all his students and narrated the story of Gunasheela. He appreciated him and married his daughter Sugunavati to him. He asked his pupils to return all the articles to the respective owners.