True-Friendship

Prince Devrath and the minister's son Vidur were best friends. They were born & brought up together in princely environment and grew intimate friends for life. Once they were out hunting in the forests. Both were hungry and exhausted after a long day's wandering in the woods. They found the cool shade of a huge banyan tree and sat down to rest for a while. It was too cool that the prince soon fell asleep, while the Vidur stayed awake and kept guard for his friend.

A while later a snake slithered towards the prince. Hissing furiously, it prepared to bite him. However, the Vidur was quick. He raised his sword. But before he could kill it, the snake spoke up, ''This prince was my enemy in my past life. I cannot rest until I drink blood from his neck.''

Vidur wanted to save his friend's life and he was also intelligent. "Then what if I give you some of his blood to drink? Will that quench your hate?'' Saying this, he knew he was saving his friend Devrath’s life because if the snake bit him, to draw blood, it would at the same time spit poison that was sure to kill his friend. The snake agreed. He was only after the prince's blood, not his life.

Vidur made a cup out of dry leaves. He climbed upon the chest of the prince who was still fast asleep. He pulled out his dagger and made a small slit on the side of his neck. The sharp cut suddenly shocked the prince awake. But on seeing that his friend Vidur was holding the dagger, he closed his eyes again. Vidur filled the cup with enough blood and offered it to the snake that drank the blood and went its way. Meanwhile, he collected some medicinal herbs and bandaged the wound. A few hours later, Devrath awoke and made preparations to proceed further. He said nothing and walked happily as if nothing had happened. Two whole days passed in the forests, yet Devrath never spoke of the whole event.

It was then Vidur who went curious & grew impatient, as to why he was not questioned. He finally said, ''Friend and master, you know that I climbed upon you and slit your throat, drew blood and then bandaged you. You even saw me do it. Still why haven't you yet questioned me or asked me for an explanation?''

''You are a friend of mine,'' Devrath answered. ''I believe that whatever you may have done must have been for my good. This is why I desire no explanation.'' He continued, ''If someone else had attempted this, I would have been suspicious. Does he want to kill me or rob me? But with you, I know you're a very close friend and I have boundless trust in you – that my friend shall never ever do any harm to me.”

Pujya Dadashri has said that being suspicious is the cause of spoiling our work. One looses spirituality on being suspicious & not trusting others. We should never harbor suspicions or have doubts on anyone. Our intellect (buddhi) gives room for suspicions. Pujya Dadashri has said that to suspect someone is to set fire in our life. The film of this life has been recorded in our past life so why give space to agony in us by having suspicions?

If the prince Devrath had suspected his friend Vidur, then his intellect would not be at peace resulting in loss of life from the poisonous snake bite and also losing a wonderful trustworthy friend.