In a sun-drenched grove, there stood a mango tree of legendary stature. It was not merely a tree, but a world unto itself. Its branches, so vast they seemed to cradle the sky, were heavy with the weight of golden Alphonso mangoes, whose honeyed scent promised a taste of paradise.
Beneath this magnificent canopy, a wise guru often sat in meditation, drawing strength from the tree’s serene and ancient energy. His presence was a quiet harmony with the rustling leaves and the dappled sunlight.
One day, this tranquility was met by the gentle stir of a royal procession. The king, a devoted disciple of the guru, had come with his queen and court to seek wisdom. They settled around their teacher, their silks and jewels a stark contrast to his simple robes, and listened as he shared his teachings.
At that very moment, from the opposite side of the tree, a poor man approached. His body was stooped from three days of gnawing hunger, and when he saw the abundance of fruit, he could scarcely believe his eyes. From his vantage point, the tree was an endless wall of green and gold, concealing the royal assembly entirely.
His mouth watering, he picked up a stone—his only tool to reach the bounty above. With a desperate heave, he threw it into the branches. Two perfect mangoes fell to the earth. He devoured them, the sweet pulp a balm to his starving body. A flicker of life returned to his eyes. Perhaps just a few more, he thought, for who knows when I will eat again?
Gathering his newfound strength, he found a larger stone and hurled it with all his might, aiming for the highest, most laden branches. The stone sailed over the great trunk, disappearing from his view.
On the other side, it descended with a dull thud, striking the guru directly on the head. A collective gasp rose from the royal court. Fortunately, the guru’s hair, matted into thick, protective locks over many years, softened the blow and spared him serious harm.
The king’s shock instantly turned to thunderous rage. “Find him!” he commanded his guards. “Find the man who dared to attack my master!”
The guards didn’t have to search far. They found the poor man on the other side, blissfully unaware, about to enjoy another mango. He was dragged before the furious king, his confusion turning to terror.
“You dare assault a holy man?” the king roared. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
The man, trembling and bewildered, could not speak. The guru remained in silent meditation. Seeing the man’s silence as an admission of guilt, the king declared, “An impromptu court shall be held. This villain will face justice now!”
The verdict was as swift as the king’s anger. The man was found guilty of attempting to murder the guru and was sentenced to death by hanging.
“No, I swear, I knew nothing!” the poor man cried out, but his pleas were lost in the court’s righteous fury.
Just as the guards began to lead the condemned man away, a calm voice, as clear as a temple bell, cut through the tense air. “May I speak?”
It was the guru. The king immediately bowed his head. “Of course, my master. This is all for your sake. Your word is my command.”
The guru gestured for the poor man to be brought closer. “My child,” he asked gently, his eyes full of compassion, “why did you throw the stone into the tree?”
Shaking, the man stammered his story of having no food for three days and seeing the mangoes as his only salvation.
The guru listened, then sat in silence for a long moment before turning to the king. “My dear king, I too have a sentence for this man. I ask that you carry it out precisely as I prescribe.”
“Anything, my guru,” the king affirmed. “It shall be done.”
The guru looked upon the poor man and then at his disciples. “Please,” he said, his voice radiating a profound peace, “give this man enough wealth and food to last him for the rest of his life.”
A wave of shock and disbelief rippled through the crowd. “But he tried to kill you!” someone cried out. “He deserves punishment, not reward!”
The guru raised a hand for silence. “My dear friends,” he began, “consider the nature of this tree. It possesses no consciousness, no higher mind. Yet, when this hungry man struck it with a stone, it offered him its sweet fruit in return. I am a guru, a man who strives for an enlightened mind. When he struck me with a stone, should I not offer him something far greater?”
A deep, transformative silence fell over the court, as the weight of the guru’s lesson settled upon them all.