Ambika

Once upon a time this ordinary park bench was at a royal palace. It used to be the throne of king Gajanthara. He ruled the kingdom of Amarapura, situated on the banks of river Yamuna. Unlike most rulers who never listened to their subjects, Gajanthara held meetings just to address their woes. That made all his subjects look up to him and love him all the more. He would sit on his throne addressing the assembly and listening patiently to everyone who came there. At one such meeting there came a sadhu. In those days sadhus used to be revered and respected, because they never cheated people or harmed anyone. They just blessed people and occasionally cursed the ones who did wrong. And so the guards welcomed the sadhu and bowed down to him in respect. The sadhu walked straight into the assembly and sat on the king’s throne. Everyone looked at him perplexed as to why he would do something like that. Just then, king Gajanthara walked into the assembly and saw the sadhu sitting on his throne. This made him very angry. Though he was patient with people, he couldn’t tolerate such behaviour. He ordered the guards to show the sadhu his way out and to never let him in again. The sadhu quietly got up and paying his respects to his majesty, he said, “ Oh Gajanthara the great, I have traveled all over your kingdom. And everywhere I went, I heard people singing your praises. They said there’s no one kinder than you or more compassionate. Having heard so much, I decided to check for myself. And forgive me for my test dear lord, but you’ve failed”. Having said that, he let the guards take him away. But just before leaving, he spoke once again. He said, “From this day on, you’ll never be able to sit on the throne”. The upset king sat on the throne which instantly changed into a park bench. The sadhu’s words had come true, the king never sat on it again.


(poster on a park bench in a kid's park)