King Vikramaditya was extremely valiant and a just well-wisher of his subjects and an honest and kind ruler. His subjects acclaimed him untiringly for his altruistic activities. He visited his Guru’s hermitage to have His darshan. Many of his queries were answered by His Guru in the hermitage. When his Guruji was about to leave, the king asked him, “Gurudev, please tell me an inspiring sentence that would guide not only me but my successors also, as a great mantra.”

Guruji wrote a shloka and gave it to him.

“The day of my priceless life that is passing now will never come back. So every day one should introspect one’s own behaviour and see what qualities there are in me, which resemble animal (Pashu) characteristics and what qualities resemble those of a noble person (Satpurusha)!”

This verse impressed king Vikramaditya so deeply that he had it inscribed on his throne. He would ponder over it every night considering whether his day had been like that of an animal or that of a noble man. He would wake up in Brahmamuhurta (at 4.00 a.m.) and absorb himself in meditation. He would practice Self-inquiry and then contemplate on the virtuous acts to be done that day.

One day, due to an extremely busy schedule, he could not perform any act of benevolence or help anyone. Upon going to bed at night, he thought about the works he had done during the day and remembered he hadn’t been able to perform any philanthropic act on that day. He became restless. He tried to fall asleep, but he could not sleep.

Eventually he got up and went outside. He saw a poor man trying to save himself from the cold but was shivering helplessly. The king covered the poor man’s body with his shawl and returned to his palace. Thus that day did not go in vain, and he had self-satisfying sound sleep because his guilt was removed.

The fulfilment of the body lies in selfless service; wealth in Sattvik charity; speech in singing the glory of God’s name; mind in contemplation on God and human life in Self-realisation.

Blessed indeed is king Vikramaditya who was an obedient true disciple grasping the essence of Guru’s instructions, a competent Ruler; and blessed will be those virtuous souls who will be able to translate his beautiful virtue and key into their own life.