The Story of Kalidas(The Cryptic Message)
The Story of Kalidas(The Cryptic Message)
Gobind and Vishnu went to Varanasi for their education. They came from Dharanagri, the capital of Raja BhoJ. Gobind worked hard but Vishnu wasted his time in Varanasi. After twelve years, they completed their education and started for home. On their way, they halted at a river bank for a meal. They wanted to light a fire to cook their food. Gobind asked Vishnu to collect some wood and he would light the fire.
Vishnu became jealous when he saw Gobind lighting fire by the mantra-shakti. There and then he resolved to kill Gobind so that no one might know how learned his friend was.
After taking their food, the two friends went to sleep. While Gobind was sleeping soundly, Vishnu got up and thrust his dagger into Gobind's chest. Gobind woke up shrieking in pain.
When Vishnu was about to stab him once again, Gobind stopped his friend saying, "Listen, Vishnu, I am dying; When you go home and my father asks about me, tell him I have not yet finished my studies and would return home when my education is completed."
Taking out a piece of paper from his pocket, Gobind wrote four letters on it. He handed over the paper to Vishnu and said, "Please give this paper to my father."
Vishnu took that piece of paper and put it into his pocket. When Gobind was dead, he hurriedly left the place and resumed his journey.
At Dharanagri, Vishnu was warmly welcomed home. Gobind's father came to him and asked about his son.
Vishnu told him that Gobind would take some more years to complete his education and handed over the letter to him.
Gobind's father read the letter a number of times but could make no sense out of it. Then he asked Vishnu to tell him what was written in the letter.
Vishnu explained to Gobind's father that Gobind was all right but was weak in studies and that he would not return without completing his studies.
Gobind's father was not satisfied with the explanation. He went to the court of Raja Bhoj and said to the Raja, "My Lord, my son is studying in Varanasi. He sent me this letter. Nobody is able to understand it. There are many learned men in your court. Be pleased to have my letter read and interpreted."
Raja Bhoj took the piece of paper and saw the four letters. He could make nothing of it. Then he handed the paper over to his minister but he too could not understand the message in the script.
A messenger was sent to fetch Kalidas. Raja Bhoj had much faith in him and was sure that he would be able to decode the message.
When Kalidas saw the letter, his face was clouded with sadness. He said to the old man, "The letter contains a very bad news for you." Then he asked Raja Bhoj to send his soldiers to arrest the person who had brought that letter.
When Vishnu was brought before the Raja, Kalidas said, "It is written on this paper that Vishnu killed Gobind with a dagger when the latter was sleeping in the forest."
The old man wept bitterly on hearing it. Everyone present in the court marvelled at the matchless learning of Kalidas.