18th June 2025
Life gives you a fair share of Joys & sorrows.
Nothing is permanent.
Once a king called upon all of his wise men and asked them, “Is there a mantra which works in every situation, in every circumstance, in every place & at every time?
In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat & every victory?
One answer for all questions? Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me?”
All the wise men thought and thought & after a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king & gave him something written on paper, with the condition that the king was not to see it out of curiosity but
only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone & there seems to be no way, only then can he see it. The King put the paper under his diamond ring.
Some time later, the enemy attacked the Kingdom. The King & his army fought bravely but lost the battle. The King had to flee on his horse with the enemy following clisely. Suddenly, the King found himself standing at the end of the road. Underneath, there was a rocky valley a thousand feet deep.
The sound of the enemy’s horses was approaching fast. There seemed to be no way.
Then suddenly, he saw the diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond & read the message – “THIS TOO SHALL PASS.”
Yes! The king thought, This too will pass.
Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdom & all my pleasures have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. Like those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass.
A calm came over his face. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom.
The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed & forgot about those following him.
After a few minutes, he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They had moved into some other part of the mountains & were nowhere near him.
The King reorganized his army & fought again. He defeated the enemy & regained his empire.
When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fanfare. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory.
Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being showered on the King from every house, from every corner. People were dancing & singing.
For a moment, the King thought, “I am one of the bravest and greatest Kings. It is not easy to defeat me.”
With all the reception & celebration, he saw an ego emerging in him.
Suddenly, the diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight & reminded him of the message. He opened it & read it again: “THIS TOO SHALL PASS.”
His face went through a total change – from the egoist, he moved to a state of utter humbleness.
If this too is going to pass, it is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours and neither is guaranteed.
The story teaches us a valuable life lesson about facing life’s ups & downs woth resilience & perspective.
No matter how yough things may seem, it’s necessary to remember that circumstances change.
By embracing the idea that ‘This too shall pass,’ we can find the strengt to endure hardships & remain humble in times of success.
It empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with courage & fortitude, knowing that brighter days lie ahead.
Remember, ‘This Too Shall Pass’ and stay blessed forever.