Pundit and the Wicked Soul

Pundit and the Wicked Soul  

Once a cruise ship was ferrying people from India, Pakistan, Japan and Israel on a ‘round the world' tour when it got stranded and started trembling menacingly.

The ship became very slow and was shaking and jumping dangerously.  

The Captain of the ship called an emergency meeting and studied the danger. Ultimately he told the passengers in a very sad tone, 'Friends, we are in serious trouble. Perhaps the Sea God is angry with us because there is a wicked soul travelling with us. We need to give three sacrifices to please the Sea God and I need three healthy people to sacrifice their lives happily so that rest of us can be saved.'

Listening with awe and disbelief all of them moved towards the Deck with heavy steps. A brave Japanese came forward and offered himself as first sacrifice considering himself as a wicked man because he was addicted to wine, so that others can be saved. He gutted a bottle full of wine and with a cry, 'Long live Japan,' and jumped into the Sea. He disappeared in the waves.

Then a brave Israeli Jew stepped forward and offered himself happily as another sacrifice because he has killed hundreds of Palestines to protect the lives of fellow Israelis and protect his country. So he considered himself as a wicked man and decided to offer himself to save the lives of others and uttered, 'Hallelujah' and dived into the sea.

After that there was a hushed silence and no one came forward for few seconds while people stared at each other with fear. The ship was trembling dangerously and at any moment could have drowned. The Sea God’s anger was not soothed with two sacrifices.

A Pakistani Maulvi, wearing a round skull cap, long kurta, short salwar, face without moustache but long floating beard, was laughing continuously on this tension. He was very regular in offering his prayers and observing fast. Every year, he also used to slaughter a helpless, bleating goat as offerings to please his God. So he was not afraid about his life and safety. He was fully confident that nobody could harm him.

Now nobody was ready to offer himself as offering to please the Sea God and save the lives of others. All of a sudden out of nowhere a Punditji from India came forward near the railing and started chanting loudly, ‘Jai Shree Ram, Jai Shree Krishna, Jai Maa Kali, Jai Maa Durga, Jai Hanuman, Om Namoha Shiva, Om Ganeshay Nameha, Om Surya Devay Nameha, Om Shani Devay Nameha, Jai Jawan Jai Kissan,' and finally yelled at the top of his voice, 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai,' and with full force kicked the Pakistani standing next to him in the sea.

      The sea became calm that night and the wrath of Sea God was soothed. Sailing became smooth and enjoyable. Everybody was happy and relieved and thanks Punditji profusely over his wise and deep insight and identifying the wicked soul on the ship and kicking him out of the ship.

 Dr.Yogesh Sharma