Once upon a time, there lived a very intelligent scholar called Sadashiv Shastri. He had a lot of knowledge about Holy texts like the Vedas. He defeated many scholars in debates on these texts and soon became very proud of himself. He even set up a challenge that if anyone were to defeat him in a debate, he would cut his own tongue.

    One day, Sadashiv Shastri heard about the great scholar Gagabhatt, who served in the court of Shivaji Maharaj (a 17th century king from Maharashtra, India). He wanted to have a debate with Gagabhatt. When Sadashiv Shastri arrived at Shivaji Maharaj’s court, Gagabhatt told him that actually the most knowledgeable person in Shivaji Maharaj’s kingdom was Ramdas Swami, Shivaji Maharaj’s Guru. Now Sadashiv Shastri really wanted to meet Ramdas Swami and have a debate with Him. Finally, Shivaji Maharaj agreed and took the two scholars to meet Ramdas Swami.

    When they arrived, Gagabhatt and Shivaji Maharaj paid obeisance (Namaskar) to Ramdas Swami. Sadashiv Shastri did not pay any respects to the Saint and stood there proudly. Ramdas Swami, noticing the pride of Sadashiv Shastri, decided to teach him a lesson about God’s power.

    A poor woodcutter was passing by. Ramdas Swami called out to the woodcutter and said, “Who are you?” The woodcutter replied, “I am a poor, uneducated woodcutter. I supply wood to Lord Rama’s temple.” Ramdas Swami asked His disciple Kalyan to take a stick and draw a line in the dirt, in front of the woodcutter. Then He asked the woodcutter to cross the line. After the woodcutter crossed the line, Ramdas Swami asked him again, “Who are you?” Now the woodcutter said, “I am a businessman.” Ramdas Swami asked his disciple to draw another line in front of the woodcutter. After crossing that line the woodcutter said, “Now I am a warrior.” After he crossed another line the woodcutter said, “Now I am a scholar.”

    All this while, Sadashiv Shastri stood there, watching everything. Ramdas Swami asked the woodcutter turned scholar to debate with Sadashiv Shastri. Sadashiv Shastri was sure that he would defeat the woodcutter, because he did not believe that the woodcutter had really turned into a scholar. He thought the woodcutter had not spent years studying Holy books like him. To Sadashiv Shastri’s surprise, the woodcutter defeated him, not once or twice, but three times in the debate about Holy texts. Sadashiv Shastri hung his head in shame and said, “I am defeated and will cut my tongue as per my challenge.” Ramdas Swami said, “Don’t do that. Just do not be proud of your intelligence. Be humble.”

    One day I got a backache from sitting in an uncomfortable position while studying. I was feeling tired and restless, and soon also got a headache. I decided to lie down on my bed and repeat (chant*) God’s Name. I knew that I would still need to study at night, but thought that since I was feeling unwell I should take some medicine and get a good night’s sleep. Then I got a thought in my mind that I should read the Sanatan’s monthly publication, ‘Masik Sanatan Prabhat’. I took the July and August Issues and began to note down the important points about ‘Reduction of Ego’ and ‘Ways to increase spiritual emotion’ from those Issues. Within a few minutes I began to feel very good. I felt as if I was attending a satsang and was getting spiritual energy. I felt fresh and realized just how much spiritual energy and power the Sanatan publications have.