Open Your Mouth and You are Doomed

Published on July 9, 2019
There was a king.  He did not have any children. One time a decent saint came to the town.  The king begged the saint to bless him with a child.  The saint said to the king, “O’ King, you are not destined to have any children.  I will be unable to do anything regarding this matter.”  The king felt very sad and he went away. On the way he met one of the disciples of the saint.  The disciple asked the king, ‘O’ King!  What made you come this way?’ The king said he came here to ask to be blessed with a child, but this wish did not get fulfilled.  The disciple said, ‘Not to worry O’ King! you will get a child.’  Being very pleased, the king returned to his palace.  When the saint found out what happened, he was upset at the disciple, and told him – ‘The king was not destined to have any children. Why did you promise him a child?’  The disciple said, that it happened by mistake.  He could not stop it.  The saint said to the disciple, ‘Now that you have made a promise to the king, you only will have to be born as the king’s son.’

In due time, a son was born to the King.  The son had all the good qualities, except one flaw – he never spoke a word.  The king took him to many good doctors, but nothing could be done.  The king announced that anyone that can make his son talk, will receive a prize of one million dollars.  Many people came and tried many different methods, but none were able to make him talk.

Time passed on, and the prince grew up.  One day the king’s men took the prince to the forest for a ride. There was a hunter in the forest who was looking to hunt some birds.  At that time a bird on a tree began to chirp.  The hunter’s sight went straight towards the chirping bird, and he shot the bird down.   Immediately the prince spoke up “Open your mouth (Speak up) and you  are doomed”.

Hearing this the King’s men were very pleased that the prince finally talked.  They informed the king about the forest incident.   The king said, ‘you make my son talk in front of me, then only will I believe it.’  The men tried and tried, but the prince would not speak.  The king said to his men, ‘I will sentence you all to death for lying to me.’  The prince once again spoke up –  “Open your mouth and you are doomed!”

The king was taken by surprise.  He asked the prince, ‘Tell me the truth!  what is going on? The prince said, “I am the same sadhu, who had promised to give you a child.  You were not destined to have any children, but due to my opening my mouth and promising you, I had to come as your child.”  If I had not spoken up, I would not have to be reborn. Even the bird spoke up and therefore had to die in the hands of a hunter.   Your men told you about me talking, and therefore they too got the death sentence.  Everything happened due to opening their mouth and talking. Now that I have spoken, I too will have to take leave.  Saying so, the prince left.  Whatever the saints have said is true.

Jan hariya sansaar mein, bahu bolyan bahu dukh |

Chup rahiye hari Sumiriye,  jo jeev chaahe sukh. 

 He who remains silent and remembers God, such a one is always happy.

Narayana ! Narayana ! Narayana !
From “Prerak Kahaniya” in English by Gita Press