There lived a saint in the
forest near Pali village. The villagers did arrangement of the meal for the
Saint. The hut of Saint was located in such a place that whosoever came in forest,
saint's eye fell on them.
Saint
worshipped God by sitting outside the hut. He had lifelong vow that he only spoke
three times a day.
One
day from far off village, a thief after doing robbery came near Pali village.
He thought that in order to escape from police it's better to hide in forest.
As soon he entered in forest, he saw the saint.
Thief
said to saint by coming near him- Police is searching for me, I want to hide in
this forest. If police come here for searching me then don't tell anything
about me.
Saint
said- I don't ever speak lie; always speak the truth.
Thief
threatened saint- If you speak anything about me then I’ll kill you.
By
saying this, thief ran inside the forest.
After
sometime two herdsmen came from Pali village, they had brought meal for saint.
By giving meal to Saint, they said- Good evening, we’ve brought food for you;
we’ll come back after grazing our cows and goats in forest.
Saint
wanted to make them aware about thief who was hiding in the forest. As soon
saint was going to say, he remembered the menace of thief of killing him and
due to this saint got scared, but he didn't tell a lie; he said- Ok, go
carefully! There may be many dangers inside the forest.
Herdsmen
of Pali village usually went to forest to graze their cows and goats; nothing
unpleasant incident took place, that's why both herdsmen took the advice of
Saint lightly and stepped forward towards forest along with their animals.
After
sometime police in search of thief, came in the forest near Pali village.
Entering in forest, police saw the saint and by coming near asked him- Did here
any thief run in order to escape from police? In which direction has he gone?
Saint
always spoke the truth but was also scared from thief’s warning, that's why he answered-
Who came, has gone inside the forest. But in which direction! I don't have any
idea about it, and this is my last talk of today.
Police
started finding for thief inside the forest, they saw two herdsmen with their
animals; Police doubted on one of those herdsmen and caught him.
The
herdsman was speaking aloud- I’m not a thief. I’m a simple herdsman…
But
police didn't leave him. About his innocence only saint could answer who
couldn't speak that day.
Next
day, police asked saint about that herdsman- Is this the thief?
Saint
answered- No, this is one of the herdsmen of Pali village.
Police
scolded saint- Then why didn't you speak clearly that two herdsmen and one thief
were in the forest. Don't know! Where has been the thief escaped till now.
Saint
said being truthful- Whatever I said, was truth.
On
this, herdsman also scolded saint- Why didn't you tell us that thief was hiding
inside the forest; we would have been aware about this.
Saint
clarified- I had made you aware about dangers inside the forest, and my today's
three talks are over.
Police
admonished saint- What is the benefit of saying such a half truth which creates
misunderstanding! How can anybody trust you! There is no propriety of your vow
of always being truthful, when there is no clarity in your true words.
Saint
bowed his head in shame but then it had been too late. He had lost everyone’s
trust.
Dear
friends, Whatever you speak, how much you speak, always speak clearly. Ambiguous
truth only creates misunderstanding due to which there can be lot of harm and
you can also lose the trust of others. Therefore, always speak clearly whatever
you speak. Thank You.
