The sultan and his wish…

The sultan and his wish…

When you are eager to gain an end, you must be prepared for all the travail, all the obstacles or else, you should not entertain the wish. The five Pandava brothers are the five Pranas (vital airs) in the human body and all of them constitute one entity, and Draupadi, born of fire, is the energy that activates the body. When this is ignored and the epic is taken as a story of kings and queens and dynastic wars, the meaning is missed, said Bhagawan narrating a related story ascertaining the above point.

There was a Sultan once, who heard of the Mahabharata, which the Hindus revere as the fifth Veda; he commissioned a Hindu Poet of his kingdom to write a Mahabharata, with him as the hero who wins the empire back. He threatened the poet with dire punishment if he did not complete it within a stipulated time.

The poet had to agree; but he pretended he was at it, and told the Sultan that he himself is being portrayed as the eldest of the Pandava brothers and the other four Pandava brothers were his ‘viziers’. He said that in the Mahabharata he was writing, the enemies of the Sultan were the Kauravas. This made the Sultan very happy and he became restless, to read the epic as soon as it was finished. The poet, however, delayed long.

One day when asked the reason, the Poet told the Sultan, “Your Majesty! I am awaiting clarification of one simple matter from you; it is giving me a lot of trouble, this problem. The queen is, in my epic, the counterpart of the queen of the eldest of the Pandavas; this is as it should be, since you are eldest of the five heroic brothers. But, in the original Mahabharata, she is the wife of all the brothers. In my poem, your viziers are those brothers; they are allotted those roles in this new version. Now, shall I depict the queen as the wife of the viziers also, or…”

The Sultan did not wait to hear the rest; he threw the entire project overboard…and sent the poet away.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

The Sultan and His Wish: A Lesson in Divine Grace

There once lived a powerful sultan who possessed immense wealth, vast lands, and countless servants. People admired his authority and envied the luxuries that surrounded him. Yet, despite having everything that the world could offer, he remained restless. A strange emptiness lingered in his heart, and no amount of riches could fill that void.

One day, the sultan heard about a saint whose wisdom had transformed the lives of many. Curious and hopeful, he decided to visit the holy man. When he arrived, he expected to receive some secret formula for happiness. Instead, the saint welcomed him with simplicity and kindness.

The sultan spoke openly about his dissatisfaction. “I have everything,” he said, “yet peace escapes me. My greatest wish is to find lasting happiness.”

The saint smiled and asked him to stay for a few days. During that time, the sultan observed the saint’s life. There were no grand possessions, no royal comforts, and no signs of worldly success. Yet the saint radiated a joy that seemed unshakable.

After several days, the sultan repeated his request. The saint then handed him a small mirror and said, “Look into it every morning and ask yourself whether your actions are meant only for your own benefit or for the welfare of others.”

The sultan was puzzled, but he followed the advice. Gradually, he realized that most of his efforts had been focused on increasing his power and comfort. Rarely had he considered the needs of his people. This realization changed his outlook.

He began helping the poor, supporting education, and ensuring justice throughout his kingdom. As he shifted his attention from selfish desires to selfless service, a remarkable transformation took place within him. The peace he had searched for all his life began to blossom naturally.

The story of The sultan and his wish… reminds us that true happiness does not arise from possessions or status. It emerges when the heart is purified through love, compassion, and service. Material achievements may provide temporary satisfaction, but only noble actions bring lasting contentment.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often taught that selfless service is one of the highest forms of spiritual practice. When we help others without expecting rewards, we discover the divine presence within ourselves. This timeless message is beautifully reflected in The sultan and his wish…, where a ruler learns that inner fulfillment is far more valuable than external success.

The teachings shared through Devotional India continue to inspire seekers to look beyond worldly desires and embrace a life of kindness and devotion. The wisdom hidden within The sultan and his wish… encourages us to examine our own wishes and ask whether they lead us closer to truth and peace.

As readers of Devotional India reflect on this inspiring tale, they may realize that the greatest wish is not to possess more, but to become more loving, more humble, and more connected to the Divine. Ultimately, The sultan and his wish… reveals that the path to happiness begins when we stop seeking for ourselves alone and start living for the good of all.