Kings’ prayer

LEADERS can learn from the prayer of ancient kings—and chronicled in Vedic literature after they were released from prison:

“Dear Lord, it is by Your mercy that we have been freed. But, we now ask You to release us from the imprisonment of illusion, which binds us to the material world. Having experienced bitterness and misery, we ask for Your protection.

Wisdom

“We used to be proud—but, a ruler who gets caught up with false prestige and power does not see the wisdom of his real identity as Your servant. Foolish persons think that material possession gives them protection—and those who engage in sense gratification falsely accept this material world as a place of eternal enjoyment.

“Because we were envious of one another, we fought for supremacy, even at the cost of sacrificing other people’s lives. But, time has a way of retaliating and making us see the error of our ways. Now, we’re bereft of opulence. Like beggars, we understand how false pride has taken our possessions away.

“As age rears its ugly head, we are getting weaker by the day. We have realized that the pursuit of material happiness is like searching for water in the desert. From now on, we offer You our lives!”