Once upon a time there was a Gurukul [गुरुकूल] (what is called a university in modern times) in Aryavat [आर्यावत]. The chief Guru [गुरु] (what is called a vice chancellor in modern times) was a famous Guru who was selected by the King from a handful of aspirants. This was a tenure post for 5 years, subject to reappointment if the King and his ministers were pleased by the Guru. This Guru was given a Rath [रथ] (what is called a car in modern times) for his daily commute. This Rath was no ordinary vehicle. It was special, like a sedan in modern times. The Guru was so pleased with his new status, that he got his Rath modified to his liking. This activity can be compared to renovation of residences given to ministers and such in modern times. Since the Rath belonged to the Gurukul, the Guru could not spend his own money on this renovation, and was forced to use the money in the treasury of the Gurukul. The original cost of the Rath was said to be 3000000 gold coins, and the cost of the renovation was said to be 3000000 gold coins too. A simple math shows the total cost to be 6000000 gold coins. Needless to say the Rath probably had special features like perhaps access to the Gurukul's database, the King's ear, GPS, wi-fi, SAT phone, nuclear weapons(?) or whatever. Perhaps it ran a few inches above ground, like the Rath of Udhishthir [युधिष्ठिर] in Mahabharata [महाभारत].
Once the Guru had to visit another province for an academic matter. There was a flying Rath service, which was paid for by the Gurukul, just like his own Rath was. Air travel was faster than more comfortable than that by road. So the Guru took the morning flight. But he was so used (what is called addicted in modern times) to his own Rath for travel by road, that he sent his Rath by road ahead of the flight, so that he was met at the airport by his driver in that Rath, who drove him to the place of that academic work, and drove him back to the airport after the work was over. Then the Guru took a flight back, while the driver went back by road. It is not known if he made it in time to receive the Guru at the home airport to drive him back to the Gurukul. If not, he might have been laid off and another driver might have been appointed.
The name of this Guru has been put down in Golden letters in the archives of the Gurukul for giving a Royal touch in this manner to the position of the chief Guru.
I came across this story while reading our Purana [पुराण] and have no personal knowledge of the identity of the said King, the said Guru, and the authenticity of the story. I personally do not believe this story, but I do admire the imagination of the storyteller. I have reproduced the story here so that my readers can see how fertile imagination can concoct stories which sound quite true.
Once the Guru had to visit another province for an academic matter. There was a flying Rath service, which was paid for by the Gurukul, just like his own Rath was. Air travel was faster than more comfortable than that by road. So the Guru took the morning flight. But he was so used (what is called addicted in modern times) to his own Rath for travel by road, that he sent his Rath by road ahead of the flight, so that he was met at the airport by his driver in that Rath, who drove him to the place of that academic work, and drove him back to the airport after the work was over. Then the Guru took a flight back, while the driver went back by road. It is not known if he made it in time to receive the Guru at the home airport to drive him back to the Gurukul. If not, he might have been laid off and another driver might have been appointed.
The name of this Guru has been put down in Golden letters in the archives of the Gurukul for giving a Royal touch in this manner to the position of the chief Guru.
I came across this story while reading our Purana [पुराण] and have no personal knowledge of the identity of the said King, the said Guru, and the authenticity of the story. I personally do not believe this story, but I do admire the imagination of the storyteller. I have reproduced the story here so that my readers can see how fertile imagination can concoct stories which sound quite true.
