When You Don't Bite

SRI M





Once, there lived a cobra, so dangerous that no one dared to cross its path near his hole.One day , a young brahmachari on pilgrimage had to cross the village. Despite warnings that the cobra was sure to kill him, the yatri told them not to worry since he knew enough charms to keep the snake at bay .As he approached the snake's hole, he saw the cobra with its hood raised, ready to strike.He tamed him with his mantras and snake became his disciple. He taught the snake the elements of spiritual practice.He also told the snake that, if he wanted to lead a spiritual life, he had to give up biting people. The snake agreed.
On way back, after a year, the pilgrim stopped at the same village. He saw that the street where the snake lived was no longer deserted, people walked up and down fearlessly . He asked about the snake. “Ah,“ they said, “he is still there in the hold. But who cares for him any more; he has stopped biting. Even when we pelt him with stones, he does not bite.He is now an invalid and comes out with great difficulty only in the night for his food.“
The pilgrim went to the hole and called out to his disciple softly . “Gurudev,“ said the snake in a feeble voice, “I followed your advice and stopped biting. See what happened to me.“
Said the yatri, “Why did you not use your common sense?
I told you not to bite, but did I tell you not to hiss? All you had to do was to hiss and nobody would have dared approach you.“