Afterlife/The Wrong Path

There was a cruel king who always tortured his subjects. He levied heavy taxes on them & whosoever reused, he used to kill that person. Someone who was extremely poor and not able to pay taxes, he used to throw that person out of his kingdom with a warning that if that person is again seen in his kingdom, he will be killed. He never did anything for education & others necessary developmental tasks in his kingdom. Once his ministers came to him & said, "Maharaj, 3 farmers have come to meet you. They are saying that the king is a cruel person & if he doesn't mend his ways, all the people of the kingdom will revolt." The King said, "No problem, please send them in." The farmers appeared in front of the king. The king said, "I have permanent solution of your problem." He took his sward & beheaded all the 3 farmers. The entire palace was shocked to see this act of the king. Everyone was fearful. The king said, "I hate sad news. Just tell me about growth & Development happening in my kingdom." Everyone was fearful. They were cursing the king in their hearts. Everyone wished that he should die.

One day the king was going for animal hunt alone. He was a powerful king & feared none. On the way he felt thirsty. He knocked at the door of some stranger & asked for water. The stranger recognised him, requested him to sit & went to the kitchen to bring some water. He brought a glass of water and requested the king to drink. As he drank water, his breath stopped & he was gasping for air. He held the stranger no collor & said," What did you give me? I am dying." The stranger said, "Cruel king, you killed my father one day, just because he came your way when you were riding horse. Today God brought you here so that I can punish you for your sins." Looking at him angrily for few seconds, the King died.

After his death, Yamraj came over there & took his soul with him to Yamlok. Reaching over there, Yamraj Said, "Oh cruel king. You were the worst king on earth who always tortured people. You did nothing good in your life. You deserve to be published." Saying these words, the king's soul was tortured in every way possible. Yamraj Said, "Don't just torture him. Take him to swarg lok & let him see how good people enjoy their life after death." The king was taken to the heavens. There he saw divine souls enjoying. They were provided all the luxurious & comfort. Seeing those people, the king thought, "It's a life which I used to live when I was alive. But due to my bad behavior, today I am receiving torture. I actually deserve it. I am so bad."

As he was watching this scene, suddenly Chitragupta (The associate of Yamraj) came & said, "Maharaj, we will have to send this King back on earth. His wife is a great devotee of Lord Shiva. She is the most noble Soul on earth & although she is his wife, she is not like him. She always did good for her subjects & everyone loves her. She has performed Mahamrityunjay Yagya & the supreme God; Lord Shiva has promised to bring this cruel king back to earth".

After listening silently for few seconds, Yamraj Said," Oh cruel King. Because of good behavior and nature of your wife, Lord Shiva has blessed you. Otherwise, you only deserve harsh punishment & nothing else. A person like you has no right to be happy. But since your wife has done so much good in her life that due to effect of that, Lord Shiva is returning your life back. Go back to your kingdom". The king was back in his kingdom. He remembered everything that happened with him.

Chitragupta said to Yamraj," Sir, these human beings are not supposed to remember what happened to them in previous life & Afterlife. Why he remembers everything." Yamraj said," Chitragupta, if he forgets his encounter with me, he will be the same bad man again. Lord Shiva has blessed him so that he can change himself. If he forgets his journey to the hell, he will not rectify his mistakes & that will be an insult of Mahamrityunjay Mantra."

Reaching the Earth, the king completely changed himself. He became helpful & caring towards everyone. He set all his prisoners free & sent them to ayurvedacharya to treat their wounds. He started knowing problems of his subjects on daily basis & provided best possible solution. He created various committees like cultural committee to promote artists & painters, sports committee to develop young students as sportspersons, education committee, where he appointed intelligent & highly qualified people to check the inclination of young students of his kingdom & them promote them professionally in the subject of their choice. He also installed suggestion boxes everywhere I his kingdom, where people can put their problems & suggestions. He appointed a separate committee just to look after those problems & suggestions in the box & provide best possible solution to the common people.

People started loving him. Very soon he became the most loved king in the country. Due to his good nature, other kingdoms also became his friends which helped him in enhancing education & growth-related activities in his kingdom.

The king heartly thanked Lord Shiva, who gave him this afterlife & made him a genuine person.