Unity is Strength

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Long long ago an widower old man was living in a semi urban area of Avantipuri ruled by Emperor Vikram. He also belonged a well reputed land lord's family who had five bachelor sons. He himself was a pious and moralistic by nature and did not want to remarry after his wife's demise 30 years ago. He was a monogamous too as per ancient moral value. Owing to exorbitant wealth and passionate affection of father the sons became extravagant and careless. Moreover they started drinking and gambling with hooliganism. Often they were quarreling with one another for money given by their father. But one plus point was that they were strictly reluctant to any carnal affairs although they had got status and dignity in the then society.

Everyone of the locality from adolescent to old ones gradually came to know about their activities. Eventually this rumour was passed to the ear of Vikram, the noble emperor by the royal spy. So he sent for the old land lord to his court for clarification. The landlord bowed down his head with apology on behalf of his ruffian sons as the then social usages as to the headmanship of a family. The Emperor was pleased with the old man's demeanour and let him go back home in order to convince his wicket offsprings.

Then the old man, after returning to his palace in the dusk took rest for sometime on his armchair and refreshed himself with a cup of green tea and snack served by his cook. He asked the cook about his sons' whereabouts. He saddened himself while he listened to the cook's reply as his sons had gone to neighbouring village to gamble. His eyes were wet with tears. But still he waited and waited with a positive mind to set right his sons' behaviour by intelligence. Then at mid night his sons returned home. The land lord called them nearer to his armchair and gave an incense stick to each son to break which was very easily broken into two pieces. Then he gave 5 bundles of incense sticks one by one individually to break. But alas not a single son did the needful nevertheless by applying extra force. When sons became hopeless, the old father began to advise, " Dear sons! you are my beloved blood. I have brought you up with luxury since after the sudden departure and could not 

teach you any discipline like your late mother.

So never take me otherwise. Here I gave you sticks to break one by one which was successfully done and then one by one bunches which could not be broken inspite of applying tremendous force by you. Hence this action indirectly teaches you that you, all the five brothers, ought to be united mentally without any hostile feeling with one another. Because after my death you have to take care of our properties and palace. God has given us enough to survive, only honest labour is required to earn your own livelihood. Never be lazy. Give up luxurious living.Take it to heart. I can talk no more. I feel exhausted. I now want rest. You may go now dear sons. " After hearing such type of due advices from their beloved father they felt extremely sorry and apologized for their misdeeds and shortcomings. Then the cook served the dinner and glasses of milk to all brothers and old land lord respectively. Night was over. Next morning five brothers realised their faults and embraced one another with much more repentance and with a promise never to 

be separated in future. They together went to their fields with spade, axe and sickle and began to dig. By this way they felt relaxed due to physical labor and had a sound slip at night. Next day they sowed some corn seeds in their land and watered. Moreover they took extraordinary care of their age worn father who by the by was bed ridden.

By that time five brothers had already given up bad companions and amended their behaviour. But after some months their Papa, old land lord passed away. The local people were amazed to see the sons" constructive attitude. So the headman of that area arranged five beautiful damsels and gave them in marry to them. In due course of time the sons of the late land lord kept up their father's name and fame by virtue of honest and benevolent services rendered to own dynasty as well as to human society. Up to fag end of their lives they had been bearing in mind the advice of the late land lord alias their father that an idle brain is devil's workshop. Likewise they brought up their own children in the light of idealism - service to mankind is service to God for which till date the people of Avantipuri generation to generation commemorate that dynasty even after passing of thousands of years. \

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