Alexander conquered India. And so, getting ready to go back, he remembered that his teacher Aristotle told him: “You will probably bring a lot of gifts from India. I would like you to bring me a sannyasin as a gift, a person who, for the sake of knowing himself, has renounced worldly life.”
Alexander passed through many lands and asked people everywhere: “I would like to see someone who has known himself. I don’t need seekers, I want to see someone who has known.” Everyone he asked pointed out one person to him, saying: “On the way, near the mountains, on the bank of the river, you will find an old man who has come to know himself.”
Alexander ordered his close military commander to bring this old man to him with great honors.
When the detachment arrived at the indicated place, they went to the elder and asked him about the old man. He replied:
“Yes, there is a sannyasin here, a great sannyasin.” But it will be difficult to convince him to follow you.
But soldiers are soldiers, so they said:
- Don't worry about it. If Alexander orders, then this entire city will follow him.
Arriving at the indicated place, the soldiers saw a sannyasin standing naked on the river bank. They said:
- Follow us. Alexander invites you to be his guest. You will be honored, you will have everything you want. Alexander will take you with him to Greece.
The sannyasin replied:
“No force in this world will force me to follow itself.” It will be better if you bring your Alexander here.
The one sent by Alexander was himself a great military leader, but he had never heard such a commanding voice. He did not dare to use force. Returning to Alexander, he said:
“This man treated me arrogantly, I’m afraid he will do the same to you.”
Alexander was indignant:
“Anyone who does not show me due respect will die.” I'm coming!
But when he arrived at the place, he was overcome with trepidation. The sannyasin himself approached him. He said:
- So, you are Alexander the Great. I think that anyone who calls himself great is not great and cannot be. What do you think?
“I didn’t come to argue,” Alexander replied, “I came to invite you.”
The old man replied:
- I'm free like the wind! You can't invite the wind. It blows on its own. If I feel that I want it, I will come to Greece, but if I don’t want it, no one can force me.
Alexander was furious. He drew his sword and said:
“If you don’t come with me, I’ll kill you!” The sannyasin replied:
-You're a little late. I've already killed myself. Alexander said:
- Now your head will roll off your shoulders! The sannyasin replied:
“You can cut off my head, but you cannot kill me, because when you see my head falling to the ground, I will see it falling too.”
Alexander could not kill this man. There is a record of this in his diary. The sannyasin's name was Datdamesh.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru