Thread by @varadadya

Story Time.

Once, Raja Janaka was peacefully sleeping in his Royal Palace. It was very early in the morning. A Servant comes running "Rajaji please wake-up, our kingdom has been attacked". Losing no time, Raja Janaka readied himself for battle.

Though Raja Janaka fought real hard. He couldn't defeat the enemy. They were outnumbered. He lost the battle. He was badly battered and bruised. The enemy said "You are a king, we won't kill you, now that I have won the war this kingdom of yours is mine"

"You are Banished from this Kingdom, leave your Kingdom right now". Raja Janaka was injured, bruised, defeated. He walked through his own kingdom. Fearing the new King, his own people didn't help him with Food or Water. He walked for 2 days to reach the border.

Summing up all the courage, Raja Janaka crosses the border of his own kingdom and reaches a nearby village. He witness a good samartian distributing some rice to the poor. Raja Janaka lines up, because he is hungry. To his ill-fate, just as his turn comes. The food gets over.

The Good Samartian, watches Raja Janaka and says "The Rice is over & I have only liquid Starch to offer you". Raja says "Give at least that, I am hungry". The Man serves the starchi in a Bowl. Rajaji grabs and just when he is about to raise it to drink it.

An Eagle comes down hard and trips the bowl over. All the Starch falls on the ground. With it Raja Janak too, collapses and he cries in agony.

The Servant comes running. Rajaji Rajaji, what happened?

Raja Janak wakes up, he realises all this was just a Bad Dream.

Shaken up entirely Raja Janak says ""क्या ये सच, या वो सच". Perplexed servant has no clue. He rushes to his Ministers.

Ministers ask Raja Janak "What happened, Sir"?

Raja Janak says ""क्या ये सच, या वो सच".

Ministers run to the Queen. "Rani Ji can you please come to King right now, he is acting strange"

Rani JI asks "My lord, what just happened"?

Raja Janak says again "क्या ये सच, या वो सच"

Now there is a Hall full of people, with no clue about whats wrong with thr King.
Just then, a knowledgable Monk, AshtaVakra Muni is passing by. He is called in for assistance.
AshtaVakra Muni, glances at the Raja Janak & being a Siddhipurush he immediately knows whats wrong.

Ashtavakra Muni says "Look around Rajaji, you are not lying in the mud in an open ground with your bowl of starch spilt over, you are in your Royal Palace".

Rani Ji, Ministers, Servants have no clue. What is Ashtavakra Muni saying?

Rajaji for the first time looks around touches himself. His body has no scars of war. He clothes are fine (not torn).

Now completely confused himself, Raja Janak with folded hands, in front of Ashta Vakra Muni, asks "क्या ये सच, या वो सच"

Ashta Vakra Muni has a smile on his face. He replies "You were hungry, in pain, defeated, bruised. Look around is that true now'
Raja Janak says "No"
Ashta Vakra Muni continues "Rajaji, was this grandeur, servants, ministers - all this present in your dream"
Raja Janak says "No"

Muni Continues "The Misery, in your dream state is not present your real world. The Grandeur, in your real state is not present in your dread world"

Ashta Vakra Muni now says "ना वो सच, ना ये सच"

Confused Rajaji asks "फिर क्या है सच"

Ashta Vakra Muni says "राजाजी आपने वो युद्ध देखा, आप वाहा थे?"
Raja Janak replies "हाँ मैं था वाहा, मैंने उसका अनुभव तो किया"
Muni Continues "आप यहाँ हो, यह राज्य वैभव का अनुभव कर रहे हो?
Raja Janak "हाँ मुनि वर"

Ashta Vakra Muni finally Concludes "राजाजी ना वो सच, ना ये सच, आप, जिन्होंने, ये दोनों परिस्तिथिओं का अनुभव किया, सिर्फ आप सच"