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CAST: Narrator, King, Advisor, Cook, Physician, Warrior, Mana (the Mind).

Narrator: Long, long ago, in a kingdom not so far away, lived a great king who was good and kind and just — but above all, he was inquisitive.

King: (enters, sits) Well, my dear Adviser, have they all arrived?

Advisor: Yes, they are here with their presentations. Assembled before you, Your Majesty, are the final few who have come to respond to your request for the object in this world of the greatest value.

King: Yes, yes, let's proceed. I am very eager to learn what, in their opinion, is considered highest in value.

Advisor: May I present each of them to you — first, the Royal Cook.

Cook: O King, my skills in the kitchen are well known to you. Each meal is a new sensation, with tastes from every corner of the globe. Consider this, Sire: one cannot live without taking food. Therefore, eating is most valuable. Is it not, O King?

King: True, true, yet although everyone eats daily — from the poorest man up to the king — satisfaction soon fades, and again comes hunger. Does it not, O Cook?

Advisor: Next, we have the Royal Physician. Potent are his remedies; he has many to please everybody.

Physician: Your Highness, here in my bag are the greatest treasures for all mankind. Ailments vanish in no time. Pains are set aside. Health is restored overnight. Sound sleep is in itself a cure. And this, this serum of slumber, sends one to the restful realm of dreams. So, I consider sleep to be most valuable.

King: Sound sleep is indeed rare. To royalty, proper rest is a great opulence. Yet I feel there is something more valuable than mere sleep. What is next?

Advisor: There were several courtesans here who insisted that I deliver this note to you, my Lord. They lay claim to possessing the object of highest value.

King: The note... Hmmm! Ah! Ha! Well, well, this is indeed a popular pursuit! But since it is had by everyone, such can hardly be considered most valuable.

Advisor: Now, Sire, I present to you a great warrior. He is known to have taken on great numbers and emerged victorious. He is confident that his weaponry is most valuable.

Warrior: O commander, O chief of great armies, these arms and the weapons they wield are truly of the highest value. For by them, full defense is achieved. As the King gives protection to his subjects, these arms protect one from all fearful events. To defend oneself brings peace.

King: I agree that these shining weapons are valuable and that the need of defense is certain. However, it is not the all-and-all. For death may strike at any time, and from ultimate death there is no real defense. Is there, Warrior?

Advisor: Next, a devotee of Lord Krishna has brought this book for you — the Bhagavad-Gita — claiming it to be the topmost truth. Highly prized for centuries, it is said to be a vast treasure-house of knowledge — the most valuable of all. He asked you to simply read it, and then judge for yourself.

King: A book! A single book! Ha! Oh, very well; I'll try to read it later. You, you hold it for me... So, is there any other submission, as to what is of the greatest value?

Advisor: Only this box. It was delivered by a strange character. I believe he was a mystic. He stated that all the power in the world is contained within this box. That the speed of what is contained herein is faster than that of light. However, he warned that although great deeds can be accomplished by such power, if one does not know how to control it, the force within can cause destruction and doom to the possessor. Unless properly engaged, it can sweep one away to the darkest regions. Before the strange fellow disappeared, he begged that you be very careful, for although the power within can act as one's best friend, it can also become one's worst enemy. He said — "Beware the power of Mana!"

King: "Beware the power of Mana!" — is that so?! Well, what in the three worlds is Mana, and from where in the three worlds does someone come to give warnings to a King about the contents of a box?

Advisor: It is written on the box, "Do not open without knowing how to control."

King: I know how to control! I rule the kingdom, don't I?! Let me see that box! (he opens box, Mana suddenly appears)

Mana: I am yours. Command me.

King: What have we here? A faithful servant — good, good, excellent. How wonderful! This is indeed most valuable.

Mana: I am yours. Command me.

King: Such demands from a servant! I've never...

Mana: I am yours. Command me, or I will drag you to hell!

King: Are you threatening me? Why you insolent... (Mana starts choking King)

Advisor: You'd better command him, Sire. Excuse me, let go of the King's neck now, he's going to command you.

King: (gasping, looks to Cook) Yess... Yess... Go with the Cook — prepare all sorts of foods... and don't forget to wash the pots!

Mana: I am yours. As you say, I will do.

King: Phew! That was unusual. I... (Mana suddenly reappears)

Mana: All is complete — I am yours. Command me, or I will drag you to hell!

King: Yes... Yes. The Royal Physician here would like you to... to... Ah?

Advisor: Test the sleeping potion.

King: Yes... Yes, take this wonderful medicine. You need to relax.

Mana: As you say, I will do. (drinks potion)

King: He does not sleep.

Mana: Mana does not sleep. I am yours. Command me!

King: "Command me! Command me!" Here, here is a great warrior. Spar with him. If you train well, we will find a nice war for you to win. (fight — warrior falls asleep)

Mana: He is defeated.

King: How did you do that, Mana?

Mana: Thinking, feeling, willing. He feels tired, so he sleeps. I am yours. Command me.

King: (to Advisor) We're in trouble. This Mana is going to drag me to hell if I cannot engage him.

Advisor: (holding Bhagavad-Gita) Mana, Mana... Your Majesty, this book has something in it...

King: Not now! Think of how to engage him.

Mana: I am yours. Command me!

King: I know, I know, I know — you'll drag me to, to...

Advisor: Here's something in this book: digging wells, building roads, planting trees. These are considered pious deeds.

King: Good, good, any engagement. You, Mana, go out, build a road to the next kingdom. Build roads to all the neighboring kingdoms.

Mana: What you say, I will do.

King: There, he's gone. I thought I'd never get rid of him!

Advisor: (reading) Yes, "will" — I think I've found some information about that Mana of yours, here in this book.

King: Really, what does it say? (Mana suddenly reappears)

Mana: All the roads are complete. Command me, OR ELSE...

King: Alright! (to Advisor) What was that other pious work?

Advisor: Well-digging.

King: Yes, go out on the road, dig wells. Deep wells, so that travellers may refresh themselves. There should be a well in every town and village, and one in between each as well. Be gone!

Mana: As you say, I will do!

Advisor: This Mana is the mind. Your mind. Here is a description; it is similar to the one on the box. Faster than light... best friend... worst enemy... one of the sitting places of lust... as difficult to control as the wind...

King: The wind! No one can control the wind! How am I to control my mind?

Advisor: This book is wonderful! You should read it. It addresses so many subjects, including how to engage the restless, flickering mind. (Mana suddenly reappears)

Mana: The wells have been dug. Command me further (chokes King) or burn in hell!

Advisor: Yes, here it is written that the unbridled mind can degrade one...

King: (points to book) Another pious deed?!

Advisor: Planting trees.

King: Go out and plant beautiful, tall trees. (releases King) There should be so many trees along the road that the scorching sun will not bother any traveller.

Mana: As you say, I will do.

King: Give me that book! Where is that devotee? There must be a secret to controlling my mind.

Advisor: Yes, Your Majesty, have a look.

King: (reading) Simply by chanting the Maha-mantra, one's mind becomes peaceful. By engaging the mind in the chanting process 24 hours a day, the mind comes under full control, and acts as one's best friend. Hmmm!!!

Advisor: This is the mantra, the great mantra for deliverance... Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare... (King repeats. Mana suddenly reappears)

Mana: The trees are planted, the wells dug, the roads made, the food prepared, and the pots washed. I am yours. Command me!

King: Ah! Yes. My dear mind, thank you for rendering such fine service.

Mana: Command me now or I will...

King: Thinking, feeling, willing. Very nice, mind.

Mana: I will drag you to...

King: No, no, my mind. Dear Mana, simply chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, and be happy.

Mana: Chant what? Be happy?

King: Yes — chant, chant!

Mana: I can't, I can't! (hides in box)

King: I command you — as I say, you will do.

Advisor: Yes, everyone engage your mind in chanting Hare Krishna.

King: Mana, repeat after me (Hare Krishna mantra) and chant this mantra 24 hours a day — then I can read in peace, and thus gain the greatest value. (kirtan)

Devotee: The word "man" means mind, "tra" means to release, and "maha" means topmost. Therefore the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the topmost method of freeing the mind from material engagement. The meaning is "O all-attractive Krishna, O reservoir of pleasure, O Rama — please engage me in your loving devotional service." All one needs to know to perfect one's life is found in this book, Bhagavad-Gita As It Is.

The End