To celebrate in a small way this year's Guru Purnima , (happening this Friday 18 July 2008) here is a charming story from the Mahabharata, from the translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (published between 1883 and 1896)
The Ganguli English translation of the Mahabharata
Santi Parva, Section CCCXXVIII
Vyasa the son of Parsara, after the arrival of his puissant son, continued to dwell there on the Himavat (Himalayas) engaged in teaching his disciples and his son. One day, as he was seated, his disciples, all well skilled in the Vedas, having their senses under control, and endued with tranquil souls, sat themselves around him. All of them had thoroughly mastered the Vedas with their branches. All of them were observant of penances. With joined hands they addressed their preceptor in the following words.
