The Serpent's Wisdom in the Language of the Sages

In ancient India, Sanskrit was so revered that even the most ordinary individuals, like woodcutters, spoke the language fluently in the courts of King Bhoj. Legends tell us that not just humans but animals, birds, and even reptiles conversed in Sanskrit.

One day, a Brahmin was walking along a forest path when he encountered a serpent. Curious, the Brahmin asked the serpent, "Ka tvam?" (meaning, "Who are you?"). The serpent replied, "Sapo'ham" (meaning, "I am a serpent"). Noticing the absence of a specific sound in the serpent's response, the Brahmin inquired further, "Visargasya gatih kutra?" (meaning, "Where did the sound 'Visarga' disappear?").

The serpent calmly responded, "Tava mukhe" (meaning, "It is in your mouth"). The Brahmin, taken aback by this clever response, questioned, "Why did you not pronounce the Visarga sound?" The serpent replied, "O revered Brahmin, you did not pronounce it, so I followed your lead."

This story beautifully illustrates the profound respect for the Sanskrit language in ancient India, where even creatures of the wild adhered to the rules of grammar. It exemplifies the extraordinary knowledge and cultural refinement of the era, reflecting the advanced state of the Indian education system and the high regard for linguistic precision.