During a time of peace and prosperity, in the city of Mithila, lived the wise king Janaka.
One night the king had a most vivid dream. He was fighting a war and his army was being decimated; he ran from the battle without his weapons, shield or uniform, trying to get away from his enemies.
At last, after enduring what seemed like hours of attempted escape through the jungle, he came across a clearing in which stood a little cottage. Exhausted, hungry and thirsty, the king knocked on the door and asked for help. An old woman peered out. She did not recognize the king and was afraid to open her door to a stranger.
“I can’t let you in, but I can offer you food and water. Here are some lentils and spices, a cooking pot and some water. You may build a fire in the garden and cook yourself some dhal,” she said.
Now King Janaka had to make a fire to cook his dhal. The smoke hurt his eyes and it took a long time for the pot to boil and the lentils to cook, but eventually he could turn his dinner out onto a banana leaf to cool.
Then, as he was about to eat, two wild boar came screaming and fighting through the clearing, right over the king’s food, mashing it into the mud!
Poor Janaka could take no more. He cried out in his pain, and tears ran down his cheeks…and with that pain, the king fell asleep ..When he woke up
There he was, in his royal bed in his royal palace. But for the king, everything had changed.
“
Was that a dream, or is this a dream?"
