In a gurukul, a devoted disciple earned the admiration of his Guru through his exemplary service. As the disciple completed his education and prepared to leave, the Guru bestowed upon him a unique blessing—a magic mirror.
This mirror, however, was no ordinary looking glass; it possessed the extraordinary ability to reveal the true thoughts residing in a person's heart and mind. Overjoyed with this mystical gift, the disciple decided to test its capabilities before parting ways. Turning the mirror toward his revered Guru, he was taken aback by the visible flaws—attachments, arrogance, and more—in his Guru's heart.
The revelation left the disciple in shock. The idealized image he held of his Guru was shattered, replaced by the stark reality of imperfections. Equipped with a tool to discern the thoughts of others, the disciple embarked on a journey to test his friends and acquaintances, only to find that everyone carried their share of demerits.
Disheartened and disenchanted, he returned home to find solace in the sanctuary of his parents. However, even in their hearts, he discovered imperfections. Consumed by despair, the disciple concluded that the world was merely a stage of falsehood.
Fueled by restlessness, he carried the mirror back to the gurukul. Confronting his Guru, he shared the bitter truth of his findings, expressing disappointment in the impurity he perceived even in his Guru and parents.
To this, the Guru responded with a hearty laugh and turned the mirror back toward the disciple. The disciple, expecting to see the purity of his own heart, was met with a stark reality. Every nook and cranny of his mind and heart harbored flaws—attachments, hatred, arrogance, and anger.
Guru ji, smiling, spoke, "Son, I gave you this mirror not to scrutinize others but to recognize your own shortcomings. Instead of investing time in pointing out the flaws in others, if you had focused on improving yourself, your life and character would have transformed for the better."
The disciple, humbled and enlightened, realized the true purpose of the magic mirror—to inspire self-reflection and personal growth. The lesson learned emphasized the importance of looking within, acknowledging one's imperfections, and striving for personal betterment.